Lean Enterprise Institute Logo
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Cart (0)
  • Account
  • Search
Lean Enterprise Institute Logo
  • Explore Lean
        • What is Lean?
        • The Lean Transformation Framework
        • A Brief History of Lean
        • Lexicon Terms
        • Topics to explore
          • Operations
          • Lean Product & Process Development
          • Administration & Support
          • Problem-Solving
          • Coaching
          • Executive Leadership
          • Line Management
  • The Lean Post
        • Subscribe to see exclusive content
          • Subscribe
        • Featured posts
          Lessons From Japan: Day Three

          Transforming Your Organization with Lean Thinking and...

          Edgar Schein and John Shook at the Stanford Lean Healthcare Academic Conference.

          In Honor of Dr. Edgar Schein: A...

          • See all Posts
  • Events & Training
        • Custom Coaching and Learning Experiences
        • Co-Learning Partnerships
        • Forms and Templates
        • Featured learning
          • Lean Summit 2023

            March 08, 2023 | Optional Pre-Summit Workshops March 6-7
            Tucson, Arizona

          • Key Concepts of Lean Management Remotely 

            March 13, 2023 | Online Live Course

          • Building a Lean Operating and Management System 

            March 21, 2023 | Boston, MA

          • Improvement Kata/Coaching Kata Remotely

            April 10, 2023 | Online Live Course

          • See all Events
  • Store
        • Shopping Cart
        • Featured books
          Managing to Learn: Using the A3 management process

          Managing to Learn: Using the A3 management process

          Learning to See

          Learning to See

          • See all Books
  • About Us
        • Our people
          • Senior Advisors and Staff
          • Faculty
          • Board of Directors
        • Contact Us
        • Lean Global Network
        • Press Releases
        • In the News
        • Careers
        • About us

The Lean Post / Articles / Lessons From Japan: Day Three

Lessons From Japan: Day Three

Problem Solving

Lessons From Japan: Day Three

By Lean Leaper

June 27, 2018

Is Toyota improving productivity or developing people? What we saw today suggests not just that the answer is both but that the two are inseparable, especially when it comes to jishuken.

FacebookTweetLinkedInEmailPrintComment

Today the learning group took a deep dive into the relationship between improving the work and developing people at the Miyata Plant. Specifically, we explored jishuken – an approach to problem solving that ties robust problem-solving to corporate objectives. We were also introduced to karakuri, a topic of this previous Post.

Small kaizen ideas that reduced setup time by 8 seconds could be tied back to the large corporate objective.

In addition to the technical problem solving, the jishuken also measured the development of the people participating in the activity. The press shop had identified 77 capabilities critical to stamping and measured a current condition (pre-jishuken) with a new condition (post-jishuken).

Is Toyota improving productivity or developing people? What we saw today suggests not just that the answer is both but that the two are inseparable.

The postcards (above) share some of the key lessons learned by the individual members of our group today. Please enjoy the slides, which contain insights such as the following:

  • “The simplest, most common sense way is usually the best way. Don’t get cute.”
  • “Accumulation of small kaizens allows you to achieve your target.”
  • “Today was overwhelmingly about creativity over capital. Not only is it a dollar savings but it gets everyone involved and learning together.”
  • “By measuring competence as not the ability to perform a task, but to solve a problem, you create a self-sustaining system in which everyday problems are solved and at the same time people are being developed.”
  • “Karakuri exercises the mind and binds the team as well as gives hope and control to the line worker.”
  • “Toyota demonstrates respect for people by challenging them and then empowering them to improve their own work, making it easier and safer. Everyone wins—Toyota wins.”

–Matt Savas

FacebookTweetLinkedInEmailPrintComment

Written by:

Lean Leaper

About Lean Leaper

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Animation on Starting a Lean Journey

Problem Solving

Getting Started with Lean Thinking and Practice

Video by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Lean in One Drawing

Problem Solving

Lean in One Drawing

Video by Dave LaHote

Keep It Simple: Value-Stream Mapping at the Gemba

Problem Solving

Keep It Simple: Value-Stream Mapping at the Gemba

Article by Dave LaHote

Related books

The Power of Process – A Story of Innovative Lean Process Development

The Power of Process – A Story of Innovative Lean Process Development

by Eric Ethington and Matt Zayko

Welcome Problems, Find Success – Creating Toyota Cultures Around the World

Welcome Problems, Find Success – Creating Toyota Cultures Around the World

by Nate Furuta

Related events

March 21, 2023 | Boston, MA

Building a Lean Operating and Management System 

Learn more

April 10, 2023 | Online Live Course

Improvement Kata/Coaching Kata Remotely

Learn more

Explore topics

Problem Solving graphic icon Problem Solving
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

©Copyright 2000-2023 Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Lean Enterprise Institute, the leaper image, and stick figure are registered trademarks of Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Learn More. ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!