A Case Study Of Toyota

A. Case study on Toyota (356)

Toyota is one of the leading Japanese automobile manufacturing organizations in today’s era. In order to maintain their worldwide leadership they are able to maintain their specific forms of manufacturing system. Toyota is technology-based, comprehensive production management system with the primary goals of increasing productivity and reducing costs (Monden 1983).According to this Toyota is focused on providing the best within the budget. Among many of the development process I think simultaneous engineering is the vital one that Toyota follows. Toyota had been integrating simultaneous engineering for several years. Toyota plans, most machine, new or old, are equipped with such de- vices as well as various safety devices, fixed-position stopping, the full-work sys- tem, and baka-yoke fool proofing systems to prevent defective products. In this way, human intelligence, or human touch, is given to the machines.” (Ohno 1988, pp. 4-6). Production system of Toyota is the basis for much of the “Lean Production” movement and has dominated manufacturing trend for many years. Toyota’s performance is based on tools and quality improvement methods .Tools and techniques are one part while quality control, total quality control, business management techniques are another part to make Toyota better than the competitors. Manufacturing and production engineers use computer technology from early beginning for concept development and designing of their product which is less than 12 months or even less for derivative vehicle. Hence, the product development process of Toyota is more likely similar to that of Black and Decker which use engineering, industrial design, model making and prototyping, testing and computer ...

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...t of any of their competitors.

Yes there has been ongoing both radical and incremental innovation in their products. From early phase they were creating their own ideas for product development or bringing in ideas from different outsourcing and then using that concept on their own product to put best in front of the customer. An example of radical innovation was to develop a totally new radial arm saw which they had discovered in early 90’s and by using incremental innovation in it they have brought now new 20v lithium chainsaw which shows us how to produce and manage an existing product or service or innovate an idea to bundle several products together. Other items like power compact driller, batteries, trimmer, edger and mower also are also the result of ongoing innovation.

Refrences

(Monden 1983)

(Ohno 1988, pp. 4-6).

(Hyodo 1987).

(John Wiley and Sons 1998).