Toyota today announced Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), the Columbus, Ind. plant responsible for manufacturing the majority of Toyota lift trucks sold in the U.S., has named two new vice presidents. Tom DePalma is appointed vice president of quality assurance for TIEM, as well as vice president of quality assurance for Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA). Tim Barker is named vice president of corporate services for TIEM and vice president of corporate services for Toyota Industries North America, Inc. (TINA).

"These executives have important roles to ensure Toyota’s leadership in product quality, as well as environmental health and safety," said Kazue Sasaki, former president of TIEM and current president of Toyota Material Handling Group. "I was proud to appoint them to their well-deserved positions before I returned to Japan. Their expertise will be very helpful to TIEM’s new president, Toshiya Yamagishi."

DePalma is responsible for all aspects of product quality at TMHNA, a company comprised of TIEM; Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., the supplier for the number one selling lift truck brand in the United States since 2002; and The Raymond Corporation, a leading provider of electric lift trucks in North America.

DePalma has been in the material handling business for nearly three decades. Prior to joining Toyota in 1997, he held several positions at Clark Material Handling Company and NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc., respectively. Prior to his current position at Toyota, he served as senior manager, quality assurance for TIEM and quality leader for TMHNA.

DePalma attended University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. He currently resides in Columbus, Ind.
 
Barker is responsible for the ongoing activities of several departments at TIEM including human resources; environmental health and safety; payroll; training and development; general affairs; customs compliance; building and grounds; and security. In addition, he is responsible for corporate services at TINA, a holding company.

Barker joined TIEM in 1990. Prior to his current position, he served as senior manager of corporate services for TIEM and senior manager of human resources for TINA.

Barker earned his bachelor’s degree in Public and Environmental Affairs from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. He resides in Seymour, Ind.

About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.
Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) is the supplier for the No. 1 selling lift truck brand since 2002. In addition to the full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand, the company’s extended industrial equipment solutions include: Aichi aerial work lifts—scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts—Automated Guided Vehicles, and electric and diesel tow tractors.

Quality is the hallmark of the Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including TIEM, a zero-landfill facility.

TIEM is a member of the National Safety Council, complies with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization, and has been honored for its environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 190 dealership locations throughout the United States, offer comprehensive customer service and support, including one-stop shopping for both new and used lift trucks, rentals, parts and service, fleet servicing and financing.