The Toyota Production system (TPS) is alive and well in Toyota plants in 27 countries worldwide. TPS or ‘Lean Manufacturing’ as you and I more commonly know it, is an integrated systems approach to process design, execution and continuous improvement. The approach improves workflow, removing obstacles and enabling a ‘right first time, every time’ result in product and service delivery.
At Lean Ireland we integrate the Lean approach with Six Sigma project management tools when enabling our clients to improve customer satisfaction and grow market share. By eliminating waste and shortening lead times, you can get better quality, responsiveness and productivity when delivering to customers the product and service they want.
The Toyota way is about learning by doing and Toyota plants worldwide open their doors to allow visitors to see what they do. Toyota has been doing this since they first started manufacturing in the USA in the early 1990s. In the UK, Toyota opens their doors from April to November for you. This annual initiative by the motor industry giant allows businesses and individuals to visit their plants in the UK to learn more about their operations, company culture, and TPS.
There are two different plants you can visit – their Vehicle Plant in Burnaston Derbyshire in the East Midlands of England or their Engine Plant in Deeside North Wales. Toyota are now taking bookings, and as they often receive more requests than they have space for, you are advised to visit http://www.ToyotaUK.com/community now and select “Register Your Interest” on their website. Once you have registered your details, you will then need to re-visit the website in order to submit an application. Businesses looking to apply should note that only 3 people from one organisation can be part of the 30-person group per visit.
The visit itself includes a short tour of their production facilities, as well as a presentation, followed by a Questions & Answers session. Visits take place typically on a Tuesday and Thursday and normally last 3 hours from 9:00am to 12noon.
Finally, although the event is free, businesses are asked to make a donation of £15 per person to the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust.
For more information on the public visits, you can email visits@toyotauk.com. Also to get an understanding of how successful Toyota are, relative to other motor giants Volkswagen and General Motors, take a look at this 14-minute video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MFjfo2W6FQ&t=151s Inspiring stuff indeed!
© Bernie Rushe, BSc, CPIM, Dip SA, MSc, Black Belt
Bernie@LeanIreland.ie, +353-87-2837810