The same clear thinking and drive for perfection that will soon position Toyota as the world’s largest car manufacturer has long been a factor in the success of Gray Construction, a burgeoning family-run firm located in Lexington, Ky. Gray’s penchant for kaizen, continuous improvement and a total team concept, have helped it land over 250 exacting projects for Japanese firms and another equally demanding 500 projects for American, European and Korean firms.
After the untimely death of founder James Norris Gray in 1972 left the firm in the hands of his widow, Lois and their two oldest sons, Howard and Jim, the family saw Japanese construction activity in the South as a potentially rewarding emerging market. They did their homework, including traveling to Japan, touring plants, learning Japanese management styles and the language. The firm landed several contracts with Toshiba and Hitachi in the late 1970s and early 80s, but it was the Georgetown (Ky.) Toyota Assembly Plant project that kick-started a long and productive relationship.