Band And Orchestral Division Moves to Buena Park

BUENA PARK, CA (August 22, 2003) The sales, marketing, and administrative team members of Yamaha Corporation of America's Band & Orchestral Division put in a full day of business on Friday, June 27. They put in another full day on Monday, June 30. That they did so in a new location 2,000 miles away is a testament to the company's expert approach to relocating an entire division, and holds the promise of improved service for Yamaha's valued customers.

Band and Orchestral Corporate Executives

(L - R) Garth Gilman, Administration Manager; Hiro Watanabe, Assistant General Manager; Roger Eaton, Sales and Marketing Manager (Winds, Percussion and Education); Rick Young, General Manager; Jay Schreiber, Sales and Marketing Manager (Accessories, Strings and MIE)

The successful move, from the division's former Grand Rapids, MI location to corporate headquarters in Buena Park, CA, followed months of planning and weeks of training for all division personnel to enhance the team atmosphere, improve communication and integrate the B&O staff more directly into the corporate structure. The division is not only retaining its finest managers, but benefiting from the input of others who have worked their way up through its core market - the school music community.

"The positive impact of this move is going to be felt at the retailer level," says Rick Young, vice president and general manager, Band & Orchestral Division. "We're going to be more efficient and responsive in our relationships with dealers across the country; anticipate their needs even better, and it's going to show."

From their new offices in Buena Park, B&O employees are able to play a direct role in Yamaha's "Process Excellence" program, a companywide project to improve processes and communication within the organization in order to bring about a more fully integrated corporate environment.

With this new adaptation comes a renewed dedication to school service dealers. Many people in the division's top management positions come from school service backgrounds, and bring with them a well-earned understanding of exactly what school retailers' need. Despite recent shifts in the market and distribution channels, such as online sales and competition from China, Yamaha's longstanding dedication to the school dealer remains its primary focus.

"Bringing our B&O staff here to Buena Park is all about enhancing integration, cooperation and our concept of a unified 'one Yamaha,'" says Terry Lewis, Senior Vice President, Music Marketing Group, Yamaha Corporation of America. "The reorganization that has accompanied the move also gives us a fresh focus on our valued customers in the school music world who have always meant so much to our success."

Yamaha Musical Products (YMP), the division's manufacturing facility for instruments and accessory products since 1974, remains in Grand Rapids with approximately 275 employees. Parts ordering, warranty service functions, and the Custom Shop will continue to operate from there as well, with no interruption in service.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011 or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.