Kiishiro Toyoda / "Toyota Motor Corporation"

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The foreigners visiting factory Toyota in Japan, almost always first of all ask the same question: «Why the name of the person who has created this enterprise, Kiishiro Tojoda, has lost the letter„ d “and has turned in Tojota?» The same name carry not only world famous stamps of cars which about each six seconds descend from the conveyor, but also the city where the factory (before it has settled down was called Koromo).

The foreigners visiting factory Toyota in Japan, almost always first of all ask the same question: «Why the name of the person who has created this enterprise, Kiishiro Tojoda, has lost the letter„ d “and has turned in Tojota?» The same name carry not only world famous stamps of cars which about each six seconds descend from the conveyor, but also the city where the factory (before it has settled down was called Koromo).

The answer on-japonski is unusual, because speaks features of the Japanese language and the Japanese character: to write hieroglyphs a word "tojoda", it is required to make nine waves a brush, and such quantity of movements was considered as the unhappy. That failure has not affected sales volumes, the firm management after long fluctuations has dared to correct an "unhappy" surname of the founder slightly: now waves was eight, and this number in Japan not only is considered happy, but also promises riches and prosperity.

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The Japanese mentality encourages imitation great samples. Corporation Toyota never hesitated to copy workings out avtomobilestroitelej the USA and Europe that today all world adopted the Japanese experience of a business management.

First cars Toyota actually were not Japanese. To this day the American tourists, having got to museum Toyota, at first with delight rush to the car opening an exposition, and then in perplexity stop. In outlines of car Toyoda AA which have been let out in 1936, any expert on the American automobile history undoubtedly distinguishes Chrysler Airflow, and on the tablet is for some reason written, what is it and there is a well-known first Japanese model. The matter is that company Kiishiro Tojoda founder even did not think of the car of own working out. For this purpose at it was not neither means, nor experience.

In 1933 it has received in the inheritance from the father, Sakichi Tojoda, the company on manufacture of the textile equipment, but has decided not to continue this business. Kiishiro Tojoda has sold the patent for release of spinning cars of one English company for 100 thousand pounds sterling, and on this money has opened manufacture automobile and lorries which was allocated in company Toyota Motor Corporation later. In memory of sources of firm the Tojoda-junior has made a logo of the autostamp two knitted loops which have been gushed over in the form of the letter "T".

Sakichi Tojoda in due time has invented a weaving loom which automatically stopped the job as soon as the thread was torn. It became not to spoil all fabric and, thus, to avoid marriage. The Tojoda-junior has borrowed this important industrial principle at the father. And today at automobile factories Toyota there is a rule: as soon as though one of workers on the conveyor will have a problem, it should stop all line not to admit marriage.

Belief Kiishiro Tojody in the light future of the Japanese motor industry was so great, that he did not doubt minutes, when 45 million yens, on building of new factory Toyota Motor Co in Hodoshe has offered all own savings. The factory has earned in 1938.

Instead of allocating means for own basic researches and creation of technological base, Toyota in the beginning preferred to import the newest technology and to direct the scientific potential on its improvement. This strategy quite itself justified Any time. And nevertheless in those days to become the manufacturer in Japan it was uneasy. Many kinds of raw materials simply was not. If not potential of firm in the form of a hardworking Japanese labour, quite probably, company Toyota history would be absolutely short. But its owner has quickly realised this problem, and in 1941-1942 he has created affiliated companies on manufacture of a steel, metalcutting machine tools and automobile accessories.

One of employees of the company, Taichi It, has developed unique the then business dealing system - "kajdzen" - daily step-by-step improvement of the manufacture, allowing to eliminate all kinds of losses (materials, time, capacities). This system has received special popularity, having proved the efficiency and having promoted success of the company. At the enterprises of group Toyota it has been embodied in 1962.

«Technological break in the future» company Toyota has carried out the first of all at the expense of the Japanese mentality, boundless aspiration of Japanese to training, perenimaniju, to copying. In Japan to study means to copy, imitate, here again it is not considered at all as something negative. Because that seems perfect that admires, as a rule, is copied and calls requirement of repetition.

The mentality, developing is that centuries. The pupil should not address constantly to the teacher with questions, he should observe attentively of its actions and acquire receptions by repeated repetition until will reach perfection itself. And only then he can try to add or think up something the.

Fidelity and humility to the teacher is connected with characteristic for Japan pyramidal structure of a society. The society is considered as one big family, at which top - the emperor. This pyramid, in turn, consists of uncountable small pyramids with the chapter. Each of pyramids keeps on unconditional loyalty in relation to the one who heads it at present. Toyota - one their such pyramids. Both the professional training system, and lifelong employment, and compensation for long-term work after an exit on pension, and even purely external symbols (an emblem on overalls, execution of a factory hymn before the job beginning) - all is concrete displays of the Japanese pyramid. One will name it feudal vestiges, others - characteristic lines of the Japanese capitalism.

