Genom en rad historiska citat kan vi få en djupare inblick i Toyota som organisation och varför man tar beslut på det sätt man har tagit dem. Alla bolag är formade från sin historik och behöver hitta sitt tänk. Toyotas tänk genomsyras av Lean och nedan ser man många ledtrådar till detta.

 

"Whenever you decide to start something new or something necessary, coordination among many divisions and departments always becomes necessary ; I want you to think for the entire Company rather than yourself alone, coordinate with other divisions, and lead on, no matter what, to concrete results." 

Eiji Toyoda 

 

"Be contributive to the development and welfare of the country by working together, regardless of position, in faithfully fulfilling your duties." 

The Toyoda Precepts 

 

"Before you say you can't do something, try it ! "

Sakichi Toyoda 

 

In 1989, a time when the social trend was increasingly toward slighting the importance of "making things" Eiji Toyoda said: "Making things creates value ; it is the starting point of civilization. Making things is closely related to the development of technology ; worded another way, technological development is possible only with the production of things. Making things is always made possible through the accumulation of a wide range of know-how as well as the talent of those who are involved in the endeavor."  

Eiji Toyoda 

 

In 1905, Kanebo, Ltd. Conducted tests at its Hyogo Plant to compare the performance of several Japanese and imported power-driven looms. Sakichi's automatic loom was tested alongside the latest models from the United Kingdom and the United States. The test results, however were not so favorable to Sakichi's loom, perhaps because Sakichi had entrusted the building and pre-testing to others. He reflected deeply on this experience and called it a valuable lesson. "A product should never be sold unless it has been carefully manufactured and has been tested thoroughly and satisfactorily." 

Sakichi Toyoda

 

In 1938, Kiichiro spoke of the 'Just-in-time' approach in an article entitles "On the Completion of the Toyota Koromo Plant" in the industry magazine, Motor : "I plan to cut down on the slack time within work processes and in the shipping of parts and materials as much as is possible. As the basic principle in realizing this plan, I will uphold the 'just-in-time' approach. The guiding rule is not to have goods shipped too early or too late."  

Kiichiro Toyoda 

 

"Any big business will face the threat of non-growth and even collapse without the positive support of society." 

Eiji Toyoda 

 

"Creativity, Challenge and Courage - Three Cs" 

Shoichiro Toyoda 

 

At the opening ceremony o fhe Kentucky plant of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, USA., Inc. (TMMK) "Here at the start of this new venture, I am confident that TMM will certainly live up to your expectations. Wa are aware of what being a good citizen means, and are determined to press forward a bright future, hand in hand, with the people of America." 

Shoichiro Toyoda 

 

"Be kind and generous ; strive to create a warm, home like atmosphere." 

The Toyoda Precepts 

 

"Profit, not only for Toyota but for any manufacturing business, is gained by reducing cost. Cost-based thinking by setting price with profit added on to cost is totally alien to a carmaker of today." 

Taiichi Ohno 

 

"Engage in creative thinking actively." 

Sakichi Toyoda 

 

It wasn't that everyone else had the same thought and Kiichiro was a genius. The difference is the extent to which you take action based upon what you think." 

Eiji Toyoda 

 

"An engineer who has power to criticize but not take action is not able to make cars." 

Kiichiro Toyoda 

 

"A person's life is an accumulation of time - just one hour is equivalent to a person's life. Employees provide their precious hours of life to the company, so we have to use it effectively, otherwise, we are wasting their life." 

Eiji Toyoda