 |
| Brad
Nelson has been a fixture in the Lincoln
plant since it opened in the early '70s
as he worked his way up through the ranks
& now oversees all production on the
plant floor! |
Nelson has been with the company practically since
the plant opened in 1974. Nelson worked his way
up from an assemblyman up through the ranks and
now oversees all production on the plant floor.
“It’s really a great company, who
stands behind their product. I couldn’t
be happier right now and I’m very excited
to see our Three Millionth machine roll off the
line today,” said Brad after the event.
One of the most secure ways of maintaining
control of their outputs, as far as safety along
with fit and finish is concerned, is their pneumatic
torque wrenches which can be found on every
line of the factory. If a worker mistakenly
picks up and attempts to use the incorrect tool,
an alarm will sound to alert the worker of the
mistake so it can be corrected before the UTV
or ATV continues down the line. The workers
also have the right to call for assistance simply
by pressing a button which alerts other workers
in the area that a fellow employee needs some
help. The entire factory is a team that moves,
flows, and works together to accomplish their
daily goals.
 |
| The
UTV's all pass under the watchful eyes
of Quality Control Inspectors before they
are shipped out to yet again, ensure every
bolt & nut is in its right place! |
Safety is also at the top of Kawasaki’s
priority list. Everything from the plastic shrouds,
safety harnesses, seat brackets, and even the
wheels, are produced and assembled here in the
plant which allows KMC to ensure quality throughout
the entire process. Employees wear the provided
floor uniforms along with steel-toed boots, and
of course the rudimentary safety glasses to ensure
personal protection on the floor at all times.
Before every UTV, ATV and Watercraft is shipped
to dealers, it is run through a complete diagnostic
gauntlet on a dynamometer machine. This is just
another way that Kawasaki is committed to quality
from the ground up and from their door to yours.
 |
| This
Kawasaki KZ400 was the first consumer
product to roll off the lines of the Lincoln
Plant in 1975 & currently resides
in their preservation room where many
other "firsts" can be viewed |
Quality although sometimes comes at a premium
of time, but not at Kawasaki. Each line employee
spends roughly five minutes per machine to complete
their duties as the UTV/ATV rolls past them on
a conveyor belt in their perspective station,
which of course in the end, produces a machine
every five minutes as well. Once the machine is
complete, it is crated, wrapped and stacked and
put in waiting for a departure from the plant
to dealers around the country and internationally.
Roughly twenty percent of Kawasaki’s sales
are from exports to other countries.
The first ever production unit rolled off the
line in 1975, only a few short months after
the plant was first being built and opened.
The unit was a Kawasaki KZ400 Street motorcycle
which retailed for a mere $995.00 dollars.
 |
|
Kawasaki's
2 Millionth unit produced at the Lincoln,
NE plant was the Mule 3010 4x4 UTV |
Twenty five years later, Kawasaki then rolled
off its 2,000,000th unit from its doors. The unit
was a Mule 3010 4x4 Side-by-Side in sage green
color. The Mule has proven itself time and time
again as one of the most rugged and reliable UTV’s
on the market today. Only ten years later, another
million units are in the history books and it
was again a Kawasaki UTV which took the honors.
The major facet of Kawasaki’s Lincoln
Plant that stood out to me was that the people,
the driving force behind production, were genuinely
thrilled to be part of the company, and happy
to come to work. Another highlight of the plant
is that the work areas and everywhere in between
was immaculately spotless in every way. This
keeps the safety level up as well with nothing
to be tripped over or bumped around. Our tour
concluded with a meeting over lunch which provided
time to speak with Mr. Assano, the plant President.
He would greet us with a kind handshake and
our meeting would leave our bellies and minds
packed to the brim!
The next time you stop by your local Kawasaki
dealer or showroom, remember that not only was
each and every machine assembled with care and
pride, it was created and put together right
here in the United States by hard working, and
caring people just like you and I.
www.kawasaki.com
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