Differences between Toyota and Ford production system

Introduction

Production system of a motor company relates to operations management. The production philosophy of Toyota and Ford both aim at making the production system efficient, minimization of costs and wastages. Many of the philosophies of the two companies match with one another but many of them are different from one another. This paper has presented the differences between Toyota and Ford Motor Production System.

Just in Time principle of Toyota and Ford

Just in Time (JIT) is one principle that is followed by both Toyota and Ford. Both of the company aims at minimizing the quantity of inventory and to make it they manage their production system. Although the main intention of application of JIT is same, the way they implement and the importance they exert are different. Ford exerted less emphasis on JIT because the company has just used some cooperation with the suppliers and sellers to coordinate JIT and the company didn’t explain anything how the demand of the customers can be reached to the process of JIT.

On the other hand Toyota emphasized extensively on minimum level of inventory because the country has scarce space to stock the inventory. As a result, Toyota has explicitly linked the demand of customers in the production system to make sure that there is no excessive product.

You might also find below blog posts interesting:

Pros and cons of Toyota Production System

Operations Management of Ford

Ford implemented lean manufacturing in Production System

How to manage a project

Involvement of human being is different in Toyota and Ford motor production system

A very significant similarities between the two production systems is the direct involvement of human resource. Both of the company believes that HR is an integral part of the production system. But again there is difference in how they treat their employees. Ford does not respect its employees as Toyota does. Moreover, Ford does not have such consciousness over the respect of employees and workers.

On the contrary, Toyota believes that employees and workers are part of the company and they take employees are lifetime employment. The result is also different. Toyota enjoys the extensive hardworking employees and workers who has contributed to make the company number 1 in the global automobile industry.

Flexibility in the manufacturing technology of Toyota is different from that of Ford

Flexibility in the manufacturing technology is another principle of both of the companies. They designed their manufacturing technology in such a way that responds quickly to the changing demand and needs of the customers. This is very much significant for both of the companies because they can quickly meet the demand of the customers. This is important to gain the market share rapidly.

The philosophy is also different

The main difference lies in the philosophy of production. Both of the company believe that they are following lean manufacturing technology. Ford has emphasized on the attributes on the products that re valued and cared by the customers and the company emphasizes on developing the attributes.

On the contrary, Toyota has extensively emphasized on eliminating the wastages, work flows and costs in the production system. Therefore, how the companies are positioned in the market is different. Toyota is considered to be efficient manufacturer on the contrary, Ford: fuel thirsty and expensive cars.

How Ford and Toyota spots defects is also different

There is another difference between the TPS and FPS. Toyota spots the flows at source and for this all the employees of the company are trained and educated. The employees at Toyota observe the working process and all of them suggest to make the production process more efficient. On the contrary, there is also continuous improvement team at Ford but not all the employees. Ford has some employees who are called “change agents”. This team continuously make changes and develops in the production process.