Comments on: Toyota’s Commitment to People http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: To Layoff or Not To Layoff — That Really is a Question — Lean Blog http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-20103 To Layoff or Not To Layoff — That Really is a Question — Lean Blog Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:54:47 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-20103 [...] Lean/DBS efforts. If sales have dropped, you don’t need as much staff. But what about Toyota? Their sales have fallen as much as anybody’s and they’re keeping on their full time empl... (4500 employees being trained instead of fired). Toyota does let go temps, but they know [...] [...] Lean/DBS efforts. If sales have dropped, you don’t need as much staff. But what about Toyota? Their sales have fallen as much as anybody’s and they’re keeping on their full time empl… (4500 employees being trained instead of fired). Toyota does let go temps, but they know [...]

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-5643 Mark Graban Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:38:54 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-5643 Toyota has, of course, resumed production at this plant and has been increasing production to replace inventories that were depleted by the cash for clunkers program.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Production-increases-at-San-Antonio-Tundra-plant/iXVq-717qUuG7arYS5t9nA.cspx" rel="nofollow">LINK</a> Toyota has, of course, resumed production at this plant and has been increasing production to replace inventories that were depleted by the cash for clunkers program.

LINK

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Maurice W. http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3969 Maurice W. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:08:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3969 Wow. That's great commitment by Toyota. I'm sure it will lead to great employee loyalty in Texas. It draws a stark contrast with many other companies here (in America). They seem too worried about a dip in stock price to see the great worth of their trained, experienced employees. Wow. That’s great commitment by Toyota. I’m sure it will lead to great employee loyalty in Texas. It draws a stark contrast with many other companies here (in America). They seem too worried about a dip in stock price to see the great worth of their trained, experienced employees.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mahendiran http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3963 Mahendiran Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:14:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3963 Great article and thanks for presenting it. It is a great decision by Toyota and definitely shows their long term focus and looking at the big picture of the business.Paying 2000 people for few months does not really cost any money considering the benefits that are going to come out when the business ramps up again. Toyota proves it again...... Great article and thanks for presenting it. It is a great decision by Toyota and definitely shows their long term focus and looking at the big picture of the business.Paying 2000 people for few months does not really cost any money considering the benefits that are going to come out when the business ramps up again. Toyota proves it again……

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3960 Anonymous Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:32:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3960 Did you see Matt May's blog post about this? OUCH!<br/><br/><a HREF="http://www.matthewemay.com/elegant_solutions/2008/08/texas-twister.html#comments" REL="nofollow">Elegant Solutions Blog</a><br/><br/>Man, tell us what you really think about Womack and Liker... check it out. Did you see Matt May’s blog post about this? OUCH!

Elegant Solutions Blog

Man, tell us what you really think about Womack and Liker… check it out.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3935 Anonymous Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:46:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3935 I think an interesting comparison is to look at the practices of a typical hospital. When patient census (volume) is down, they'll send staff home. They can be ruthless about managing to a single labor cost metric instead of using that free time to improve quality and processes. I think society wouyld benefit from us "beating up" on our local hospitals (in a friendly, helpful way) instead of "beating up on" GM. <br/><br/>We should share this Toyota examples with hospital CEOs. Who has "respect for people" in mind? I think an interesting comparison is to look at the practices of a typical hospital. When patient census (volume) is down, they’ll send staff home. They can be ruthless about managing to a single labor cost metric instead of using that free time to improve quality and processes. I think society wouyld benefit from us “beating up” on our local hospitals (in a friendly, helpful way) instead of “beating up on” GM.

We should share this Toyota examples with hospital CEOs. Who has “respect for people” in mind?

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3934 Anonymous Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:41:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3934 I wouldn't call that "standard work", having a consistent union contract. <br/><br/>Saturn was certainly ahead of its time... But 11 yrs later, they're no longer a unique animal. As with the hopes of EDS making GM modern and agile, the larger body exerted its force on the smaller. Saturn didn't save GM, you could argue GM (and the UAW) ruined Saturn. <br/><br/>Are any GM plants following Toyota's lead today, or just keeping workers home? I wouldn’t call that “standard work”, having a consistent union contract.

Saturn was certainly ahead of its time… But 11 yrs later, they’re no longer a unique animal. As with the hopes of EDS making GM modern and agile, the larger body exerted its force on the smaller. Saturn didn’t save GM, you could argue GM (and the UAW) ruined Saturn.

Are any GM plants following Toyota’s lead today, or just keeping workers home?

