Here to Stay

Suzuki Here to Stay

This year, Suzuki Manufacturing of America is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in Rome.

Suzuki Manufacturing of America is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Rome in 2021. The plant makes All-Terrain Vehicles which are distributed throughout the world, including several models of the Suzuki KingQuad.

One of the reasons for Suzuki’s success in Rome is the plant’s location, 1520 Technology Parkway, situated right in the heart of one of the largest ATV markets in the country. The Rome location is also ideally located to meet the demands of “just-in-time” delivery of its ATVs which has become a hallmark of modern logistics. In addition to selling products across the Southeast, the company is also able to take full advantage of the market for feedback from customers for product development and growth.

When production started in 2002, the plant employed 45 team members. Over the years, as production has expanded, the number grew to over 200. Those were the pre-recession days when the plant was pushing out as many as 280 ATVs a day. In more recent times, the workforce has leveled off to approximately 140 team members, with the plant producing an average of 100 units a day.

Kelly Floyd, ATV Sales/Service Parts Coordinator, said the factory has the capacity to produce more units daily but is currently limited by supply chain and logistics issues not uncommon to other manufacturers across the country. Floyd says, “We actually have more orders than we can keep up with right now, it’s a good problem, but it’s still a problem.” Fortunately, most of the suppliers are domestic. “Little parts can hold up an entire ATV line,” Floyd said. For example, a single fastener can stop the line. “That’s not going to affect the quality of the ATV, it doesn’t affect the handling, it doesn’t affect safety, but it does affect sales. You can’t sell one without a carrier on it.” As the supply chain issues work themselves out and production numbers go up, there is a possibility of increasing the workforce as product demand dictates.

The Rome plant makes three models of the KingQuad, a 400cc engine model, a 500cc, and a 750cc. In Europe and New Zealand, the KingQuad is primarily a farm implement. In New Zealand, it is used overwhelmingly in the sheep farming industry. South American customers use the ATV

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in mining operations. The U.S. market is different. It’s still used in agribusiness, but Floyd said you see and hear a lot of ATVs involved in hunting and other leisure activities on the weekend. The Canadian market is also a good combination of leisure and business use.

At present, domestic sales are approximately 60% of Suzuki’s business, with the export market making up the other 40%. “Worldwide, the most popular model we have is the red 500 cc model, with power-steering,” Floyd said. However, in the U.S., buyers tend to prefer the more powerful 750cc. Suzuki makes the KingQuad in seven different colors, including a camouflage paint scheme that is popular in the Southeast.

Aside from color, quality is a hallmark of Suzuki. In the plant there are three primary teams along the assembly line with a quality control inspection after it passes each team. For example, the frame assembly area has one station where an employee is charged with tightening bolts with a torque wrench. With a limited time for completion, the process must meet standard requirements, or an alarm will activate. Floyd says, “If the product does not meet 100% of the Suzuki standard, it doesn’t go out the door.”

To date, Suzuki has produced between 600,000 and 700,000 ATVs which are distributed around the world. The goal is to make the 35-acre Rome plant the worlds top offroad vehicle manufacturer.

In addition to supporting the Rome Floyd Chamber, the company is also a major sponsor of the Rome Braves, and other community activities. “We want the people of Rome to know that Suzuki is here, and we plan on staying,” Floyd said.