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.
Business – theage.com.au Are you sick of reading about Toyota’s success? I’m not. This reporter does a pretty good job of capturing the main points of the Toyota Production System. “… if they [visitors to the factory] are looking for…
TOYOTA: Company > Vision/Phillosophy I believe some of this material is new, or at least worth re-visiting. The Toyota Production System, an overview presented on the Toyota Global Website. Please check out my main blog page at www.leanblog.org The RSS…
Born in Japan made in USA – 05/30/06 – The Detroit News Online: Here is an article about Toyota’s Fujio Cho. I don’t take the view of another blog, which calls Toyota “racist” for having an solely Japanese board. I’m…
Lexington Herald-Leader | 05/21/2006 | Toyota plant celebrates 20 years 20 Years in Georgetown (above) 10 Years in West Virgina There were celebrations in Kentucky: Toyota brought its 7,000 employees and their guests to Rupp Arena for car giveaways and…
Seth’s Blog: In search of better Seth Godin asks if we should try to make processes better or “different.” It makes me think back to this morning’s WSJ article comparing the upcoming Toyota San Antonio plant with the existing (and…
Racing Junky – How Toyota will shape the NASCAR of tomorrow I’m not a racing fan, but here is an interesting column about the impact that Toyota will have on racing, written from the perspective of a racing guy. It…
Toyota NAmerica forms independent panel to evaluate workplace harassment – Forbes.com Toyota Motor North America Names New Leadership Team, Appointing Yuki Funo Chairman and CEO, and Jim Press President If there is any upside in the alleged Toyota sexual harrassment…
05/11/06 – The Detroit News Record annual profits for Toyota. That seems to happen every year now. Profits = Cash = Investment = More Profits. It’s a nice cycle to be in. But the cash-rich Japanese rival is stepping up…
AP Wire | 05/10/2006 | Toyota’s quarterly profit jumps 39 percent Quarterly business update on Toyota, including some executive changes. Just about the only recent trouble Toyota has encountered is a $190 million sexual harassment lawsuit filed last week against…
Evolving Excellence: If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Drag ‘Em Down To Your Level I thought of Bill Waddell when I read this article in the Wall St. Journal today. For all of Toyota’s good practices, the idea of adopting some…
DesMoinesRegister.com More good lean news coming out of Iowa, this time in the “lean healthcare” world there. University Hospitals is among at least a dozen Iowa hospitals using or considering using Lean Manufacturing, a zero-waste process developed by Toyota, the…
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Article I think it’s great that Toyota is investing in the U.S. and creating jobs here. That’s obviously a huge plus for the economy and I don’t blame that expansion for GM and Ford’s failures. Imagine how bleak…