The independent North American Quality Advisory Panel charged with assessing Toyota’s strengthened safety and quality assurance practices will meet with Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda and other top executives next week in Japan.
While in Japan the panel, led by former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, will:
“Toyota has promised unfettered access to its executives, quality control experts, systems and data, and so far they have delivered,” Slater said. “We have already seen much of this in North America, and the logical next step is to visualize the entire operation at the global headquarters.”
Regarding the peer review of Exponent’s study, Slater said that Toyota and Exponent welcome further scrutiny.
“Our panel includes highly respected safety, quality and engineering experts who are thoroughly exploring Exponent’s findings, and we are seeking further study by other independent experts,” Slater said. “Because we are dealing with issues the entire auto industry faces regarding the safety of the driving public, we are not interested in cutting corners.”
The panel, formed three weeks ago, has visited to date:
During these visits the panel met with several Toyota executives including chief quality officer Steve St. Angelo, who will join the panel’s meetings in Japan.
“The panel has seen how Mr. St. Angelo is leading a massive Toyota North America effort to improve all aspects of safety and quality. He and the entire Toyota team are keenly focused,” Slater said. “However, the advisory panel will be direct in its assessment and advice.”
In addition to Slater, other panel members are: