Discover the timeless principles behind Toyota’s legendary management philosophy in The Toyota Way by Jeffrey K. Liker. This insightful book provides the 14 core principles that have propelled Toyota to the forefront of the automotive industry, offering valuable lessons on continuous improvement, respect for people, and operational excellence.
The most important factors for success are patience, a focus on long-term rather than short-term results, reinvestment in people, product, and plant, and an unforgiving commitment to quality.
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A better approach is to develop a vision of a system that will achieve the organization’s goals and then systematically strive to achieve that vision through kaizen.
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Think of your organization as a living sociotechnical system rather than simple and direct cause-and-effect relationships.”
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Flow value to each customer, ideally one by one, without stagnation!
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“…lowering the ‘water level’ of inventory exposes problems (like rocks in the water), and you are forced to deal with the problems.”
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In the Toyota Way, it is standard practice for leaders to develop subordinates who can do their jobs as well as or better than they can.
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Respect for people and continuous improvement are the twin pillars of the Toyota Way.
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There is no such thing as a hands-off leader at Toyota.
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The idea is to make every product every day, which requires building small quantities in sequence, frequently switching over between different products.
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By producing in smaller quantities and leveling the workload, Toyota is able to respond more quickly to changes in customer demand.
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A common saying heard around Toyota is, ‘Before we build cars, we build people.’
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Leadership and culture are intertwined—through their behavior and coaching, leaders at all levels spread the culture broad and deep.
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Genchi genbutsu—go and see to understand and learn—is one of the most important core values for coaching and spreading the culture.
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Leaders at Toyota must develop a deep understanding of the work, live the philosophy, and teach it to others.
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The Toyota Way is based on a philosophical sense of purpose that supersedes any short-term decision making.
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More important than the actual improvements that individuals contribute, the true value of continuous improvement is in creating an atmosphere of continuous learning and an environment that not only accepts, but actually embraces change.
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We must engage the minds of people to support and contribute their ideas to the organization.
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Continuous improvement literally means continually improving products, processes, and people at all levels of the organization.
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We accept challenges with a creative spirit and the courage to realize our own dreams without losing drive or energy.
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Toyota believes that the key to success is developing exceptional people who follow your company’s philosophy.
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The true power of the Toyota Production System is that it combines a management philosophy and production techniques into a coherent, dynamic whole.
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Whether you’re a business leader, manager, or simply interested in effective management practices, The Toyota Way offers invaluable insights that are both practical and transformative.
Citation: Liker, J. K. (2004). The Toyota Way: 14 management principles from the world’s greatest manufacturer. McGraw-Hill.
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