Comments on: So What Happened to Toyota???

By: Larry Miller

Larry Miller — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:53:13 +0000

Ed’s point is certainly a good one. If a pharmaceutical company committed the errors committed by Toyota they would be out of business.

But, it is also true that Toyota, and Honda, still created models of manufacturing that have proven to be a better way in hundreds, if not thousands of companies. But, that does not make them infallible.

And, Ed right, “If we know something is wrong FIX IT! If no one is listening, find someone who will.”

By: Ed Vallo

Ed Vallo — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:34:48 +0000

Just to clarify my statement. I am the Union President that Larry refers to in his above statement. What I said was please tell the coaches not to mention the “Toyota way” in their meetings with our employees. The feedback that I was given from my membership. “We make Medicine”. “If we made Medicine for our customers like Toyota makes cars you can imagine the results”. “Imagine how long we would be in business if the majority of our medicine thay we make has to be recalled and taken off the shelf because there was somethong wrong with it, up to and including causing deaths.” Do you think our customers who we are making the medicine for would ever trust us again? If Larry doesn’t see why Toyota got so much credit, then why are they referenced so much in his book, as the shining example. “That we need to follow the efficiencies of companies like Toyota and Honda.” I thought that Toyota had an “ownership culture” that went all the way down to the shop floor. Every employee at Toyota, from the top down owns what goes out of their plants. Just like everyone at my plant form the top down owns the medicine that leaves here. If we know something is wrong “FIX IT”. If no one is listening find someone who will.

By: Ray Errol Fox

Ray Errol Fox — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:19:11 +0000

Before I heartily thank J. McGovern, who referred me to your post, I want to thank you for this insightful, thought-provoking piece. Then I will look into your book, and then more about you. Congratulations for infusing some clear, fresh thought into the cloudy American mainstream.