Can non-Japanese companies replicate the success of Toyota despite a different cultural background?
The core of Toyota is respect for people and continuous improvement. It is based on long-term investment in developing people. If you can think of a different system that does not depend on people, then perhaps it could be successful too. For example: cybernetic design and building of cars. Is there a downside in being conservative over technology adoption, as Toyota’s style seems to be? This is Toyota’s strategy in dealing with automobiles, which have strong safety issues and reliability is key. People don’t buy cars because of the new technology. Also, Toyota puts new technology into select cars. So, it is selective and not always conservative. Other companies try to leapfrog into new manufacturing technology, and find they have a lot of fixed investment, and lose the flexibility to improve. Full Text: Jeffrey K Liker Interview Recent reports have said Toyota is slipping on quality. What’s your opinion? This is overstated. But there is some reality too. Toyota has been putting in pla
