SAN ANTONIO – Toyota’s 2,000-employee San Antonio plant started production of the company’s 2009 model Tundra pickups Monday, ending a three-month shutdown forced by a faltering economy and weak sales. The plant completed the first 2009 Tundra just minutes after the 6:30 a.m. production start, according to www.chron.com.

The Japanese automaker silenced the factory in August after the faltering economy and rising fuel prices slashed demand for full-size trucks. It was the first time it had temporarily halted production at a U.S. plant.

Toyota team members spent the past three months on the payroll, training and working to strengthen manufacturing processes. At the end of the period, the factory had implemented 1,000 kaizens — or process improvements — designed to improve safety, efficiency, and quality.

The plant currently is operating one production shift, letting workers on its two shifts split time between production and kaizen work.

The company is expected to return a second shift around April, provided sales numbers pick back up.

The restart also affects 21 on-site suppliers that make Tundra parts. Most have been operating just three days a week since the Toyota’s plant shutdown and now can resume a standard workweek.

Toyota’s 21 onsite suppliers employ about 2,000 people.