Core Concepts

The integrated manufacturing system developed at Toyota from the 1950s-1980s. The foundation of what we now call 'Lean.' Built on two pillars: Continuous Improvement and Respect for People.

Japanese for 'change for better.' In Lean, it means continuous improvement as a daily habit—not just events or projects, but everyone improving their work every day.

Any activity that: (1) the shipper is willing to pay for, (2) moves freight toward its destination, and (3) is done right the first time. Everything else is waste.

One of the two Toyota Way pillars. Means: workers are experts in their work, people should be developed not just used, and worker wellbeing is never sacrificed for 'efficiency.'

Automation with human intelligence. The principle that machines (and processes) should stop automatically when something goes wrong—quality built in at the source. Originated with Sakichi Toyoda's automatic loom.