MP for Chesterfield, Toby Perkins, recently visited the Toyota UK factory at Burnaston near Derby. Toyota UK employs over 3000 ‘members’ in the UK, with 2600 at their plant in Burnaston. Nearly 80 people from Chesterfield are employed here, making them a large local employer.

During his visit, Toby was given a tour of the P-Lane, the facility where parts are brought into the factory and sent to the production line and given an in depth briefing of how Toyota’s ‘Just in Time’ delivery process operates.

The factory at Burnaston receives 2 million parts per day. These parts have come from a network of suppliers and have often, at some point in the process, been in another country. The ‘Just in Time’ process means that 4 hours after these parts arrive at the factory they can be driven away on a completed vehicle. For Toyota to have a stockpile of parts would require an unrealistic amount of storage space. As a result, any delays involved in receiving parts could have a huge impact on the manufacturing process.

Toyota UK are not just competing against other car manufacturers. As Toyota have multiple factories across Europe, Toyota UK are also competing against other Toyota facilities and if there are added delays or a rise is costs from tariffs then it will put them at a disadvantage, not only against rival car manufacturers but also other Toyota factories.

Toby said: ‘It is important that the Government secures a deal with the EU that protects jobs and my visit highlights that a deal with no customs union could have a potentially devastating impact on the motor industry in the UK’