The Toyota Production System is our Foundation
About EHIIP Consulting
EHIIP Consulting is a consulting firm that utilizes the Lean production system that was developed originally by Toyota Manufacturing. Toyota has developed the Toyota Production System (TPS) over many years to become the basis for Toyota’s success. EHIIP Consulting utilizes the TPS approach to continuously improve client companies. Services include Lean Consulting, Lean Training, Lean Strategy Development, Operational Due-Diligence, Remote Lean Consulting, and Temporary Lean Leadership. These services all follow the Toyota Lean Manufacturing Approach.
TPS – The Toyota Production System
What is the Toyota Production System? – The TPS system is a manufacturing philosophy that strives for the “elimination of waste”. The elimination of waste inherently leads to more efficient processes. Toyota has taken the concept of waste elimination and used it to develop employees. Toyota engages all employees in problem solving activities to drive continuous improvement and learning throughout the company. The combination of the TPS Tools, TPS Philosophies, and the TPS Management System create the culture of the Toyota Production System.
Toyota Production System History – The TPS system was originally conceived by Kiichiro Toyoda, who was the founder of Toyota Motors. Kiichiro initially developed the concept of Just-in-time manufacturing, which is one of the pillars of the Toyota Production system and a key TPS Tools. Toyota engineers worked through many of the concepts of the Toyota Production System between 1948 and 1975. Eventually in 1992, Toyota published a document describing the Toyota Production System for the first time. Toyota continuously adjust the system based on learning and needs within the company while maintaining the base philosophies.
Core principles of the Toyota Production System – Toyota shared the Toyota Production System with many companies and individuals around the world over the years. In the book, The Toyota Way, 14 principles of the Toyota Production System are described and categorized into four key categories.
1) Long-Term Philosophy (1 Principle)
2) The Right Process will Produce the Right Results (7 Principles)
3) Add Value to the Organization by Developing Your People (3 Principles)
4) Continuously Solving Root Problems drives Organizational Learning (3 Principles)
Taiichi Ohno – Taiichi Ohno was an industrial engineer at Toyota Motors. He is often thought of as the man who invented the Toyota Production System, or who invented Lean Manufacturing. Taiichi Ohno used Kiichiro Toyoda’s Just-in-Time thinking and developed many foundational
Toyota Production System concepts. The 7 wastes and the ten precepts are both widely known in the Toyota Production System.
TPS vs. Lean – The Toyota Production System developed over many years dating back to the late 40’s. The term Lean Manufacturing did not arrive until an article in 1988 describing the Toyota Way as a Lean Production System. The term Lean Manufacturing became common in the 1990’s and is used as alternative terminology to the Toyota Production System. Many individuals that have learned directly from Toyota believe that there is a clear difference between the manufacturing systems, but the two approaches have become very aligned in the last couple years. EHIIP Consulting does use the two terminologies interchangeably depending on the discussion or context.