In Hill et. al., 12thEd., read Case Study 16: Toyota: Lean Production and the Rise of the World’s Largest Automobile Manufacturer, and prepare responses for the questions below as instructed. A short synopsis of the case study is provided here. Toyota Synopsis The case describes the evolution of Toyota’s manufacturing system from its early days until the present day. The central theme is that distinctive competencies in manufacturing and materials management can form the bedrock of a company’s competitive advantage. Toyota’s distinctive competency in manufacturing and materials management developed over a forty-year period through a process of experimentation and innovation. The case opens with a discussion of the early days of Toyota. Its survival was precarious in the 1930s and 1940s. Indeed, had it not been for the persistence of a handful of key executives and a good measure of luck, Toyota might never have gotten off the ground. The case then moves on to describe the evolution of Toyota’s manufacturing system. Referred to as lean production or flexible product
ion, this system includes reduced set-up times, organization, improved quality control, and the kanban system of having parts delivered just in time. The consequences of this system include high labor productivity, high quality, low costs, and an ability to produce a wide model range at no cost penalty. The case then discusses how Toyota has tried to bring its customers into the design and production planning process by building lifetime relationships with individual customers. The case then moves on to discuss the company’s successful expansion overseas, including its major investments in North America, before closing with a discussion of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and its aftermath. (A-G) Compare and contrast Toyota’s manufacturing system with a conventional mass-production system. What are the advantages of Toyota’s system?
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