Toyota Production System

What does learning look like at Toyota?

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Lean as a two-step engine

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FeaturesMar 14, 2019

Michael Ballé & Nicolas Chartier

FEATURE – One of the things making lean thinking so hard to explain in general terms is its dual nature as both an organizational and managerial approach. The authors explain how to handle this tension.

Jishuken at Toyota Motor Kyushu

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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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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