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<p>FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2010 file photo, production team member Darryl Ashley installs an inner dash silencer in a Camry on the assembly line at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky. For the first time in more than 20 years, U.S. automakers are questioning a pillar of manufacturing: The practice of bringing parts to assembly lines right before they're used. The March 2011 earthquake knocked out many Japanese parts makers, resulting in factory shutdowns, including this one for a few days, and model shortages around the world. (AP Photo/James Crisp)</p>

<p>FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2010 file photo, production team member Darryl Ashley installs an inner dash silencer in a Camry on the assembly line at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky. For the first time in more than 20 years, U.S. automakers are questioning a pillar of manufacturing: The practice of bringing parts to assembly lines right before they're used. The March 2011 earthquake knocked out many Japanese parts makers, resulting in factory shutd…

April 22, 2012

Stories this photo appears in:

Exposing the weak link
April 22, 2012 9:15 p.m.

Exposing the weak link

Crises make automakers rethink lean parts supplies

DETROIT - For the first time in more than 20 years, U.S. automakers are questioning a pillar of manufacturing: The practice of bringing parts to assembly lines right before they're used.