Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Europe: lessons for management development

Abstract

Relates how the arrival of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Derby, UK, prompted the setting up of a research project to study the impact on regional businesses. Baseline surveys were conducted in the Derbyshire region revealing a marked swing towards modern, socially‐based manufacturing methods, including lean production, cellular manufacturing, just‐in‐time component supply and teamworking. Contends that this swing is congruent with national findings. When the Toyota supply chain was examined using survey and extended case‐study analysis, the research uncovered significant differences in the way supply chain firms approach and implement changes in manufacturing, compared with other matched, non‐supply chain firms. Toyota UK appeared able to pass on valuable knowledge and expertise to its component suppliers. Examines and further explains this process of inter‐firm learning and collaboration.

Citation

Winfield, I. and Kerrin, M. (1996), "Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Europe: lessons for management development", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621719610116818