[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            HONORING THE EFFICIENCY OF NISSAN'S SMYRNA PLANT

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                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2001

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and 
dedication of the employees of Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee, plant. Their 
work ethic has produced the most efficient car and small truck assembly 
plant in North America.
  The Harbour Report, an annual study in productivity that's used as an 
industry benchmark, has picked the Smyrna plant as the most efficient 
for seven consecutive years. At a time when the sluggish economy forced 
most automakers to slow production at their assembly plants, Nissan's 
Smyrna plant boosted its overall productivity by seven percent. That's 
a real indication of the know-how and dedication of the plant's work 
force.
  Since June 16, 1983, when the first automobile rolled of the Smyrna 
plant's assembly line, Nissan has contributed immensely to the area's 
quality of life with good-paying jobs and responsive corporate 
citizenship. Nissan's corporate commitment to diversity within its 
employee population, supplier base and dealer body, encourages a 
variety of ideas and opinions that inspire the team behavior that wins 
these kinds of accolades.
  My home is in Rutherford County, Tennessee, where the Smyrna plant is 
located. I was excited when I heard the news that Nissan was building a 
new plant in Smyrna. As the plant was being built, I watched its 
progress knowing that good-paying jobs were coming to Middle Tennessee. 
Since its completion, I have visited the plant on numerous occasions.
  One of my more memorable visits came on the day the 1 millionth 
vehicle rolled off the assembly line. On that day, a young lady who 
worked at the Smyrna plant spoke to a large crowd that had gathered for 
the special occasion. She recalled for us the time she and her children 
were waiting at a traffic light in their car when a Nissan pickup truck 
pulled up to the same traffic light. She said her children asked if she 
had built the vehicle. With a wide smile and obvious pride, she told us 
that she responded to the question with an emphatic, ``Yes, I did.''
  That young woman's story is a perfect example of the pride all Nissan 
employees have in their workmanship. I congratulate each and every 
Nissan employee at the Smyrna facility for a job well done.

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