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: nick http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3933 nick Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:37:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3933 Toyota must be improve their technical skill to produce a perfect vehicle for the future. Toyota must be improve their technical skill to produce a perfect vehicle for the future.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Bob Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3932 Bob Graban Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:28:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3932 Wow, what a great, original idea from Toyota!<br/><br/>Oh, wait ... hmm ... I've come across a UAW Local 1853 newsletter from Sept. 5, 1997 at the Saturn plant talking about their training during a sales shutdown (I doubt <a HREF="http://www.saturn.gm.com/saturn/uaw1853/UAWNews/Sept/sept0597.htm" REL="nofollow">this link</a> works outside of GM, but you can try).<br/><br/><br/>Quoting:<br/><br/><i> Beginning this week and starting today, Saturn will reduce its manufacturing output through a series of steps, including eliminating production two shifts per week through the end of the year. <br/>Current market conditions in the small car market and declining demand for small cars industrywide are attributed to this strategy of reducing inventory in the field. <br/><br/>To face this challenge, Saturn is standing by its policy of no layoffs and showing its commitment to job security. Rather than laying off members because of the underbuild, the organization is grabbing this opportunity to conduct other meaningful activities during the downtime. <br/><br/>[...] During the non-production time, training will shift into high gear, teams are expected to conduct team building activities, maintenance will perform projects to relieve manufacturing bottlenecks across the site, future model preparations will get underway and a host of other important and value-added activities will take place.<br/><br/>This production adjustment plan was rolled out to members on the floor a week ago today.<br/><br/>"At any General Motors facility we would have a layoff right now under these market conditions. But not here; at Saturn we’re different, we are committed to job security," says Local 1853 President Joe Rypkowski. "Once again," Joe observes, "our unique labor agreement is serving Local 1853 members very well." <br/><br/>"I ask everyone in the Saturn organization to do their part during this challenging period by working harder than ever to continue to protect our jobs –our livelihood. Let’s all pull together," says Rypkowski. <br/></i><br/><br/>Wow, GM even thought about building small cars (the industry-wide small car market was down), reducing bottlenecks, etc. While the plant no longer builds Saturns and operates under the standard GM-UAW agreement (standard work?), it is now producing high-quality Chevrolet Traverse crossovers. Perhaps they wish they were building small cars again. <br/><br/>In the interest of disclosure, I am a GM employee. Wow, what a great, original idea from Toyota!

Oh, wait … hmm … I’ve come across a UAW Local 1853 newsletter from Sept. 5, 1997 at the Saturn plant talking about their training during a sales shutdown (I doubt this link works outside of GM, but you can try).

Quoting:

Beginning this week and starting today, Saturn will reduce its manufacturing output through a series of steps, including eliminating production two shifts per week through the end of the year.
Current market conditions in the small car market and declining demand for small cars industrywide are attributed to this strategy of reducing inventory in the field.

To face this challenge, Saturn is standing by its policy of no layoffs and showing its commitment to job security. Rather than laying off members because of the underbuild, the organization is grabbing this opportunity to conduct other meaningful activities during the downtime.

[...] During the non-production time, training will shift into high gear, teams are expected to conduct team building activities, maintenance will perform projects to relieve manufacturing bottlenecks across the site, future model preparations will get underway and a host of other important and value-added activities will take place.

This production adjustment plan was rolled out to members on the floor a week ago today.

“At any General Motors facility we would have a layoff right now under these market conditions. But not here; at Saturn we’re different, we are committed to job security,” says Local 1853 President Joe Rypkowski. “Once again,” Joe observes, “our unique labor agreement is serving Local 1853 members very well.”

“I ask everyone in the Saturn organization to do their part during this challenging period by working harder than ever to continue to protect our jobs –our livelihood. Let’s all pull together,” says Rypkowski.

Wow, GM even thought about building small cars (the industry-wide small car market was down), reducing bottlenecks, etc. While the plant no longer builds Saturns and operates under the standard GM-UAW agreement (standard work?), it is now producing high-quality Chevrolet Traverse crossovers. Perhaps they wish they were building small cars again.

In the interest of disclosure, I am a GM employee.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Ralf Lippold http://www.leanblog.org/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3930 Ralf Lippold Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:41:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/09/toyotas-committment-to-people/#comment-3930 Hi Mark,<br/><br/>That is really great news. I wish similar events would be used in this manner at other OEMs instead of sending people home where they are sitting iddling around.<br/><br/>So the collective intelligence can really get to work and I think the Toyota officials are quite right:<br/><br/>There is always enough to improve (even without running the assembly line!)<br/><br/>Best from Leipzig<br/><br/>Ralf<br/><br/>PS.: Diversity while looking at current issues can lead to really exceptional results:-)) Hi Mark,

That is really great news. I wish similar events would be used in this manner at other OEMs instead of sending people home where they are sitting iddling around.

So the collective intelligence can really get to work and I think the Toyota officials are quite right:

There is always enough to improve (even without running the assembly line!)

Best from Leipzig

Ralf

PS.: Diversity while looking at current issues can lead to really exceptional results:-))

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]>