American Honda Motor Company Inc. on June 13 opened its $89 million Midwestern Consolidation Center in Troy, Ohio, a key hub that will supply Honda's nine other parts distribution centers throughout the U.S. The 549,000-square-foot facility was designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Consisting of 500,000 square feet of warehouse distribution space and 49,000 square feet of office space, the facility is located on 58 acres adjacent to American Honda's existing parts distribution center, which has been operating in Troy since 1986. The hub also houses a procurement operations support office that is already functioning in the new facility, including 100 of the procurement associates who were relocated from the neighboring facility. The warehouse will be fully completed and begin operations later this fall and will include the creation of 110 new full-time jobs.
"This centrally located facility will enable us to provide the highest level of service to our customers by enhancing timely distribution of parts and materials and improving inventory management," said James Roach, senior vice president of American Honda's Parts Division. "More than 530 Honda suppliers in 33 states provide parts and materials to create Honda and Acura products and this center will be organizing and distributing parts from this growing U.S. supply base."
As part of Honda's commitment to environmental sustainability, the new Troy distribution center was designed and constructed utilizing environmentally friendly products and materials. American Honda is working with the USGBC to earn the organization's Gold rating LEED certification including many energy-saving attributes such as an Energy Star reflective roof to reduce heat gain and lower air conditioning requirements; reclaimed water used for landscaping; and an intelligent lighting system that makes greater use of natural light. Honda has other LEED gold certified facilities in Gresham, Oregon and Raymond, Ohio; and, also anticipates that its newly opened Acura Design Studio in Torrance, Calif., will achieve gold certification.
American Honda currently employs approximately 340 full-time associates at the existing Troy facility. Upon completion of the new facility, approximately 110 new full-time warehouse positions will be created with total employment at the new warehouse facility expected to exceed 200 associates.
American Honda's Parts Division handles the marketing, purchasing, inventory and distribution of genuine Honda parts and accessories for all Honda products, shipping to approximately 1,300 Honda and Acura dealers nationwide.
Honda began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Company Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. production operations in 1979. Honda now employs more than 28,000 Americans in the designing, manufacturing and marketing of its products in America. Honda currently builds products in 13 manufacturing plants in North America, with three major R&D centers in the U.S.
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