Interesting article on the flow of talent from the Big 3 to Toyota, as well as the other Asian auto manufacturers. The article also talks about the flow from Toyota back to the others.
The article also goes into some of the cultural differences of working at Toyota:
“Working for the Japanese isn't for everybody,” said Bal Dubey, a chemical engineer who started his career with GM then worked for seven years at the Toyota Technical Center and most recently worked for Ford.
“You have to be highly disciplined,” he said. Rules are rules: If employees must be at their desks at 8 a.m., they're at their desks at 8 a.m. “The Japanese are very regimented.”
The Japanese also strictly separate their professional and personal lives, he said. “This society is different. We talk to our girlfriends at work, check stocks on the Internet, read newspapers.”
Does anyone have experiences to share, anonymously, about working for Toyota or switching between automakers? (Click the Comments link)
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Mark Graban
Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. His most recent book is the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus. His latest book has been released as an "in-progress" book, titled Measures of Success.