Business Strategies: The Toyota Way

The Toyota Way is a 14 point approach to quality control.

In summary, it consists of the following:

1. Plan and implement for the long term - even if it means losing short term gain.

2. A continuous process review will identify problems

3. Take delivery of only those items you need for current orders and production runs.

4. Work at a steady pace, not in bursts of speed and then slack off

5. Make quality the first priority and if a quality issue arises, it is better to stop production to fix the cause rather than to build in errors that have to be rectified later.

6. If activities can be reduced to routines, or good habits, then the opportunities for error are reduced.

7. Keep work areas clean and tidy and make sure there is a place for everything and everything is in its place

8. Identify and order or develop the technology you need; don't be sold technology you don't need.

9. Work in teams, with experience being passed down to newer members who should learn best practice from their elders.

10. Let the teams share in success - and failures. Don't let any one individual take all the credit or blame.

11. Make your suppliers part of your quality chain: help them to excel so that you may do likewise.

12. If there's a problem, go and look at it instead of relying on second-hand information.

13. Reach decisions carefully, after discussions; once a decision is made, implement it without delay

14. Constantly examine the processes and production to ensure continuous improvement.

(c) The Chief Officers' Network at www.chiefofficers.net