Toyota Production System And Lean

(zipper rasping) Host: Hey, what is going on over here? Are you going to go on some kind of a trip? -: That is correct. Host: And where are you planning to go? Thailand, to Canada, U.S.? -: No, not at all. This trip is a special trip. This trip is through space and time. Host: A trip through space and time? Why would you like to take a trip through space and time? -: That is because I want to see the birth of Lean with my own eyes. (light tranquil music) See you. (light tranquil music) Host: We have gone back in time to Japan after the second World War. Now, the country has obviously been severely impacted by the very, very lengthy second World War. Now at that time, and still to this very day, Toyota is one of the biggest companies in Japan. (light tranquil music) Toyota, at that time, was already experimenting with a way of working, a way of thinking. A management philosophy which was known as The Toyota Production System, or TPS. This way of working, way of thinking, this management philosophy had, as a primary aim, to serve the customer faster at a lower cost without sacrificing quality in any way. Now, this way of working was not born in one day. It would take several years before Toyota perfected it. But when they perfected it, when it was done, they were able to offer superior quality faster than the competition, and at a fraction of the cost. (light tranquil music) Companies in the west started to notice Toyota's success. This once relatively obscure Japanese company was now conquering the rest of the world with fast service, premium quality, and all of this at a fraction of their own costs. So they wondered, "How are they doing it? What is Toyota's secret?" This Toyota Production System started to become popular outside Japan. You know under which name it became popular outside Japan? Lean, yes, Lean. So the Toyota Production System is Lean, and Lean is the Toyota Production System. (light tranquil music)