Honda to resume production ahead of schedule

A Honda ATV frame moves along the production line during Honda's open house event in July, 2008.

By: Dwight Dana | SCNow
Published: March 20, 2009

Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing Inc. will resume production May 4 — 30 days ahead of schedule, Jeff Helton, Honda’s assistant vice president for production, said Friday.

Honda stopped production March 1 with no layoffs because of country’s weak economy.

But it did offer severance packages, which 800 associates took advantage of, Helton said, adding that 600 associates will be working May 4. Honda employed about 1,500 people in 2008.

“The plan was not to produce a product for three months to reduce inventory in the warehouse,” Helton said. “Our associates had the opportunity to work during this period. We set up Honda University, where we were training associates, plus we picked up several community activities.”

Among the community service activities were helping the Boys and Girls Club of Timmonsville, working in Williamson Park in Darlington and Manna House in Florence.

“Our associates volunteered to go and support these activities outside the company,” Helton said. “The good news is that we decided that those three months that associates could come and take no pay no penalty, we told them that as the end of this month (March 30) that the no pay no penalty is over.

“We’re going to get ready to start back up production May 4, so we need all associates. It’s not an option now, you’ve got to come to work.”

Helton said the economy affected Honda the same as it has other companies.

“We’ve got a product that a lot of people don’t have to have,” he said. “But those that do, like farmers, find it very economical and a good tool to have on the farm. We own 49 percent of that market share (farm) right now.

“And for every two ATVs sold out there on the utility side, they are made by Honda. Overall, we’ve got a little over 37 percent of the market share for the sports as well. One out of every three ATVs sold is a Honda. That’s the good news.”

Helton said Honda’s associates are thrilled to hear about the May 4 start-up date.

“We’ve got some great associates and we’ve lost some good associates,” he said, “but we do see rebuilding our operation here when the economy starts turning around. We are excited about the future and are looking forward to it.”