This news comes from an anonymous MINI insider:
I was looking at orders for new cars this past weekend and noticed that some of the production dates were falling back by four weeks. I didn’t realize until later it was the cars with the Harmon Kardon Stereo option. Then I found out yesterday that there was a fire at the plant that makes the H/K components. My initial source made it seem like it was simply a small fire. However, I’ve since heard from another source that it was much more severe. My concern is that the delay could be much greater and that another four weeks could turn into much more.
We’ll have more info on this and how it effects orders as soon as we get it.
<p>if i had ordered H/K and it was gonna delay my delivery by FOUR WEEKS i’d hope MINIUSA would contact me so I could decline the option and get an h/k-less MINI a month or more sooner…</p>
<p>Yeah. That certainly makes my decision a little easier.</p>
<p>My MCSC was built last week with the H/K system. Doesn’t seem as if there was a delay.</p>
<p>You answered your own question. Your MINI was built… last week.</p>
<p>i’m sure they had a supply of the systems at the plant. it would be ignorant to be living on a day to day shipment of HK components.</p>
<p>i’m not a patient guy. however, if it were me, i would wait an extra month. it would bum me out, but i would wait. although i agree with rick</p>
<p>Rick, as far as I understand MINI uses a “Just In Time” building procedure for all their cars. But I don’t know to what degree that means they don’t keep a stockpile of backup parts. I’d assume they keep at least some, but given their production style they may not have enough to last orders for the next few weeks.</p>
<p>doesnt sound like anyone figured in delays into MINI Mfg. process then. but, hey, they are british, it doesnt have to make sense!!!</p>
<p>ERP-based manufacturing systems still use forecasts to establish “expected” production demand. These forecasts are based on historical/anticipated demand. Thus, Oxford may have enough HKs for their immediate planning period, whatever that is. If I remember a previous life with ERP systems, our forecasts and planning was based on quarters. </p>
<p>Another key factor will be the “lead time” required by the HK supplier to build/ship product to Oxford. I doubt it is a fairly long lead time so there may not be a full forecasted quarter’s worth of HKs lying about the Oxford plant.</p>
<p>Theo</p>
<p>The MINI is in deed a “just in time” product, with the parts and sub-assemblies being delivered at particular times during the day so there is no loose stock hanging around. According to one book I read, they even have a truck arrival manager who routes the delivery trucks by slower or faster routes to guarantee those times.</p>
<p>The dash assemblies are sub-contracted to an outside company in Redditch, 60 miles away. Whether THEY keep any back stock is a good question.</p>
<p>Bob</p>
<p>First off, I hope that nobody was injured in the plant fire.</p>
<p>That being said, if I knew my car was going to be delayed 4 weeks or so, I would like to have the option to back out of the H/K system and get the car on time.</p>
<p>Well I am one of the unlucky few who just ordered my car last week, with H/K. I’m sure that if this will delay anything at all, it will delay my car.</p>
<p>I’d like the option to back out, but I don’t know what I’d do (so maybe I don’t want the option).</p>
<p>Hope no one was hurt in the fire.</p>
<p>Daniel – you may want to contact your MA to see if there’s still time to change your order.</p>
<p>The plant that is making the Cooper S roller coaster cars for the King’s Island ride has also experienced a good fire.</p>
<p>Wow. When it rains, it pours…</p>
<p>The Mini plant uses just in time manufacturing. I had heard that at any given time they have 6 hours of supplies on hand, and that is it. Granted there will probably be some trucks enroute with the material and H/K may have a distribution center. But as far as within the actual Mini plant, there is only @6 hours worth of parts. Just in time has some great benefits, but as you can see with the H/K problem it also has it’s drawbacks.</p>
<p>if they didn’t use Just in Time, we’d be paying more for our MINIs</p>
<p>I work for MINI. Yes, we use just in time manufacturing because the plant has three shifts that work 24/7. The projected forecast for this year is around 36,000 cars. If they have a 6 hour supply, do the math:that’s not very many cars</p>
<p>I thought MINI was pumping out 100,000 cars a year, now?</p>
<p>Sorry, didn’t clarify. 100,000 worldwide and 36,000 for our marketsegment</p>
<p>After hearing the H/K and reading reviews of the standard audio system in the MINI, I think I can wait – painful as it is… Music is a BIG part of my life and it needs to sound good – especially when motoring!
Dave in NY</p>
<p>Here is a sidenote about the standard/H/K audio system comparison: the standard system is noteably louder and the H/K is somewhat clearer. Depending upon what type of music you’re into, the stock system might suffice. Forget someone else’s opinion with whom you’ve never even met; take you’re favorite c.d. and go to your local dealer and decide for yourself.</p>
<p>Dealer just informed me that MINIs ordered with H/K with a week build date of 18 or later will be delayed by 3-4 weeks minimum. Week 17 (my car) they are unsure, and are trying to get clarification. </p>
<p>AWM3</p>
<p>My build date was the 19th and it is now sitting on the dock as we speak and was not postponed. My dealer said their 20th build date was also sitting there, but I do not know if it had a HK.</p>
<p>I do not have a build date but my car is a May build. My dealer’s Sales Manager told me that my car will not be impacted by the fire. Who knows?</p>
<p>I called 866-ASK-MINI about this issue, and I was told there was a 1 week delay in production because of an H/K supplier problem. My original build week was Week 19 (week of May 9th), it now is Week 20. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t get any further than that :-)</p>
<p>I heard today that the cars delayed due to H/K issues have been released, so what delay there was certainly seems to be much less than four weeks …</p>
<p>MAN, oh MAN, that would make me a happy fellow if the news is true, Ian. Thanks for the emotional boost. I need it right about now.
Dave in NY</p>
<p>Good news from my MA… When I sent him an e-mail asking about a one to four week delay due to the fire, he told me initially I was on delay for a couple of days but then they pushed me right back to my original production date. My delivery should be right on time. This may bode well for all of us who ordered the H/K MINIs.
BTW, I ordered my MCS April 1’st and it’s not yet in production according to ol.miniusa.com 866-ask-mini…
Dave</p>
<p>I also ordered my MCS with HK on April 1st. I found out from 866-ask-mini that it went into production two days ago. It showed in the ‘owner’s lounge’ just today. </p>
<p>Jorge</p>
<p>I ordered my Mini back on Feb 22. I was initially told I would get the car around mid to late April. It is now May and it is still on order. My dealer kept just giving me a later build date with no real explanation. I finally contacted the mini website and they told me it should go into production on May 14th and still no mention of the reason. I finally heard about this problem from a friend who got her mini back in December. Its worth the wait I am sure, but it would be nice to be more informed by my dealer.</p>