The Sudbury Star July
1, 2011
CIVIC RELIABILITY SPANS THE DECADES It may not
seem like it at first blush, but the 2012 Honda Civic is the AC/DC of the
automotive world. Sure, one is known more for reliability and efficiency while
the other is famous for dirty deeds done dirt cheap and rock 'n roll EVERYTHING,
but there's a lot more to it than that....

Canada NewsWire
EDMONTON, July 25, 2011
New CR-V model to continue as segment benchmark with enhanced packaging and
improved fuel efficiency
Letters of Recognition
E-Newsletter
Take a look at exciting news from Cambridge Center Honda. Its Ignition, our monthly e-newsletter.
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New Owners Clinic
You're Invited:
To Cambridge Centre Honda's monthly New Owner's Clinic.
A Honda trained technician will talk you through all of the mechanical aspects of your new vehicle that you may not have been aware of. They will discuss key ideas in keeping your vehicle running smooth and answer any questions that you may have. You will also be provided with a complementary oil change to be used at your convenience!
Please RSVP to customercare@cambridgecentrehonda.com or call Tess at (519)623-5991 ext 127 or Click Here for the online form.
New Owner's Clinic Dates
Wednesday, January 11th @ 6:30pm
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
Ensure that that you register prior to attending. Please note dates are subject to change.
Spa Day

Have your vehicle serviced on the second Monday of the month and you will receive a gift certificate for a complimentary manicure at Luck Souls Beauty Spa located on King Street in Cambridge.
Upcoming Spa Day dates:
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Monday, February 13th, 2012
2011 Honda Odyssey UnveiledSaturday, June 19, 2010 5:49 by Arman Barari
Honda has released a new version of their best-selling Odyssey MPV in America and they say that it will redefine the whole concept of minivan! And they?re kinda right, because despite being a van the Odyssey looks like fun. That?s mainly due to the new crazy design, and the fact that it?s 1.6 inches lower and 1.4 inches wider than the old model.
Underneath that sleek and trendy design, you also get a lot of practicality and convenience. It?s a proper seven-seater and the Honda says that the view for the third-row seats is also improved. All of the rear seats also fold completely flat into the floor, making a huge cargo area. The cabin also features a very nice entertainment system for the rear passengers, with high-definition connectivity and split-screen viewing.
The 2011 Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine with three-mode Variable Cylinder Management which has an average fuel consumption of 19/city 28/highway mpg (estimated). Other new things on the 2011 model include HID front headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, 12.6-inch ventilated front disc brakes, Power tailgate.
The interior is very well-equipped with features such as :

? AM/FM/XM/CD Premium Audio System with 12 Speakers
? Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System? with Voice Activation
? Ultra-Wide Rear Entertainment System (RES) with split-screen capability
? External HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) input
? 150-watt AC power outlet
? Media tray with integrated beverage holder
? Removable 1st row center console with hidden storage
? New cool box in lower center stack (keeps items cool when vehicle is running)
? Leather-trimmed seating with heated front seats
? Memory-linked 10-way power driver?s seat
? LATCH child seat anchors in five seating positions, including three positions in the second row to accommodate three child seats simultaneously
? Two captain?s chairs in the second row provide adult comfort with center seat folded down
? One-strap stowable 3rd Row Magic Seat®
? Second- and third-row passenger window sunshades
? 15 beverage holders
? Trash bag ring Honda Going GreenEnvironmental Initiatives
At
Honda, we believe everything we do must exist in harmony with nature.
We have a long history of leading innovation and implementing
environment-friendly technologies. As Canadians look to preserve the
environment, Honda will continue to provide solutions through
innovation, new technologies and through our suppliers and partners.
Our
Green Factory Program has helped all our Honda plants worldwide meet
the toughest international management standards. Our facility in
Alliston was one of the first Honda plants to be ISO14001 certified,
and currently recycles 99% of its production waste. It is the first
Honda facility in North America to achieve this.
Clean AirHonda
was the first to bring Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) technology to
Canada, followed by the introduction of the first Tier 2 Bin
5-certified vehicles in the 2002 model year. In 1997 Honda introduced
the first virtually pollution-free, gas-powered internal combustion
engine, the Zero-Level Emission Vehicle (ZLEV). One year later, Honda
began production of the Civic GX natural gas vehicle a car that was
recognized by the EPA for having the cleanest internal combustion
engine in the world.
