Toyota Production System

Developing lean thinkers – Lessons from Toyota

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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.

Monozukuri, Hitozukuri, Kotozukuri

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ResearchJan 8, 2019
Michael Ballé, Daryl Powell and Kodo Yokozawa
RESEARCH – The authors present a new perspective on value creation. In addition to monozukuri (making things) and hitozukuri (making people), they discuss the idea of kotozukuri, making things happen.

Good Thinking, Good Products

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FeaturesSep 17, 2018
Daryl Powell and Michael Ballé
FEATURE – Following a recent visit to Toyota, the authors strive to challenge popular beliefs and shed a light on the underlying philosophy that has made TPS a success for over half a century.

The depth of lean thinking

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FeaturesAug 14, 2018
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – To really embrace lean thinking means to ensure the bureaucratic structures in our organizations enable our people to excel, rather than constrain their creativity.

Lean Thinking: ingredients, incubation and diffusion

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FeaturesJul 24, 2018
John Shook
FEATURE – The author offers an overview of the ingredients that made lean thinking what it is, of the 30 years of incubation it underwent at Toyota, and of its diffusion from 1980 onwards.
building trust lean company

Michael Ballé on how to really build trust in a lean company

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FeaturesJun 1, 2018
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – In this interesting piece, the author explains why living up to the ideal of mutual trust is hard, and how lean tools can help us build a workplace based on respect.
An interview with lean pioneer Freddy Ballé

An interview with lean thinking pioneer Freddy Ballé

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InterviewsMay 21, 2018
Catherine Chabiron
INTERVIEW – Having started to explore TPS in the mid-1970s, Freddy Ballé is one of the great pioneers of our movement. Here, he shares what he learned about Toyota over the past 40 years.
Doug Rickarby profile lean leadership

What this leader has learned in 40 years at Toyota Australia

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ProfilesMay 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.
Isao Yoshino interview lean management Toyota

Isao Yoshino reflects on the role of management at Toyota

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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.
Mifune supply chain management Toyota

Walking the gemba at a Toyota parts supplier in Japan

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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.
Michael Ballé on kaizen

Why real kaizen and innovation start with leadership

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FeaturesNov 21, 2017
Michael Ballé, Benoît Charles-Lavauzelle & Régis Médina
FEATURE – Following a visit to a Toyota supplier in Japan, the authors reflect on the nature of kaizen and explain why we might be looking for it in the wrong place.
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Five key takeaways from our lean week visiting Toyota

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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 in Toyota City with the LGN

John Shook discusses Toyota and Japan at Nagoya station

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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.
Tracey Richardson lessons Toyota

Tracey Richardson on the deep meaning of standards at Toyota

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FeaturesAug 21, 2017
Tracey Richardson
FEATURE – Through this intimate anecdote from her days at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, the author tells us of her experience with standardization… and of the deep leadership lessons hiding behind it.
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Jim Womack on the lean shut-down of Toyota Australia

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Womack's YokotenMay 30, 2017
Jim Womack
WOMACK'S YOKOTEN – On October 3, Toyota will cease its manufacturing operations in Australia, but the way it is managing the transition - in the leanest way possible - holds great lessons for us all.
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What levelled production has to do with product costing

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FeaturesFeb 3, 2017
Ian Glenday
FEATURE – What does levelled production have to do with product costing? This article explains how getting your accountants to understand this link can help your company become less complex, more efficient and profitable.
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Understanding buffer limits in levelled production

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FeaturesAug 17, 2016
Ian Glenday
FEATURE – Setting the right buffer limits and re-order point, triggering production of an item, is critical for an organization to manage inventory. In his latest article, Ian Glenday explains why, once again, picking flow over batch logic is a no-brainer.
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Womack: lean transformed automotive once and can do it again

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Womack's YokotenMay 30, 2016
Jim Womack
WOMACK’S YOKOTEN – In this month’s column, Jim shares an insightful analysis of the trends and dynamics of today’s automotive industry and looks at the opportunity that lean has to facilitate its next transformation.