Tag: Toyota

Toyota Thinking: Leadership, Systems, and Continuous Improvement

Toyota is often cited as the inspiration for Lean, but its success is rooted in leadership behaviors, management systems, and a deep commitment to learning—not tools or slogans. This archive brings together blog posts, podcasts, and reflections on Toyota’s approach to quality, continuous improvement, psychological safety, and respect for people. Many of these posts explore what leaders outside Toyota often misunderstand—and what truly matters if they hope to learn from Toyota rather than copy it.

Lean Coffee Talk #1 (Lean Whiskey #51): Starbucks, Honeywell, Tariffs, and...

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Listen: We would have called this Episode 51 of the Lean Whiskey podcast with Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban. Lean Whiskey is transitioning to a new...

Inside NUMMI: Isao Yoshino on Toyota’s Cultural Transformation in America

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A former Toyota leader shares firsthand insights on the mindset shifts, leadership behaviors, and management systems that transformed NUMMI from a failed GM plant...

Toyota Raku: How Ergonomics and Respect for People Improve Performance

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TL;DR: Raku is Toyota's approach to ergonomics--designing work so it's easier, safer, and less frustrating for people. It's a practical expression of respect for...

Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: February 21, 2025

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Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly...

The Best of Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape 2024

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Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly...

Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: December 13, 2024

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Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly...

Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: November 29, 2024

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Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly...

Reflections on Meeting Isao Yoshino in Japan: My First Trip in...

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Twelve years later, I realized I had already met the legendary Toyota leader on my very first Lean trip to Japan. Here's what I...

Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: August 9, 2024

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Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly...

My Shingo Webinar Recording on Learning from Mistakes and More

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TL;DR: Learning from mistakes requires more than problem-solving tools -- it requires psychological safety.In this Shingo Institute webinar, Mark Graban explains why fear and...

I’ll Be Speaking, Learning, and Facilitating at the Global Lean Summit

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I'm very happy to be participating in Jared Thatcher's "Global Lean Summit" event this September in Indiana. I'll be there to network and learn, which...

Psychological Safety in Lean Leadership: Insights from Mike Hoseus and Toyota’s...

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This episode of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast explores psychological safety in Lean leadership through the lens of Toyota's culture, with insights from Mike...
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