the 14 principles of The Toyota Way

Principle #1 – “Base your management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term financial goals.”

Principle #2 – “Create a continuous process flow to bring problems to the surface.”

Principle #3 – “Use ‘pull’ systems to avoid overproduction.”

Principle #4 – “Level out the workload (work like the tortoise, not the hare).”

Principle #5 – “Build a culture of stopping to fix problems, to get quality right the first time.”

Principle #6 – “Standardized tasks and processes are the foundation for continuous improvement and employee empowerment.”

Principle #7 – “Use visual controls so no problems are hidden.”

Principle #8 – “Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technology that serves your people and process.”

Principle #9 – “Grow leaders who thoroughly understand the work, live the philosophy, and teach it to others.”

Principle #10 – “Develop exceptional people and teams who follow your company’s philosophy.”

Principle #11 – “Respect your extended network of partners and suppliers by challenging them and helping them improve.”

Principle #12 – “Go and see for yourself to thoroughly understand the situation.”

Principle #13 – “Make decisions slowly by consensus, thoroughly considering all options; implement decisions rapidly.”

Principle #14 – “Become a learning organization through relentless reflection and continuous improvement.”