HCM in Canada
In
1986, Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) began production with the assembly of
the Honda Accord, leading the way as the first Japanese automobile
manufacturer to establish a production facility in Canada. Honda opened
its manufacturing plant in Canada as part of Honda's global commitment
to building vehicles close to where they are sold.
In 1988, the
plant switched to producing the Honda Civic a model that the Alliston
plant continues to produce. In 1998, a second plant was opened to allow
for production of the award-winning Honda Odyssey minivan. A third
facility set to open in 2008 will be an environmentally friendly
aluminum engine facility, that will be the only location in North
America to produce both cars and trucks on the same production line.
Today,
HCM is one of Honda's premier manufacturing facilities in the world.
HCM represents a total investment of $2 billion (Cdn). It produces the
Acura CSX Sedan, Honda Civic Sedan, Si and Coupe in Plant 1, and Honda
Ridgeline truck, Honda Civic Sedan and Acura MDX sport utility vehicles
in Plant 2. HCM is the only facility in the world that produces the
Ridgeline, MDX, CSX and Civic 2-door.
The manufacturing facility has
an annual capacity of 390,000 units and employs more than 4,300
Associates. The vehicles produced at HCM are sold in Canada and
exported to over 10 countries, including the United States, Japan and
Australia.
HCM Environmental Policy
HCM will manage its operations to preserve and protect the environment including meeting or exceeding regulations.
We will fulfill the mandate expressed by our Environmental Policy through the following actions:
?
Encouraging all Associates, as members of both Honda and society, to
focus on the importance of preserving human health and the
environment, and to do their part to help the Honda fulfill its
responsibilities.
? Having management members demonstrate that
environmental protection is a high priority by setting goals and
establishing procedures which are protective of people, property and
the environment and by auditing all operations to ensure compliance.
?
Providing training for all Associates in order to familiarize them with
Honda's Environmental Policy and help them recognize how their job
function may impact the environment.
? Conserving energy and reducing, reusing and recycling materials and natural resources.
? Implementing new materials, methods and equipment that will minimize process emissions.
?
Striving to achieve, by means of continual improvement, environmental
levels of performance governed not only by legislated requirements,
but also taking into account the expectations of our community and
customers.
? Working cooperatively with governments and
non-government organizations, in developing effective standards,
regulations and programs concerning the environment.
? Encouraging suppliers to protect and preserve the environment.
HCM's Environmental Initiatives ISO 14001:
HCM
was one of the first auto assembly plants in North America to acquire
ISO 14001 certification, a worldwide standard for environmental
management. Under ISO 14001, companies are expected to demonstrate
continuous improvement. HCM monitors the program to ensure current
activities conform to the ISO standard. Regular audits of our
environmental practices by an external agency ensure we retain our
certification. HCM currently recycles 99% of its production waste, and
is working to achieve 100% recycling, which would make it Honda's first
facility in North America to achieve this.
Waste Reduction EffortsHCM
manages its operations to reduce its waste generation, and has
undertaken many activities under each of the 3R's: reduction, reuse,
and recycling. Our efforts were recognized by the Recycling Council of
Ontario, who presented HCM with both a Platinum Award and the
"Outstanding Business" award at their April, 1999 awards ceremony. As
well, HCM was recognized at the Voluntary Challenge and Registry awards
ceremony in March, 2002, as "Best New Submission", along with receiving
a "Gold Champion Level Reporter" status.
Local InvolvementEach
year, HCM Associates and their families volunteer to participate in a
tree planting activity in conjunction with other community groups. In
the last five years, Honda Associates and their familes have planted
over 72,000 trees and shrubs and participated in an annual cleanup of
debris from the stream in Alliston, Ontario. HCM has been recognized by
the Town of New Tecumseth with a Certificate of Appreciation as well as
officially commended by the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
for their work on Spring Creek.
HCM Energy Conservation ProjectsFor
the last six years, HCM has set a goal of reducing energy consumption
by 1%/vehicle produced each year. As of the end of 2006, we had
achieved our overall target.
We have identified three categories of energy conservation projects.
Non-production time reductionAll
production departments have scheduling systems for task lighting; FA
schedules high bay lights and plant air handling units on weekends and
shutdowns based on department weekend work requirements. Effort has
also been made to trim equipment "on" time, for example by not heating
up paint ovens as long before the day shift starts. This year, effort
will be made to look for opportunities to shut other equipment off at
night or on weekends.
