Toyota

A lean view on… the fight against climate change

InterviewsOct 15, 2020

INTERVIEW – What is the contribution of Lean Thinking to the battle against climate change? Michael Ballé discusses the Toyota approach to sustainability and what it takes to push "green" to the top of the business agenda.

Passing down TPS across generations

FeaturesJun 29, 2020

Joe Lee, Toshiko Narusawa and John Shook

FEATURE – This intimate account looks back at the time one of the authors spent working with Harada-san and how it shaped his career and encouraged him to spread TPS knowledge.

Keep calm and manage stably: Akio Toyoda on crises

FeaturesMay 21, 2020

Jeff Liker and John Shook

FEATURE – Akio Toyoda’s May 12th press conference to present Toyota’s financial results offers great insights into how the company is reacting to the pandemic, say Jeff Liker and John Shook.

Harada-san and the steps to better Jidoka

FeaturesMar 23, 2020

Toshiko Narusawa, Joe Lee and John Shook

FEATURE – In the first piece of a series on Takehiko Harada’s contribution to TPS, the authors discuss the Nagara Switch and how it helps to achieve better Jidoka.

What does learning look like at Toyota?

InterviewsSep 23, 2019

Martyn Hayward and Yian Baty

INTERVIEW – Toyota’s approach to developing capabilities and its focus on life-long learning are inspirational. But how do people at Toyota actually learn?

Introducing the Toyota Flow System

FeaturesJul 9, 2019

Nigel Thurlow, John R. Turner and Brian Rivera

FEATURE – In the age of complexity and disruption, flowing value to customers as quickly as possible is critical. The new Toyota Flow System strives to address this issue.

Leading a quality revolution

InterviewsMay 23, 2019

Sadao Nomura

INTERVIEW – A couple of weeks ago, our editor caught up with Toyota veteran Sadao Nomura. In this Q&A, he discusses quality improvement and leadership engagement.

Surviving an inflection point

FeaturesApr 9, 2019

Jim Morgan

FEATURE – The car industry is undergoing incredible change and ‘disruption’ is the word on everyone’s lips. How can companies survive it? Once again, Toyota shows us the way.

Jishuken at Toyota Motor Kyushu

InterviewsMar 2, 2019

Hideshi Yokoi

INTERVIEW – A team from LGN just spent a week on the gemba with Toyota veteran Hideshi Yokoi for a jishuken exercise. We asked him to explain to us how he used this practice while at Toyota Motor Kyushu.

The formula behind the success of Toyota

InterviewsJan 22, 2019

Tracey and Ernie Richardson

INTERVIEW – What is the secret to Toyota’s ability to engage people in continuous improvement? Tracey and Ernie Richardson look back at their time with the company and tell us.

Developing lean thinkers – Lessons from Toyota

FeaturesJan 19, 2019

Joakim Hillberg

VIDEO - In this video from the recent European Lean Educator Conference, John Shook and Isao Yoshino draw on their experience at Toyota to reflect on the development of lean thinkers.

Bringing agility to Toyota

InterviewsAug 22, 2018

Nigel Thurlow

INTERVIEW – The Chief of Agile at Toyota Connected tells us about the agility journey of Toyota and explains why the divide between lean thinking and Agile has no reason to exist.

What this leader has learned in 40 years at Toyota Australia

InterviewsMay 2, 2018

Roberto Priolo

PROFILE – What does one learn from working for Toyota over 40 years? This Australian leader has developed a unique holistic view, and a strong set of technical and social skills.

How we secured a future for employees at Toyota Australia

FeaturesMar 14, 2018

Doug Rickarby

FEATURE – Last year’s shut-down of Toyota’s Altona plant in Australia moved us all. Here, the former Divisional Manager of Manufacturing offers a first-hand account of how the company made the most of a terrible situation.

Isao Yoshino reflects on the role of management at Toyota

InterviewsJan 15, 2018

Isao Yoshino

INTERVIEW – In this Q&A with Catherine Chabiron, Toyota veteran Isao Yoshino discusses NUMMI, management at the company, and how to change the mindsets of leaders.

Walking the gemba at a Toyota parts supplier in Japan

FeaturesDec 7, 2017

Catherine Chabiron

NOTES FROM THE GEMBA – This month, the author shares her account of a recent gemba walk at a Tier 2 Toyota supplier, which has achieved impressive results by applying TPS.

Five key takeaways from our lean week visiting Toyota

FeaturesNov 17, 2017

Planet Lean

ROUND-UP – The Lean Global Network’s week in Japan in September was full of learning and inspiration. We asked five LGNers to share their biggest takeaways.

John Shook discusses Toyota and Japan at Nagoya station

InterviewsOct 10, 2017

John Shook

INTERVIEW – For its 10th anniversary, the Lean Global Network went to Japan for a study mission. Our editor spoke with John Shook on a Shinkansen platform after four days in Toyota City and Nagoya.

Receive Articles in your Inbox

Connect with us

We are also here