Long-Term Philosophy

  • Base your management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term financial goals
  • Create a continuous process flow to bring problems to the surface
  • Use "pull" systems to avoid overproduction.
  • Level out the workload (heijunka). (Work like the tortoise, not the hare).
  • Build a culture of stopping to fix problems, to get quality right the first time
  • Standardized tasks and processes are the foundation for continuous improvement and employee empowerment.
  • Use visual control so no problems are hidden.
  • Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technology that serves your people and processes
  • Grow leaders who thoroughly understand the work, live the philosophy, and teach it to others.
  • Develop exceptional people and teams who follow your company's philosophy
  • Respect your extended network of partners and suppliers by challenging them and helping them improve.
  • Go and see for yourself to thoroughly understand the situation (Genchi Genbutsu).
  • Make decisions slowly by consensus, thoroughly considering all options; implement decisions rapidly.(nemawashi).
  • Become a learning organization through relentless reflection (hansei) and continuous improvement (kaizen).

Source : Jeffrey Liker, The Toyota Way, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004