Process optimizationExamples
include improving control of the plant compressed air system so that
additional compressors do not come on line before they are required,
and reviewing the paint booth air flow requirements to ensure that we
are not drawing in more outside air (which must be conditioned to the
correct temperature and humidity) than necessary.
InvestmentHigh
bay lighting has been replaced in several areas of Plant 1 with more
efficient types. XP installed a system to recover waste heat from the
paint oven RTO (which destroys volatile organic compounds before they
are emitted) and use it to preheat paint equipment. Likewise, FA is now
recovering heat from air compressors to preheat building air in the
winter.
HCM has an Energy Conservation Committee that meets
monthly to report on progress of department activity and share ideas.
All departments are represented.
All associates participate in
our effort through everyday activity such as ensuring exterior doors
are closed, turning off switched equipment at the end of a shift or
lights when leaving a meeting room.
Copyright 2010 Honda Canada Inc.
Stamping The
stamping department provides stamped parts to Plant 1 and Plant 2.
Steel coils are straightened and punched into blanks that are loaded
into the press line. Two press lines a four-press tandem press line and
a transfer press line press, cut, and shape vehicle panels for both
plants. Parts are formed using dies, which are made up of two parts a
top and a bottom. The press squeezes the two sides together to form the
part. Steel that is cut away from the part drops below the presses and
is collected by a conveyer. This steel is recycled.
HCM Associates inspect the parts as they are made, to ensure high quality. Parts are then delivered to the Weld department.
Sheet metal body and chassis components are cut and shaped using a series of presses.
WeldThe
welding process starts with highly sophisticated and programmable
robots which seal and spot-weld sub-assemblies together. Additional
parts such as the hood, doors, and trunk or tailgate are prepared in a
separate hemming area. These parts, as well as the fenders, are then
attached to the car body before it proceeds to the paint department. A
special steel, called galvanneal, is used for exterior parts to prevent
corrosion.
PaintThe
welded body is prepared for painting by passing through a series of dip
tanks for cleaning, chemical pre-treatment, phosphating and
electro-deposition coating for corrosion protection. This is followed
by the robotic application of a sealer and a sound deadener. The body
is then prepared for top coating by applying anti-chip primer and
surfacer. The topcoat finish can consist of a base coat/clear coat,
base coat/tinted clear or solid finish. All paint surfaces are applied
robotically. After each coat of paint, the body passes through a baking
oven.
In the welding department, the steel panels from the stamping
process and additional metal parts received from suppliers are
spot-welded together using robotics and automation to form a precise,
rigid body. Parts such as the hood and doors are then added to form the
completed "white body".
Bumper PaintBumper
paint manufactures bumpers for the Honda Civic, and receives unpainted
bumpers supplied by a Canadian manufacturer for other models. After a
cleaning process, primer, then base coat and clear coat are applied to
the bumpers, with drying processes at each stage.
Final AssemblyThis
department brings the many sub-assembled parts together on the vehicle.
Major and minor components are installed in the painted body; for
example, the engine, seats and the instrument panel. Doors are removed
from the vehicle shortly after it enters the assembly line and they are
sub-assembled in a separate area. The doors rejoin the vehicle shortly
before the end of the line. Assist devices, padded flooring and other
features provide an ergonomically friendly environment.
Vehicle Quality As
the completed vehicle leaves the assembly line, this department tests
the brakes and alignment, then drives each vehicle on an outdoor test
track to check functionality as well as listen for squeaks, rattles and
wind noise. After the test drive, the vehicle undergoes a water leak
test. The finished product is moved to our distribution centre to be
shipped to a dealer.
Mechanical, electrical, upholstered and other
components including the engine are installed on the painted body in a
carefully timed sequence as the vehicle is assembled.
Other DepartmentsIn addition to the main production departments, a number of other areas serve a support role. These include:
Purchasing Division:
The purchasing division procures parts, equipment, and supplies, as
well as working with suppliers to ensure high quality and timely
delivery.
Administration Division: This
division includes accounting, information systems, human resources,
communications, production control, facilities, and safety and
environmental functions.
Quality Engineering Division: The quality engineering division consists of the market quality and product engineering departments.
New Model Division:
The new model division coordinates the smooth and efficient
introduction of new models, as well as execution of full and minor
model changes.