Creative thoughts discussed by Kawai Oyaji
In the world of automotive manufacturing, Toyota stands out for its commitment to continuous improvement, employee involvement, and innovation. At the heart of this ethos is the Creative Idea Suggestion System, a system deeply rooted in Toyota's culture and history, spanning around 70 years.
This system, initiated in the post-war era, was a response to the need for quality and efficiency improvements. American quality expert W. Edwards Deming, with his introduction of statistical process control and the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, significantly influenced Toyota's approach to quality and problem-solving.
The Creative Idea Suggestion System encourages every employee, from executives to assembly line workers, to propose small, incremental improvements. These seemingly minor changes, when cumulatively implemented, drive significant operational enhancements. The system fosters a mindset of scientific thinking, systematic problem-solving, and daily routines that integrate continuous learning and reflection.
Mitsuru Kawai, or Oyaji Kawai, has been instrumental in developing and advocating this system. As an Executive Fellow at Toyota, he has detailed the historical progression and importance of employee-driven idea suggestion within Toyota's management practices.
The system is not just about operational improvements; it is also integral to Toyota's human development philosophy. Aligning with the Toyota Triangle, which combines philosophical, technical, and managerial elements, the system emphasises the central role of human creativity and intelligence in solving complex problems.
One of the most memorable ideas to emerge from this system is the concept of eliminating obstacles and creating straight walking paths, with efficiency gains calculated. This type of creative idea plays a key role in improving practical problem-solving skills in the genba, or the workplace.
Older students would often teach younger ones how to write creative idea submissions, creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Communication and feedback are also crucial, with senior colleagues and supervisors offering suggestions.
While automation is a part of Toyota's strategy, ensuring tasks performed by human hands are done safely and at a high quality is paramount. Only then are tasks given to robots. In the case of AI, it is important to have people who can teach it to be more efficient, as relying on AI for everything could lead to a loss of competitiveness.
The goal of improvements at Toyota is not just to reduce costs or increase efficiency, but for the improvements to come naturally. This approach spurs a virtuous cycle, not only improving efficiency but also giving workers a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that inspires further improvements.
In conclusion, the Creative Idea Suggestion System is a cornerstone of Toyota's operational excellence and enduring global success. Oyaji Kawai, who has spent his entire 62-year career at Toyota's genba, exemplifies this commitment. Small improvements combine to achieve major transformations at Toyota, reflecting the company's broader philosophy of Kaizen and the Toyota Production System.
- The manufacturing industry's evolution is demonstrated by Toyota's commitment to continuous improvement, employee involvement, and innovation, as exemplified in their Creative Idea Suggestion System.
- The Creative Idea Suggestion System, a key element of Toyota's culture, encourages every employee, from the leadership to the small business level, to propose ideas for operational improvements, fostering a culture of scientific thinking and daily learning.
- The system also plays a crucial role in Toyota's approach to diversity-and-inclusion and human development, with an emphasis on employee creativity and intelligence, aligning with the Toyota Triangle and contributing to transformative changes in the organization.
- In the world of finance and technology, data-and-cloud-computing plays a significant role in the effectiveness of systems like the Creative Idea Suggestion System, enabling continuous learning and improvement, and helping small businesses scale up while maintaining quality and efficiency.
- Careers within Toyota, from entry-level positions to executive roles, offer opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership, as demonstrated by the impact of Oyaji Kawai on the system's development and championing of its importance within the organization's management practices.
