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  • I actually help companies implement and execute the adoption, introduction and institutionalization of collaborative technologies. In doing this work, I innovate, create and stimulate, ... and when necessary agitate! I spend a lot of time making sure that things are integrated; systems, processes, information flows... It bugs me when technology is introduced that dis-integrates systems, processes, etc. I use a lot of the fundamental principles of "lean execution" to support my work.

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    He is able to bridge the often difficult gap that exists between business units and IT. He made our job easier, and in doing so, served his customer well.
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    One reason why Ford works with Mr. Shea is that he, unlike many other consultants, actually gets involved with establishing and implementing those things that we need to do to change. Once we understood the issues, we told him to “go do it” and he did.

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January 28, 2010

What's up with the Toyota Recall?

Toyota has stopped production of most of its vehicles, what's going on?

At any Toyota plant, someone can pull the chain and stop the plant. But this time it was C-level management who pulled the chain. The question is why did this issue rise that high. Why didn't the "guy on the floor" pull the chain?

What has changed at Toyota? I have not been tracking Toyota closely the past 5 years, but my guess is that management focus likely shifted from a product strategy to a finance one (or maybe a marketing one). The guy on the floor could be more fearful of or more confused about pulling the chain, so he let's it go.

Is Toyota's culture changing as it becomes a bigger global player? TPS gave Toyota competitive advantage for quite some time - Is TPS becoming diluted as more and more firms copy it and is Toyota "tweaking" TPS with limited success?

And how do we compare/contrast Toyota and Ford as they seesaw for best in class quality? Is Ford's advancement creating concerns within Toyota management that are reflected in production/product development?

Also, is there something here to be compared to Ford/Firestone, which occurred at a time when Ford moved away from a product focus?

Posted at 05:14 PM |

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