Toyota Production System (1988), by Taiichi Ohno
After World War II, Taiichi Ohno, an engineer at Toyota, began experimenting with the assembly lines at the Japanese firm's automobile factories. His goal was to improve efficiency and catch up with America's Big Three. The result of Ohno's tinkering changed the manufacturing industry forever. Ohno and his managers devised the Toyota Production System, more broadly known as "lean manufacturing," which gave Toyota a huge edge in productivity and quality control. The new system ensured Toyota's position as an industry leader, and its principles were adopted within factories across sectors and countries. This little gem of a book outlines Ohno's quest and provides insights into the crucial process of innovation that are valuable for managers of all types.