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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 Unveiled
Saturday, 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 Green

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 Air
Honda 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.
 

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 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 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 Efforts
HCM 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 Involvement
Each 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 Projects

For 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 reduction
All 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 optimization
Examples 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.

Investment
High 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.
 
Weld
The 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.
 
Paint
The 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 Paint
Bumper 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 Assembly
This 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 Departments
In 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.