AISIN Corp. recently announced changes to the executive team at AISIN USA Manufacturing Inc. aka AUM effective April 1.

The announcement was made by Scott Turpin, president and CEO of AISIN World Corp. of America, who outlined the following: Makoto Endo, president of AUM since 2016, is returning to Japan for a new executive assignment; Shawn Deppen, current senior vice president of AWA, will become president of AUM; and Ervin Warren, current vice president at AUM, will become executive vice president of AUM.

Deppen joined the company in 1990 as a production control specialist, responsible for parts procurement, inventory control and pre-production planning for brake and engine components. He was subsequently promoted to management and has held several planning and production-related positions at AISIN Drivetrain Inc., AISIN Holdings of America and AISIN World Corp. of America, where he was named senior vice president in 2022.

Deppen, a Seymour resident, earned a Bachelor of Science in public affairs at Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He also received executive training at the University of Chicago and Cornell University.

Warren, a Brownstown resident, has spent his entire 36-year career at AISIN, beginning immediately after graduation from high school. He was promoted from his position on the door and belt line process to quality supervisor for door frames, mouldings and hinges. With a specialty in quality, Warren has held roles in every department at AUM, eventually being promoted to vice president of Plant-1 manufacturing.

Since it was established in 1987 with 250 employees in a 150,000-square-foot facility, AUM has expanded to include nearly 2,000 team members who produce a variety of automotive products in a manufacturing center that exceeds a million square feet and two plants. Principal parts and systems manufactured at AUM include door frames and related components, seat components, power slide door sensors, mouldings, and many others.

AUM customers include Toyota, Subaru, Honda and Stellantis.

Turpin said in a news release that much of the growth and success of AUM is due in part to the leadership of Endo.

“AUM is vital to the success of AISIN nationally and globally, and we appreciate the dedication and leadership that Endo-san has demonstrated throughout his long tenure there,” Turpin said. “Endo-san led us through the last eight years of automotive evolution and extraordinary global pandemic challenges. To maintain the levels of quality manufacturing our customers depend on while keeping employees safe during this time was extremely challenging and we are grateful for his strength and determination.”

Turpin also expressed confidence in the highly experienced team of Deppen and Warren to lead AUM into the next era of the dynamic auto industry.

“Combined, these individuals have an impressive 70 years of experience in business, operations, manufacturing and production,” said Turpin. “And, importantly, they have built solid relationships with AISIN team members, customers and the community. We look forward to their continuing leadership and dedication at AUM for many years to come.”

AUM is AISIN’s first and largest manufacturing plant in North America.