Management Theories

Toyota Production System

Also Known As TPS

Citation Formats

General Reference

Business Atlas. "Toyota Production System." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-business.interactiveatlas.org/management-theories/toyota-production-system.

APA Style

Business Atlas. (n.d.). Toyota Production System. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-business.interactiveatlas.org/management-theories/toyota-production-system

BibTeX

@misc{businessatlas-toyota-production-system,
  author = {Business Atlas},
  title = {Toyota Production System},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://dev-business.interactiveatlas.org/management-theories/toyota-production-system},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

An integrated socio-technical system developed at Toyota between 1948 and 1975. It builds on an idea originated by Toyota founder Sakichi Toyoda and his son Kiichiro Toyoda, just-in-time production, which engineer Taiichi Ohno turned into a working method, including his own formulation of the seven wastes (muda). The system inspired the Western lean manufacturing movement.

Facts

Core Claim

An integrated management philosophy and set of practices organizing manufacturing, logistics, supplier relations and customer interaction around eliminating waste (muda) and building only what is needed, when it is needed, in the amount needed. 1

Origin Year

1948 1

Cross-Tradition Connections