The Tahara plant began vehicle production in January 1979.[2] The plant was built on reclaimed land, and the site currently spans 4.03 million square meters.[3]
Employees look through 4,000 details for every car produced. The plant creates a Lexus every 87 seconds, equal to 675 Lexus models per day. When employees enter the factory floor, they pass through an air shower to remove dust. They are required to exercise and perform other physical activities such as holding and rolling golf balls in their palms.[8] These motor exercises keep staff sharp, and Toyota believes these behaviors are essential to help retain the standards necessary to produce flawless vehicles.[9]
The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman visited the plant in the early 1990s, and described the experience as an example of globalization in his best-selling 1999 book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree.[10] In his book, Friedman detailed the precise installation of windshield rubber seals by the factory's robots, along with human quality controls.[10]