In 1952 when its business has entered the blossoming period, Kiishiro Tojoda has died. By that moment Toyota, unlike other Japanese automobile firms, has already ceased to buy licences from the western companies and began to develop actively own original designs. This time became the beginning of return process which was marked by export not simply Japanese cars, and Japanese way of the organisation of automobile manufacture.

Toyota has entered revolutionary system - «the offer of new ideas». On perfection of a production cycle and technologies it began to pay For efficient ideas to employees solid monetary awards. Own large design offices have been created. Researches demanded the big assignments, but they positively influenced image of the company, and the main thing - provided technological break in the future. The assortment of let out cars has extended: have appeared off-road car BJ later renamed in Land Cruiser, and magnificent Toyopet Crown. First attempt Toyota to break on the world market has appeared unsuccessful. Car Toyopet Srown developed in November, 1955, neither under the price, nor on quality did not concede imported into Japan foreign, mostly to the American models.

This car has well proved in the homeland where it regarded as reliable family avto, well adapted for narrow Japanese roads on which to develop high speeds not only it was not authorised, but also it was simply impossible. Toyopet Ñrown it was widely used in Japan as a city taxi. However it did not suit high-speed American roads and trips on the big distances. Therefore attempt to export this car in the USA in 1957 has ended with failure.

Engineers Toyota have learnt from this a good lesson and have developed the six-summer program of reforms. Reorganisation has passed very mobile: according to requirements of the market and rapidly the car design has been seriously changed. Besides, the company has managed to find for itself a reliable niche which has considerably strengthened its positions: the rate has been made that Americans preferred to have in the economy class car such prestigious elements as a soft upholstery of the seats, the blacked out glasses, carpets in salon. And soon enough inexpensive, but comfortable cars Toyota Corona and Toyota Corolla became one of the most popular cars in the USA.

The industrial system which has provided optimum scales of manufacture, low costs and, the main, excellent quality of cars at the expense of the strict control of production from its direct participants on each workplace has gradually been created. Every year models Toyota copied cars of other stamps and conservative technical decisions ever less.

In 70-80th years introduction in a design of engines with technical innovations has begun. During the same period manufacture began to extend, and the company has opened the branches in a number of foreign countries. Export of cars has sharply increased, including in the USA. It was promoted by an oil shock of 1973 which has called a rise in prices for gasoline and has led to that buyers began to prefer small-sized, economic cars.

Namely over similar models long years worked designers of the company counting on conditions of the home market. In the USA buyers were ready to wait months for deliveries of the Japanese cars. In parallel Toyota has continued the flexible policy of encouragement of the trading agents, has in every possible way strengthened «a policy of association» in the company and has entered rigid raw economy. It is literally from production wastes it was possible to collect material reserves, sufficient for release of new models Sprinter, Carina and Celica.

Troubles only urged on technical and administrative progress in the company. In 1970 the congress of the USA has accepted the act aimed at struggle against air pollution by exhaust gases, and in the mid-seventies similar laws Japan has accepted also. The company had to allocate considerable means for creation of more effective exhaust system. As a result in 1974 Japan has bypassed Germany on export of cars and since then wins first place in the world on this indicator.

Toyota began to be in the lead and in reduction of production costs. For example, the warehouse areas and finished goods storage time have been shown to a minimum. All has been organised accurately and rationally. If today General Motors could operate the stocks as effectively, as Toyota it would liberate some billions dollars which at it are frozen in warehouses and in shops in the form of a work in progress, raw materials and accessories.

Working on system «deliveries precisely in time», company Toyota has provided to itself considerable reserves in a price competition on foreign markets. The large American companies tried to lower production costs by increase in quantity of cars in a series. Toyota the basic rate has made on introduction of flexible industrial systems which allow to let out small series of models on one conveyor, considering personal inquiries of buyers.

Already in the early eighties Japan made more cars, than the USA, and itself Toyota on this indicator left on the second place in the world, conceding only General Motors. Toyota became the leader and among Japanese avtomobilestroitelnyh the enterprises.

In 1997 Toyota has taken a place of the constant leader of internal sales (38,9 %), behind it went Nissan (20,3 %), Honda (10,9 %), Mitsubishi (8,3 %).

In 2002 Toyota has opened official representation in Russia. Following the results of 2003 in our country it is sold 26,5 thousand new cars of stamps Toyota and Lexus. Today Toyota has 12 factories in Japan and 46 companies in 27 countries of the world, letting out accessories for stamps Toyota and Lexus. For the blessing of prosperity of the company and release of cars work about 250 thousand employees.