Comments on: The Parallels of the Toyota Production System and Sustainability

By: TOYOTA PRESIDIO | Tuning Labs

TOYOTA PRESIDIO | Tuning Labs — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:04:12 +0000

[...] toyota presidio triplepundit.com [...]

By: Toyota Joins Interactive Corporate Philanthropy Leaders

Toyota Joins Interactive Corporate Philanthropy Leaders — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:28:46 +0000

[...] will give out one car everyday this summer to a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Toyota is offering a chance to win a Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna, or Sienna Mobility [...]

By: Lean on Your Employees: An Interview with Alyson Huntington-Jones of Masco Corporation | Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:28:57 +0000

[...] efficiency to reducing waste, there is much in common with lean and going green. There is even crossover between lean and the human dimension of sustainability. I had the [...]

By: Sas' Magical Mystery Tour

Sas' Magical Mystery Tour — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:42:32 +0000

[...] There are fantastic examples of how this works in practice: Hubbards cereal in New Zealand, GE, and Toyota are just a few. This is not idealistic, nor is it socialism, its good [...]

By: Parallel Puropose: Lean and Green

Parallel Puropose: Lean and Green — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:41:46 +0000

[...] how does Lean fit into sustainability? I happened upon an absolutely lucid explanation of how the two relate, and it should be shared and emailed throughout the Green [...]

By: Lenny Rachitsky

Lenny Rachitsky — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:05:59 +0000

Great article Jonathan, the parallels are much closer than I would have expected. Another interesting example is Amazon.com. Jeff Bezos (CEO) has said a number of times that when they launch a new product or try out an idea (e.g. Kinde, AWS, Prime) they don't expect to see any results for 3-5 years. They also focus on long term growth over short term profit (exactly as you described above), which initially scared a lot of people (back in the .com days when profit was a bad thing), but now is obviously working every well for them. It's also why they're willing to lose $2 on each ebook they sell, to build a platform that one day reapts rewards.

The big question is how to convince companies that focusing on the long term, especially when it comes to the environment, is a good idea, when all of the incentives they have tell them to think for the next quarter. I think the only answer is to create the right incentives.

By: wilson1234

wilson1234 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:19:00 +0000

I think the stress on long-term result is definitely something all businesses should emulate. I'm not sure how easy it will be for western businesses to adopt that kind of thinking.

By: Lenny Rachitsky

Lenny Rachitsky — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:05:59 +0000

By: wilson1234

wilson1234 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:19:00 +0000

I think the stress on long-term result is definitely something all businesses should emulate. I'm not sure how easy it will be for western businesses to adopt that kind of thinking.

By: The parallels of the ‘Toyota Production System’ and sustainability « Keeping Ahead of the Oil Curve

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:52:41 +0000

[...] story at http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/12/the-parallels-of-the-toyota-production-system-and-sustainability... [...]

By: Jonathan Mariano

Jonathan Mariano — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:33:29 +0000

Hi Miriam, Thanks:)! That is a tough question. It seems as though many car manufacturers were hit hard during the recession. If other car makers were doing stellar in comparison, I would be worried, but less so if the whole industry is down.

IMHO, the commitment to the long term will help Toyota and Sustainable Businesses weather the storm. By the same token, Toyota is keen to adapting, innovating, and being first mover in its business (think Prius) in the present. Although it thinks for the long term, it acts in the now. With long term thinking, but present actions, I think Sustainable Businesses will be able to hold their own against any other.

By: Miriam_Kronberg

Miriam_Kronberg — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:54:41 +0000

Jonathan, great article. Care to comment on Toyota's financial troubles? They're facing their second straight loss in the current fiscal year (see link). What do you think that says about sustainable business being able to weather economic downturns?

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091204-70...

By: Jonathan Mariano

Jonathan Mariano — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:14:03 +0000

Bryant, I think you may be on to something there. It makes me wonder what the connections between biomimicry and TPS may be, as the principles seem aligned? Just off the top of my head, the connection with TPS “waste elimination/reduction” and Biomimicry's “Use minimal energy & materials” to hand in hand.

By: Bryant

Bryant — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:54:16 +0000

This article includes some very interesting parallels between sustainability and the Toyota Production System. This framework is a great outline for achieving long-term, positive results. Combine this with biomimicry and you might have a winner. Check out Nissan's new Eporo car and its built in biomimetics: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2009/_STOR...