Editor’s note (2026): This 2007 post is lightly refreshed for clarity and structure. The core lesson–that Lean succeeds or fails on trust and leadership–remains unchanged. tl;dr: The andon cord isn’t a tool–it’s a trust signal. Toyota’s thousands of line stops reflect psychological safety and leadership support. Ford’s rare pulls reflected fear and mistrust. Lean succeeds or fails on culture, not mechanics. The BBC highlights lean practices and provides a stunning contrast between Toyota and Ford … Continue reading Toyota vs. Ford: What Andon Cord Pulls Reveal About Culture and Trust