BOOKS
Inside the Mind of Toyota: Management Principles for Enduring Growth
New York: Productivity Press, 2006.
This book provides the most in-depth look yet at "the fundamental thinking and management structures that underlie the creation of the famed Toyota Production System."
The first chapter provides a history of the Toyota organization and looks at the contributions of various individuals to what eventually became Toyota organization of today. It identifies several traditions at the heart of Toyota:
- A pattern of linking all trials to competitive strength
- Perseverance even in the face of initial setbacks
- A gritty willingness to use whatever it takes to succeed
- Marketing schemes that emphasize users
- Production technology for mass production
- An emphasis on basic research
- Diverse efforts at technological innovation and commercialization
- Documentation of all processes
- A "learning bureaucracy"
The second chapter discusses the elements of the "Toyota paradigm": the overall company philosophy, perspectives on work, perspectives on people, perspectives on information, elimination of waste, systems thinking, decision making, and risk-taking.
The third chapter looks at Toyota's system of management functions: Total Quality Control, decision-making bodies, hoshin kanri/policy deployment, cross-functional management, Quality Assurance, Cost Management, financial and accounting systems, training, managing office work, managing documents, managing business standards, product development management, supply chain management, and company-wide information system.
The fourth chapter looks at Toyota's system of production functions: the marketing system, the individual product development system, the design management system, the design review system, use of production technology, the purchasing system, the Toyota Production System (addressed only very briefly), and the Sales system.
The fifth chapter looks at product power and brand power: This chapter examines Toyota's standing on third party ratings of Initial Quality, Vehicle Dependability, Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout, Sales Satisfaction, and Customer Satisfaction.
The sixth and last chapter covers the topic of Toyota Management in the 21st Century. Key elements include:
- Priority investments in technological development (including focus on the environment, safety, and information technologies)
- Driving globalization forward
- Enhancing cost competitiveness
- Enlarging the value chain
Other aspects include a revitalization of the company culture of continuous improvement and respect for people, innovation in product development, and development of modular design.
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