Lean Manufacturing

1a. Strength

Ford has several forces in the market. First of all, In the American automotive market, it holds a strong position. The U.S market share for Ford in the car market, as well as light trucks, was 14.8% in August 2015 making it second to General Motors Corporation. Secondly, The United States is Fords biggest market, which is better economically than China as well as Europe recently. The truck line of F-Series pickup manufactured by Ford sales the best in the market of the United States for forty years in a row record. This truck line series outsold these adjacent segments competitors. Ford boasts a good brand reputation also a customer base that is loyal. Of the American countries, Ford is the oldest. Its founder is famous for pioneering the assembly line system revolution.

b. Weaknesses

Ford has failed to match the capabilities in production as well as volume in sales of the leading five automakers including Toyota, General Monitors, Volkswagen, Hyundai-Kia, also Renault-Nissan. Currently, American auto brands have a poor reputation compared to competitors from Japan as well as Europe. For instance, Lincoln is explicitly commonly considered inferior to luxury cars from Britain also Germany. Ford heavily relies on the United States even European auto market. Experts believe car sale future growth will be in evolving markets including China plus India. Lastly, has heavily relied on the sale of pickups which have limited appeal outside the market of North America.

2a. Toyota Production System

Toyota Production System (TPS) is a structure of manufacturing developed by Toyota. The company follows streamlining that is optimum all over the entire system through non-value added elimination also intends to build quality, minimize the cost of production, and have short lead time through waste elimination. Two sub-systems support the system of TPS including “Just in Take” as well as “Jidoka.” Toyota Production System is improved continuously to achieve better performance. The method advances in consideration of economic, technological, as well as social circumstances.

b. Importance of TPS

TPS is more efficient as well as efficient compared to traditional mass production. It has represented an entirely new paradigm also coined the lean production term to point out this radical production different approach. The system guarantees quality during the process of manufacturing since problems arising during production are corrected instantly. For instance, if there is a malfunction in equipment or else discovery of a defective part operators stops production to fix it (Chiarini et al. 590).

3a. Toyota Response

Four years have passed since the Toyota Company was hauled before the Congress because the public flogged over car defects and plaintiff attorneys suspected some wrongdoings. Toyota responded by recalling vehicles amounting to six million to make floor mats as well as sticky accelerator changes. The response was slow and lead to a settlement of 1.2 billion dollars with the Department of Justice also 5o million dollars fine from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

b. The Cause of Toyota Crisis

Agencies blamed Toyota of hiding information of safety flaws. Toyota admitted that it misled consumers from the United States through concealing also making statements that are deceptive about its vehicles being affected by two safety issues. Both issues caused acceleration that is unintended. The company admitted the floor mats as well as the pedals were faulty but denied allegations that engine software glitches triggered uncontrollable acceleration (Eilert et al. 111)

4a. Waste Examples

• Over-processing
• Rejects
• Inventory

5a. 5S Elements

1. Sort. In the workplace, objects are supposed to be sorted. A tag should be put to everything movable including tools, personal objects, also furniture.
2. Shine. This involves cleaning, polishing, and painting when only items that are important have remained.
3. Set. The location of each piece is decided.
4. Standardize. The 5S activities, as well as the daily tasks, are standardized.
5. Sustain or else self-discipline. This part is the most difficult. The attitudes, as well as the activities, have to be institutionalized also repeated up until they form culture part.

b. 5S Improvement

In an office scenario, the 5S is improved if someone in the management is put in charge with people under him to help with operating procedures that are standard. The people in the office need to be disciplined.

Works Cited

Chiarini, Andrea, and Emidia Vagnoni. ""World-class manufacturing by Fiat. Comparison with Toyota production system from a strategic management, management accounting, operations management and performance measurement dimension."" International Journal of Production Research 53.2 (2015): 590-606.

Eilert, Meike, et al. ""Does It Pay to Recall Your Product Early? An Empirical Investigation in the Automobile Industry."" Journal of Marketing 81.3 (2017): 111-129.