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Process Improvement

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Submitted By sgreen102
Words 2095
Pages 9
Sasha Green
Capella University
Strategic Operations Management - MBA6020
December 6, 2015

Abstract
This document will be evaluating The Toyota Way process within Toyota during the time of their accelerator crisis. A problem statement will be defined around Toyota’s internal and external customer complaint responses and communication channels, especially between US Toyota employees and the authoritative management of Toyota based in Japan.

Problem Statement
To become the leading automotive producer, with a strong presence in all of the 50 states and abroad, Toyota developed a strong global marketing plan and employed more than 8,900 people. They “produced 5.2 million cars in 58 production sites in 2000, and by 2009 they had the capacity to produce 10 million cars and had added 17 production sites.” (Greto et al, 2010, p. 3). Any industry leader in the position of Toyota should seize opportunities to grow and expand while ensuring that the company employees, customers, and stakeholders all stand to benefit and are all well informed about the possibilities that lie ahead. Effectively, a clear and informative communication system must be part of the company’s organization structure.
However, the organizational structure known as the Toyota Way, a system designed to provide the tools for people to continually improve their work, though efficient and effective, could not prevent the accelerator crisis. Toyota’s rigid corporate culture and a hierarchy of seniority are at risk of reacting to external threats slowly, which is what happened during the accelerator crisis. Though Toyota places an emphasis on the respect of people, it may not have been treating its internal customers with the same respect as its external customers causing an environment that did not support free communication between employees and management. With Toyota’s board of directors

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