Toyota

Toyota’s real secret sauce

FeaturesMay 5, 2023
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – The hardest part of a learning journey is learning to learn and figuring out what we need to learn - as opposed to we want to. The author wonders whether we are drawing the right lessons from TPS and highlights a few things we are underemphasizing.

Lean through four generations

FeaturesAug 12, 2022
Jim Womack
FEATURE – Every lean generation has faced challenges, and it’s critical we understand the context around us if we are to continue to grow our Community, says Jim Womack.

Toyota: differentiation and vitality

FeaturesJun 14, 2022
Flávio Picchi
FEATURE – Toyota recently achieved the #1 spot in sales in the United States after 90 years of leadership by GM, which shows how capable the lean management philosophy is to overcome difficult circumstances in the market.

Post-pandemic hansei

FeaturesJun 10, 2022
Jim Womack
FEATURE – Back on the road after two years, the author reflects on how lean organizations have performed during the pandemic and addresses age-old misunderstandings about Just-in-Time.

8 key lessons from Toyota

FeaturesMay 10, 2022
Roberto Priolo
ROUND-UP – Our editor looks back at the most insightful articles Planet Lean has published on the most talked-about company in the lean world. Here are eight key lessons from Toyota, straight from our archives.

The power of suggestions

FeaturesJan 13, 2022
Andrew Quibell
FEATURE – At Toyota, led by senior executives, suggestion schemes have contributed to decades of improvement. This article explores why they are so effective and encourages you to try one out for yourself.

The way to radical lean

FeaturesAug 2, 2021
Michael Ballé
FEATURE – Reflecting on Nomura-san’s recently published book on radical quality improvement, the author encourages us to embrace the spirit of “Dantotsu” to meet the challenges we face as a society.

A chat with Nomura-san

InterviewsJul 22, 2021
Toshiko Narusawa
INTERVIEW – Following his 10 years at Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) teaching his Dantotsu method for radical quality improvement, Sadao Nomura spoke to Japanese magazine Kojo Kanri (Factory Management).