Class 16

Toyota Case Wrap-Up

Operations Management
Fall 2017
Greg DeCroix
2017 Gregory A. DeCroix
All Rights Reserved
 Toyota Case: Main Actions Taken

Jim Cremeens revised seat reorder form

KFS stationed its own QC engineers at Toyota to
survey incoming seats
- Hope to discover more about the problem
KFS altered lighting in final inspection area

DeCroix Operations Management Wisconsin School of Business

 Toyota Case: Main Actions Taken

Taped off space in overflow parking area

specifically for seat-defective cars
- When space fills up, another meeting would be called to
provide immediate feedback to KFS
Bulletin board set up adjacent to overflow area
- Copy of seat reorder form posted in each of eight squares
(corresponding to spaces in overflow area)

DeCroix Operations Management Wisconsin School of Business

 Lean Production Summary

Lean production is a system

- Tools/concepts such as jidoka, kaizen, heijunka,
kanbans, JIT, etc. work together
A lean production system requires constant
attention to keep system from deteriorating
A lean approach can be applied in service settings
as well

DeCroix Operations Management Wisconsin School of Business