How toyota Changed the World

by K. Dennis Chambers

Toyota rose from the ashes of World War II to become, just fifty years later, one of the dominant automakers in the world. How did Toyota do it? How did it go from making cars that Westerners pointed to and laughed at to making cars, like the Lexus, that people now lust after? That's what this book is all about. As veteran writer K. Dennis Chambers shows, Toyota, crazy like a fox, had a long-term plan to become a top-tier player in the auto industry. Through patience, persistence, and a willingness to dream of a different future as well as to look back to the past for ideas, Toyota has succeeded step by step.
In addition, Chambers offers special features that include a look at the colorful people associated with Toyota, interesting trivia, a Toyota time line, a focus on products, a look at how the company treats and trains its workers, and where the company is headed. Toyota a company that changed, and is changing, the world.

130 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Harish Sankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, Amazing Book.

Starts with the history of Japan, and then the founders, and then the company.
Reads like a novel.
Exquisitely well researched, and extremely well written.

Highly recommended for anyone who is curious to know about the World's best company.

[Aakanksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning of the book was quite interesting which started with an j der standing of Japanese culture and how Toyoda became Toyota. I found the book a great read except for the last one fourth section which seemed like just a wrap-up.
Overall a nice informative book from the series!

[Mohideen Saad · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent narration of how Toyota stormed the automotive world post WW2.

Especially the way Lexus was introduced to the world of luxury, wasn't something that could be left unnoticed.

From Kanban to Kaisen, Toyota has served humanity, a lot. For anyone who loves quality, it's a must read.

[Glenn Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this book especially the history of the company. It seems like that would be a good company to work for, sounds like they strive to improve.

[Anshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just in time!

[Sathya Narayanan]

The book is outstanding and has been well compiled. Dennis briefly takes us first on a tour of Japan and its history. Visualizing this clearly sets our mind to understand on what grounds Toyota principles lie on. The family background of Iikichi Toyoda and the culture of Japan is shared. The book unfolds into the struggles that the future generation of Iikichi Toyoda suffered. From looms to cars, Sakichi, Kiichiro with the help of Roziburo and then Eiji Toyoda shapes up Toyota to such a level that it just eats away all the markets of the Western world. Toyota with simple principles and strong will towards constructive attitude knocked off all the big players starting from Chrysler to Ford to Mercedes-Benz to BMW to even the likes of Rolls-Royce. Through the techniques of kaizen and jidohka, Toyota dictates the world what to do as far as the Automobile Industry is concerned. The Western competitors have to rely on their breakthrough inventions if they have to keep up with the pace of Toyota. But they cannot afford to live happily on their laurels. If they do Toyota will soon be at their back pushing them with their needle called Kaizen. Japanese are very good at beating the West in the same game always. The book sticks to the topic and tells "How Toyota Has Changed the World" for it has really flipped the Automobile industry upside down. A "Goodread" indeed.

[Bhanu Teja · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was always fascinated with the Japanese ways I think the book was very interesting. Though a relatively thin volume, it gives a good basic idea of the Toyota philosophy and TPS(Toyota Production System) and this partly because it develops the context through the story of Toyota family in larger story of Japan.
Overall this book is great appetizer for someone wanting to study the Toyota practices and systems or Japanese management philosophy in general.