Application of Toyota Way Incorporating Kaizen, Kaikaku and 5S in Agricultural Sector

A noble operational framework – 2K5S, a modified form of Toyota production system (TPS) incorporating Kaizen, Kaikaku and 5S is introduced in this paper. Kaizen is continuous improvement concept implementing a small step at a time to produce a small or moderate improvement in productivity. Kaikaku is a moderate innovative approach implementing new work method or means to produce a drastic improvement in productivity by eliminating wastes at the same time. The 2K5S is then implemented in the operations of a pineapple farm and a series of case studies are conducted. The outcomes of the case studies have revealed that through the introduction and implementation of the 2K5S operational framework, some significant organisational improvements have been witnessed. Apart from significantly increment in productivity, other advantages achieved including increasing in effectiveness and efficiency in the operational processes, improved visual management of the process, improved operational health and safety and morale of the workers, improved housekeeping, waste elimination and process standardization. The outcomes of this study have demonstrated that 2K5S is a powerful and practical operational framework model which is applicable for agricultural organisation. Keywords: Toyota production system (TPS), 2K5S, Kaizen, Kaikaku, 5S, continuous improvement, agricultural sector.

An improved lean assessment based on employee perception

PurposeThe Toyota Production System has been studied for its business success for several decades. Many companies have tried to imitate but have not achieved Toyota-like results. Failure in the ability to replicate Toyota's supportive culture has been suggested as a cause for the lack of success. Studies on lean implementation have been conducted from external views focusing on visible indicators, but few seek the employee's perception of lean initiatives. The authors propose a Toyota Production System – Toyota Way (TPS-TW) model approach using employee perception and quantitative performance metrics.Design/methodology/approachThis research represents an improvement of a lean assessment instrument using quantifiable performance metrics for validation and testing it in the Chinese automotive industry. A survey was developed and executed in the Chinese automotive industry with participants involved with lean implementation. Experts helped examine the content validity, and reliability analysis was used to study the structure of the assessment instrument and evaluate internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis and structured equation modeling were used to test the construct validity. Finally, survey results and actual performance were analyzed.FindingsThe results of this research validated the TPS-TW model and assessment instrument in the Chinese automotive industry.Originality/valueThis research validates an employee perception survey that can be utilized by organizations to understand the state of their lean implementation. The research supports the use of employee perception to reflect the reality of a lean initiative and proves the TPS-TW model is an effective theoretical framework for assessment.

AUTOMOBILE PLATFORM CAPITALISM: A VEHICULAR HISTORY OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

This presentation traces the relationship between Internet-based platform capitalism and Toyotist automobile manufacture. It argues that the auto industry and its managerial analysts play crucial roles in the development of platform theory and platform capitalism. While analyses of platform capitalism have tended to focus on the digital economy, this paper article highlights the continuities between digital platform capitalism and the manufacturing paradigms of the automobile industry, and the Toyota Production System as it developed in the 1960s in particular. This includes attention to the Japanese and American managerial theorizations of automobile manufacture that are the heartlands of platform capitalism. This genealogy impacts how we periodize the platform capitalism, and where we locate the emergence of platform theory. Ultimately it makes a case for thinking through the continuities of today’s digital platform capitalism and the commercial internet with what this talk will term automobile platform capitalism.

A Case Study: Framework of Gap Analysis on Integration of Audit System between IATF 16949 and Toyota Production System

This paper presents a case study on a research framework of gap analysis on audit systems for a standard called IATF 16949 and Toyota Production System (TPS) in the automotive industry. A study was carried out to define the gaps that are currently being faced in this industry. A comparison and contrast for an audit process flow chart was plotted and showed that there are processes have similar audit objectives, same auditees and involved with the same documents to be audited. Meanwhile, 5M (Man, Machine, Method, Material, Measurement and) 1 E (Environment) methodology were used to study audit requirements for both IATF 16949 and TPS and showed that both systems share the same audit items. Rasch model was used to measure the level of satisfaction, difficulties, and challenges faced by the people in the industry. By reducing the few steps in implementing the internal audit, it is expected to minimize the “wastes” that occurred during the execution of both audit systems. This case study has proposed that the integration of audit system of the IATF 16949 and TPS will harmonize the systems and reduce the hassle faced by the people in the industry.