Accra, June 10, GNA - Toyota Company Ghana Limited, on Thursday, organized a Users Conference, aimed at creating an opportunity for users to interact and share their opinions about products and services to enable management to improve on its operations.

The conference, on the theme: 93Best Product, Best Service, Satisfied Customer," was also to educate customers on the dangers of the influx of non genuine Toyota parts in the country.

Opening the one-day conference in Accra, the Managing Director of Toyota Ghana Limited, Mr Takahiko Takabayashi, said over the years, the company had focused on continuous improvement of customer satisfaction, but with the customer demand, environment and technological conditions changes, there was the need to meet and discuss issues for mutual benefit.

"It is also to strengthen your convictions, as influencers and decision makers on vehicle purchase, to take Toyota as the first and preferred brand when you are making decisions on vehicle procurement," he added.

He said the company was operating in major areas, including quality improvement, not only in the models, but also in the management, processes, systems and procedure; after sales service, as well as the expansion of service facilities; spare part operations and corporate social responsibility.

He urged them to purchase all their Toyota parts from the designated importers and outlets to guarantee the safety of their Vehicles. Mr Takabayashi said their contributions and suggestions would be taken and implemented to enhance their operation in future.

Mr Wilfred Atuobi, National Parts Manager, Toyota Ghana, in a presentation on the anti-counterfeit campaign said, dangers of the use of fake Toyota parts were numerous, including short life span of the engine, high maintenance cost, uncomfortable driving conditions, safety, security of passengers and vehicle.

He said the objective of the presentation was to make customers aware of the existence of counterfeit Toyota parts on the market.

In addition, it would inform them on the dangers and benefits of the use of Toyota genuine parts on the vehicles

"Some of the Toyota key products imitated include; oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, brake pads, drive belts, spark plugs and shock absorbers", he added.

On the benefits of using the right parts, Mr Atuobi noted that it was cost effective and would not bring any problems.

He said the future plan of management was to intensify the anti-counterfeit campaign and organise series of garage customer incentive programmes, fleet customer education and managers conference in all their branches.

Mr Eric Darko, General Manager of the company, said there was the need to have after sales service to satisfy the needs of the customer.

He announced that the company has opened a new delivery centre to be commissioned soon to benefit customers in the Greater Accra Metropolis.

On after sales service, Mr Andy Lampety, Head of After Sale service, said the company has introduced the Expressed Maintenance (EM) service to improve customer satisfaction.

In addition, the EM was to improve quality periodic maintenance guaranteed within one hour, adding that, the country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to introduce this service.

He said as part of the company's activities, training would be organised for fleet mechanic users and fleet user drivers.