Finding Your Way to the Future

April 2010

This insightful further development of the core diagram in

the book Toyota Kata comes from Jeff Uitenbroek of
Modine Manufacturing Company.

Jeff's depiction helps make it clear that

the improvement kata is a different way
of working, thinking and managing.

Copyright © 2010 Mike Rother, all rights reserved.

1217 Baldwin Avenue / Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA / tel: (734) 665-5411 / mrother@umich.edu
© Mike Rother TOYOTA KATA
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 In most processes there are many problems,
wastes and opportunities to improve

Problems / wastes / opportunities

. . .
. . . .. . . .. .
.
. . .. . . . . .
Current .
. . . . . . . . . .. .
Condition
.. . . . . .
. . .. . . . . . .
. . . .

© Mike Rother TOYOTA KATA

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 We tend to ask, “What can we do to improve?,”
hunt for wastes or respond to problems,
and work to eliminate them

. . .
. . . . . . .. .
“Whack-a-mole”
. improvement

. . . . .. . . . .
Current .
. . . .. . . . .. . .
Condition
.. . . . . .
. . .. . . . . . .
. . . .
With this approach we:
• May not achieve meaningful improvement
that moves the organization forward
• Misspend our capacity for making improvements
• Don!t learn much

© Mike Rother TOYOTA KATA

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 The improvement kata is
a different approach

Problems / wastes / opportunities

. . .
. . . .. . . .. .
.
. . .. . . . . .
Current .
. . . . . . . . . .. . Target
Condition
.. . . . . . Condition

. . .. . . . . . .
. . . .

© Mike Rother TOYOTA KATA

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 With it we ask: “What do we need to do?”
while working step-by-step
toward the next target condition
on the way to a vision

PDCA cycles toward the next target condition

. . . . .
.. . . . . . .
. . . . .. . . . .
Current .
. . . .. . . . .. . . Target
Condition
.. . . . . . Condition

. . .. . . . . . .
. . . .

© Mike Rother TOYOTA KATA

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 What kind of improver are you?

. . . . .
. . . . .. . . . .
. . .. . . .. .
Current . . . . . . . . . .. .
Condition
.. . . . . . .
. . . .. . . . .
. . . .
. . .
. . . . . . .. . .
. . .
. . . . . . .
Current . . . . . . . . . . .. . Target
Condition
.. . . . . . . Condition

. . . .. . . . .
. . . .
© Mike Rother TOYOTA KATA
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 For further information on this topic
see the
Toyota Kata Homepage

© Mike Rother TOYOTA KATA

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