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DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee hourly employees have returned to a 40-hour-a-week schedule.

The return to a full work week is up from a 36-hour per week work schedule in June and the first half of July and up from an average of 32 hours per week from February through May, Mike Brackett, vice president of the General Services Division, said Tuesday.

Brackett said he realizes many in Blount County might have wondered or asked during this recent global recession, ‘How is DENSO doing?”

“As with the entire business community, we have had to make adjustments, but we are proud that DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee has been able to maintain stable employment during this difficult period,” he said.

As of July 23, hourly associates at DENSO’s Maryville plants, located in Blount County Industrial Park, returned to a 40-hour work schedule due to a recent increase in production orders from the company’s customers, Brackett said.

“We hope these increased requirements continue, but of course there are no guarantees.”

Salaried associates have taken a 5 percent pay reduction for fiscal year 2009, with vice presidents and above accepting 10 percent pay reductions.
However, no DENSO Tennessee full-time associate was laid off during this period, according to Brackett.

“We know there will be continuing challenges as we prepare our company to be even better and stronger for the future,” he said.

DENSO manufactures electrical automotive and electronic control products, fuel management systems and meters — including products such as starters, alternators, instrument clusters and center displays — at its Maryville facilities.