The Toyota Way of Dantotsu Radical Quality Improvement

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In this book, author Sadao Nomura shares his extensive experience leading Toyota operations, focusing on the transformative journey at Toyota Logistics & Forklift (TL&F). He details the strategies implemented at TL&F, a global industry leader and part of Toyota Industries Corporation, founded by Sakichi Toyoda nearly a century ago. Toyoda is renowned in the Lean community for introducing the "JIDOKA" pillar of the Toyota Production System, emphasizing built-in quality and respect for people by ensuring technology serves humanity. Despite TL&F's strong performance, insiders recognized the need for improvement, particularly in the quality of its global subsidiaries. In 2006, TL&F sought Nomura's expertise to enhance quality in three acquired operations in the US, Sweden, and France. While improvement was anticipated, the extent of the transformation was unexpected. The initiatives proved so effective that they were adopted at the parent operations in Japan. Over nearly a decade, TL&F, synonymous with product quality, achieved unprecedented quality enhancements. The term "Dantotsu" signifies this extreme and unparalleled level of improvement.