Category Archives: Manufacturing

Toyota Manufacturing Powerhouse

Posted on November 28, 2005 by John Hunter

Great required reading [the broken link was removed] via Evolving Excellence, Relentless [the broken link was removed], Detroit News: As Toyota expands rapidly, it is also grappling with a shortage of skilled managers and engineers. When it decided in June … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Management Articles, Manufacturing, Psychology, Respect, Toyota Production System (TPS) | Tagged executive pay, management, Toyota | 3 Comments

Toyota Chairman Comments on India and Thailand

Posted on November 28, 2005 by John Hunter

Toyota Chief Comments on India, Thai Cos. [the broken link was removed] The chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday that auto companies in India and Thailand may soon overtake those in Japan because of their increasing focus on quality. … Continue reading →

Posted in India, Management Articles, Manufacturing | Tagged Toyota | 2 Comments

Problems with Lean Manufacturing Awards

Posted on November 17, 2005 by John Hunter

Dangers in Lean Manufacturing Awards from the Got Boondogle blog: My simple understanding of lean principles is to focus on the pursuit of company survival for eternity with the elimination of waste while adding value for customers, enhancing quality of … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Management, Manufacturing, Systems thinking | Comments Off

The Power of Why

Posted on October 31, 2005 by John Hunter

NUMMI Tour Tale #3: The Power of Why by Mark Graban: Again, another “wow” moment. For one, NUMMI put the situation in customer terms. Do not use these parts, because there would be a negative impact on the customer. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Management, Manufacturing | Comments Off

Manufacturing and the Economy

Posted on October 30, 2005 by John Hunter

In Global Market, Iowa Manufacturers Fight for Survival: The conventional wisdom has been that expanded trade would result in the United States losing low-pay, low-skilled manufacturing jobs, said David Swenson, an economic scientist at Iowa State University. But “a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Economics, Management, Manufacturing, Popular, quote | Tagged China, commentary, curiouscat, economic data, economy, Europe, Germany, Japan, John Hunter, Manufacturing, UK, USA | 3 Comments

Toyota Manufactures More Itself

Posted on October 27, 2005 by John Hunter

Bucking the trend, Toyota controls quality, cost by making many parts in house [the broken link was removed], AutoWeek via Lean Manufacturing Blog: On one hand, the company sees parts making as a critical piece of its overall quality-control program. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Management, Management Articles, Manufacturing, Systems thinking, Toyota Production System (TPS) | 1 Comment

2005 Deming Prize

Posted on October 20, 2005 by John Hunter

2005 the Deming Prize Winners Announced: The Deming Application Prize (alphabetical order) Hosei Brake Industry Co., Limited(Japan) – web site Krishna Maruti Limited, Seat Division(India) Rane Engine Valves Limited(India) – web site Rane TRW Steering Systems Limited, Steering Gear Division(India) … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, India, Management, Manufacturing | 3 Comments

Eliminating Complexity from Work

Posted on October 20, 2005 by John Hunter

Eliminating Complexity from Work: Improving Productivity by Enhancing Quality [broken link replaced with link from the Internet Archive] by F. Timothy Fuller. National Productivity Review, Autumn, 1985. A case study of a process improvement from 1985. as much as half … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Management, Manufacturing, Process improvement | Tagged lean manufacturing, productivity | Comments Off

The Best Factory in the World

Posted on October 17, 2005 by John Hunter

The Best Factory in the World (site broke link so I removed it) by Norman Bodek (from his book, Kaikaku): This is a story about a time when Bodek asked Shigeo Shingo to take him to the “very best factory … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Management, Management Articles, Manufacturing | Comments Off

Ford and Managing the Supplier Relationship

Posted on October 1, 2005 by John Hunter

Topic: Management Improvement There have a been a number of articles (Ford to slash vendors of key parts [the broken link was removed] – Ford Rethinks Supply Strategy and posts (A “Kinder and Gentler” Lean Supply Base? – Ford Adopts … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Management, Manufacturing, Systems thinking | Tagged critical thinking, culture, Deming, Management, organization as a system, problem solving, suppliers | 9 Comments