Quality Management 2.0 Blog

Automotive Quality Management: Toyota Tops Auto Reliability Survey

  

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According to a recent article from Quality Progress magazine, Toyota and its brands top the Consumer Reports list for Auto Reliability. The luxury nameplate Lexus came in second of the 2011 rankings, Toyota in the fifth slot, with the youth-targeted Scion model topping the list with the #1 Auto Reliability Survey slot, beating out all other competitors for the second year in a row. (Source: QP Magazine, December 2011 edition, Brett Krzykowski)

The brand is also known for its development of the Toyota Production System, which is a socio-technical system, that comprises its quality management systems philosophy and practices. The following are some interesting excerpts of a 2009 presentation of the Toyota Way Principles that shed some light on its quality assurance management. 

1) Long Term Philosophy
Base your management decisions on a long term philosophy, even at the expense of short term financial goals.

2) The Right Process Will Produce the Right Results
Create continuous process flow to bring problems to the surface. Use visual control so no problems are hidden, and use reliable, thoroughly tested process management software technology that serves your people and processes.

3) Add Value to the Organization by Developing Your People and Partners. Grow leaders who thoroughly understand the work and live the philosophy. Respect your extended network of partners and suppliers by challenging them and helping them to improve. (Source: 14 Toyota Way Principles, 2009)

While this may provide a great model to base your own automotive quality management system, it's important to note that these principles work - for Toyota. Toyota has invented these priniciples to yield the best results for Toyota specifically, and their methodology may not fit in with your organization's goals and strategies.

Now in 2012, do you think these principles are still relevant? Is there anything you'd add to the process? Let us know in the comments!

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