Honda North America plans to merge its headquarters and North American Services division “under one roof” at its Marysville, Ohio campus.

The move will strengthen its leadership function of its North American regional operations to enhance its ability to deliver high quality products to the customer more quickly and efficiently, Honda officials said. The changes will help achieve this through more efficient management and quicker decision making, and by merging some of the support functions common to multiple Honda companies in North America under one roof.

Last year, Honda outlined key strategies that increased the role played by Honda's sales, manufacturing and R&D operations in North America within Honda's global business. "These organizational changes will improve the speed of decision-making and the efficiency of our business operations," said Tetsuo Iwamura, chief operating officer of Honda's North American Regional Operations, which includes the U.S, Canada and Mexico. "Our global customers desire new, exciting and affordable automobile, motorcycle and power equipment products, and these changes will enhance our ability to quickly bring our customers' dreams to the market."

Since its founding in 1987, Honda North America has served as a coordinating entity for such operations as legal services, corporate audit and risk management. In its evolving role, HNA will house several members of senior executive management responsible for strategic oversight over North American sales, manufacturing and R&D for the company's product lines. HNA has offices in Torrance, Calif., Marysville, Ohio, Detroit, Mich., New York, NY and Washington, D.C.

Honda North America Services, the new shared services company, will be based in Marysville, Ohio, with an additional office in Torrance, Calif. HNAS will provide many of Honda's common support functions in North America, and streamline coordination of Honda's R&D, manufacturing, purchasing and sales functions as they relate to the introduction of new products.

Most Honda associates assigned to these entities will be located on the Marysville campus in Ohio, but others will remain at other facilities throughout North America. Current Ohio-based associates will remain in Ohio. It is anticipated that fewer than 50 associates involved in support and strategic functions at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in Torrance, Calif., will transfer to HNA and HNAS over the course of the next fiscal year beginning April 1, 2013. The formation of HNAS and changes to HNA are not expected to result in additional employment.