THE TOYOTA PRODUCTION SYSTEM'S FUNDAMENTAL NATURE AT SELECTED SOUTH AFRICAN ORGANISATIONS - A LEARNING PERSPECTIVE

The Toyota Production System (TPS) has been cited as being the pinnacle of continuous improvement approaches in manufacturing organisations, and many models of the TPS are well known. However, some authors question the effectiveness of established approaches, and propose Bateson's theory of lea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African journal of industrial engineering 2013-05, Vol.24 (1), p.68-80
Main Authors: Nortje, F D, Snaddon, D R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Engineering, Industrial
Lean manufacturing
Operations management
System theory
Toyota Production System
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The Toyota Production System (TPS) has been cited as being the pinnacle of continuous improvement approaches in manufacturing organisations, and many models of the TPS are well known. However, some authors question the effectiveness of established approaches, and propose Bateson's theory of learning to be an effective way to explain phenomena like the TPS. This paper investigates the degree to which TPS elements are found in selected South African organisations. It constructs a model of the TPS using Bateson's theory of learning as a framework. The adoption of TPS elements is investigated through multiple qualitative case studies in seven organisations. The analysis follows a clustering and cross-case approach combined with pattern matching. While elements vary in their use, the selected organisations practise the TPS substantially less than the model advocates, with the model being least practised in low volume job/batch manufacturing. Product-process differences and higher levels of the TPS model may clarify peculiar outcomes. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1012-277X
2224-7890
2224-7890
DOI:10.7166/24-1-648