Want to lead with quality? Start with these 2 pillars.
But if one breaks, the whole system slows down.

This is Part 2 of my 10-part series on The Toyota Production System by Yasuhiro Monden. He’s a professor at Mejiro University in Tokyo and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tsukuba.

His book breaks down how Toyota changed the way we work.

Today’s focus: The 2 Pillars of TPS
Just-in-Time (JIT) and Jidoka.

1 - Just-in-Time
Make only what’s needed, when it’s needed.
No stockpiles. No “just in case” waste.

2 - The Pull System
Work moves only when the next step needs it.
Less guessing. No overproduction.

3 - What’s Jidoka?
It’s automation with a human touch.
Machines stop when a problem shows up.
No bad parts slip through.

4 - Stopping the Line
Anyone can pause production if something’s off.
This makes problems visible, fast.
Fixing becomes part of the flow.

5 - How JIT & Jidoka Connect
Jidoka ensures quality.
JIT depends on quality.
One supports the other.

6 - Why Jidoka Matters
It frees workers from watching machines all day.
It builds quality into the system itself.
And it shows you where things go wrong.

Together, JIT and Jidoka create flow, speed, and quality.

And it all starts with trust in your system.

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📌 P.S. This is just part 2 of 10.
Next up: Kanban System, The Nerves of TPS

Want to double output without sacrificing quality? These 2 Japanese concepts show you how.

Want to lead with quality? Start with these 2 pillars.But if one breaks, the whole system slows down

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