ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the introduction and development of the Toyota production system at American production facilities. It presents basic principles of the Toyota production system and makes specific recommendations and comments on their implementation. In addition to an appreciation of the techniques of the Toyota production system, an understanding of the concepts that lie behind those techniques is crucial. In actual working conditions, stock provides a cushion against production instability by absorbing the impact of machine failures, defects, altered delivery schedules, and other irregularities. Trying to achieve multi-plant integrated flow production is a tremendous challenge. The average plant has a much better chance of implementing it successfully by using a nagara system for a single crucial product. Mixed production results in a marked increase in the frequency of setup changes. Multiple machine handling is a major component of the Toyota production system. Pre-automation, or autonomation, results when functions of the human mind, in human hand, are transferred to machines.
