Toyota total shutdown in the '70's?

[Deathegg]

Hey everyone!

Was talking to a friend today, in the course of the conversation, he mentioned that Toyota, back in the 70's, shut down ALL of their manufacturing plants for an entire YEAR, to implement new quality control procedures. Apparently a man by the name of Edwards Deming brought to Japan, and Toyota especially, methods for improving reliability, and to implement these changes, Toyota shut down ALL plants for a period of one year.

I can find no evidence of this on the internet, or any car books I own. And I find this story highly unlikely to have occurred. I can *sort of* see it happening after WWII, to repair damaged plants, or some other similar scenario. I can even see them shutting down one plant at a time for a while. But ALL the plants for a YEAR?

If anyone has info on this, please share.

[bronsin]

Nuts.

[MadMax]

I think your friend is mistaken about the "shutdown," but Toyota did adopt many of Deming's concepts in the 1960s...

http://www.autonews.com/article/20071029/ana03/710290344/companys-quality-crusade-was-launched-by-an-american

[MadMax]

And some even question whether the Toyota Production System only happened because of Deming's influence...

http://construct.typepad.com/25seven/2009/01/w-edwards-deming-and-the-toyota-production-system.html

[MadMax]

More on Deming and his impact on the Japanese economy...

http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/w-edwards-deming

[Deathegg]

Yes, I read up on him and his methodologies. impressive no doubt. I think my friend is remembering his information incorrectly. Indeed, production figures throughout Toyota's history show cars/trucks being built in each year. Thanks guys.

[brushforhire]

When I first started with Toyota I had to take training on the history of the company, I wish I could link to that training here. Really interesting stuff, especially their methodology on how they run their company.

It was a real system shock switching to mopar. What a joke, I can see why they have so many financial issues.

[Kalispel]

More on Deming and his impact on the Japanese economy...

http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/w-edwards-deming

I read the article in this link, and it was very interesting. Hilarious how the arrogant U.S. robber-baron manufacturers of the time ignored Deming because he wasn't pandering enough to them in his presentations. As a result, the Japanese (followed by the rest of southeast Asia) killed the U.S. in auto/electronics manufacturing+quality for 50+ years - because they actually listened to Deming and learned from him. The joys of corporate hubris. :laugh:

[justanotherdrunk]

its called pride

the worst of the 7 deadlies

[Golddeenoh]

Toyota has always had a certain amount of quality, the founder, Mr. Toyoda started out in the textile business making looms, he found a away to make the loom have drastically fewer errors in weaving/looming and took this same desire to achieve excellence in his work to the automotive industry when he started it.

The above is the side effect of working at Toyota for a little while and going through their courses on history and products.

[tarkus]

The Japanese have a cultural obsession with perfection. I know this from direct experience in my job. Deming was the prefect guy to show them how to achieve that in manufacturing, and Toyota is probably one of the best examples of their success with him.

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