Customer Reviews

A Study of the Toyota Production System: From an Industrial Engineering Viewpoint (Produce What Is Needed, When It's Needed)

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There are a lot of books about the Toyota Production System, but this is one of the most useful for those actually attempting to implement elements of this system. Most of the books on TPS by western authers are just superficial glosses written by MBA's who don't seem to have a clue how to make anything. This book is detailed, specific, clearly written, and very well translated. Some of the material is repetative, nevertheless this is the book to get on TPS.

Shigeo Shingo was the mastermind behind the Toyota Production System, constantly experimenting and thinking on how to improve. The result was an approach that significantly reduced required inventories (and their associated costs and losses), improved quality, and reduced throughput time.

"A Study of the Toyota Production System" is somewhat difficult to read, due to translation issues, but more importantly will make you stop to think, scratch your head in disbelief, and then finally agree in amazement.

I knew what kind of book I needed as additional litterature in my Msc study.
The writer Dr Shiego Shingo looks at the production flow from an engineering viewpoint wearing a scientists glasses and transform the knowledge to the book so it is easy to understand for every technician or economist interested in how to improve and do the lean production thing. A book that can give you a new understanding about how to practically remove or reduce lead time. Key words as waste of making defective products, transport waste, overproduction waste and inventory waste are essential as well as effective set up methods (SMED).

I enjoyed it since it gave me insight on how TPS evolved and allowed me to better understand not how TPS works but more why.