nchi Genbutsu (現地現物: Toyota Production System
nchi Genbutsu (現地現物: Toyota Production System
nchi Genbutsu (現地現物: Toyota Production System
1.Genchi Genbutsu (現地現物?) means "go and see" and it is a key principle of
the Toyota Production System. It suggests that in order to truly understand a situation
one needs to go to gemba (現場) or, the 'real place' - where work is done.
The term jidoka used in the TPS (Toyota Production System) can be defined as
"automation with a human touch." The word jidoka traces its roots to the invention of the
automatic loom by Sakichi Toyoda, Founder of the Toyota Group. The automatic loom
is a machine that spins thread for cloth and weaves textiles automatically. The Toyota
term "jido" is applied to a machine with a built-in device for making judgments, whereas
the regular Japanese term "jido" (automation) is simply applied to a machine that moves
on its own. Jidoka refers to "automation with a human touch," as opposed to a machine
that simply moves under the monitoring and supervision of an operator.
Since the loom stopped when a problem arose, no defective products were produced.
This meant that a single operator could be put in charge of numerous looms, resulting in
a tremendous improvement in productivity.
2. Heijunka is a Japanese term for a level loading of demand and is a fundamental
component of a pull system. It s also known as production levelling or production
smoothing and its aim is to produce items at a constant rate so that they flow
through the production process with minimum lead time and no waiting.
4. The original Japanese was "boka yoke." That actually means "idiot proof." It was
changed to poka yoke, meaning mistake proof, because it seemed less
demeaning. It is imperative that we remember who designs and approves
processes. Management is responsible for the process that can be done wrong.
They need to own up to that, and take the time to correct it.
5C and CANDO
There has been reluctance for some companies in the past to take up “Japanese”
initiatives for business improvement, so some consultancies and other bodies have
come up with non-Japanese equivalents; two of which are listed below as alternatives
for 5S.
5S is also known in some quarters as 5C, with the “S” words replaced by
Clearing,
Configure,
Clean and Check,
Conformity and finally
Custom and practice.
CANDO is;
Cleanup,
Arrange,
Neatness,
Discipline, and
Ongoing Improvement.