About Don Cole and Jim Bond
Recently retired from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Don joined T.M.M.C. at it's inception as a shop floor Team Leader in the Weld Shop. After a month of intense training in Japan, Don became actively involved in process set-up, and training new Team Members for the launch of the 1st Corolla. It was at this point, Don, on behalf of the Team Members, was asked by the President to do the line-off speech for the 1st Corolla built in Canada. Certainly, an experience of a lifetime.
From here, Don was asked to join the Kaizen Support Group where they supported all areas requiring improvement and Kaizen. Training others, was a major part of Don's role at this point as well.
Don was then promoted to Group Leader, which led to him being selected for the Pilot Team for the new Engine Assembly Plant. This included many additional trips to Japan. Don worked closely with Senior Japanese Coordinators, and Senior T.M.M.C. management to develop the benchmark for engine assembly lines in North America. Don also led the project to support a successful launch of the Toyota West Virginia engine assembly plant.
At this point, Don was promoted to Assembly Assistant Manager, responsible for Assembly Production, and also Special Projects Support Group, with the focus being the development of Team Leaders for promotion to the next level, Group Leader role.
This remained Don's role, until he decided to retire in February 2006.
Since February 2006 Don has supported clients in the various aspects of TPS as well as assisting with hiring for the new plant in Woodstock, Ontario, using the "Targeted Selection" process to maintain hiring Standards.
Jim was one of the initial manufacturing 25 team members who joined the new Toyota facility (TMMC) in Cambridge Ontario in March 1988. Jim traveled to Japan to become fully conversant with the Toyota Production System (TPS) as a Team Leader. It was very early in his career, that Jim was promoted to the the next level Group-Leader role in TMMC.
It was at this point, Jim had the opportunity, and the good fortune to be trained by Senior Coordinator, Mr. Hakane in Job Instruction. At this point, Jim was recognized as a certified Master Trainer in this category.
Over Jim's career at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, he has assumed various roles, with increasing responsibilities in the manufacturing sector in both the Paint, and Plastics Areas.
During this time, Jim coached, mentored, and help develop a large number of Team Members, and Team Leaders. As a result of his efforts, it prepared, and enabled a number of them to progress to more senior roles and positions within TMMC. Some were promoted into Manager, and General Manager positions in TMMC.
During his stay in the Paint Shop, Jim also led the shop Kaizen Group. This resulted in the successful development and implementation of a number of additional floor management systems.
Jim's last role, was in the Service Parts Area. His efforts here, including systems to improve work flow with minimum floor usage.
Jim remained in this role until he retired in April 2007 at which time Toyota had requested his assistance with new plant hires in Woodstock, Ontario. In addition Jim has supported TPS training in South Western Ontario.
