The Toyota Way is one of the most influential books on Lean and how Toyota was able to successfully drive inefficiencies from their processes. These are posts related to the 14 management principles outlined in the book and some examples of how each of the principles can be applied.

What are the 14 principles of The Toyota Way?

14 Principles of The Toyota Way

Principle #1 – “Base your management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term financial goals.”

Principle #2 – “Create a continuous process flow to bring problems to the surface.”

Principle #3 – “Use ‘pull’ systems to avoid overproduction.”

Principle #4 – “Level out the workload (work like the tortoise, not the hare).”

Principle #5 – “Build a culture of stopping to fix problems, to get quality right the first time.”

Principle #6 – “Standardized tasks and processes are the foundation for continuous improvement and employee empowerment.”

Principle #7 – “Use visual controls so no problems are hidden.”

Principle #8 – “Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technology that serves your people and process.”

Principle #9 – “Grow leaders who thoroughly understand the work, live the philosophy, and teach it to others.”

Principle #10 – “Develop exceptional people and teams who follow your company’s philosophy.”

Principle #11 – “Respect your extended network of partners and suppliers by challenging them and helping them improve.”

Principle #12 – “Go and see for yourself to thoroughly understand the situation.”

Principle #13 – “Make decisions slowly by consensus, thoroughly considering all options; implement decisions rapidly.”

Principle #14 – “Become a learning organization through relentless reflection and continuous improvement.”

Want it in a PDF? Go here: 14 Principles of The Toyota Way

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Additional Articles on The Toyota Way Principles

Penn State Football and Toyota Way Principle #1

Toyota Way Principle #5 – Identifying Problems

Using Toyota Way Principle #8 on Everyday Technology

Toyota Way Principle #8 and Implementing Technology that Helps

Toyota Way Principle #10 and the Importance of People

Toyota Way Principle #10, Notre Dame Football, and RKG’s