Toyota University Lean Video
Here's an interesting simulation from Toyota University. Having been in the "lean business" since before the term lean was coined, Toyota has developed all kinds of lean or TPS simulations over the years for internal training. Occasionally the "Toyota University" is opened up to outsiders, but mostly this is an in-house training centre used by Toyota and their suppliers.
This video shows one of the lean training simulations developed by the experts at Toyota. As you can see, the game uses toy car manufacturing (what a surprise!) to illustrate pull production. Different coloured kanban locations show which type of car is required.
You can see the last guy with the stop watch taking a car at specific intervals from the coloured locations. He is the customer. When the car is taken, the coloured spot is replenished with a car from upstream. This triggers the fabricators to build another one of that colour. A classic kanban set-up!
Has anyone had any experience playing this particular game? Has anyone "graduated" from Toyota University? Add your opinion to the comments below!
I've added this video to my list of lean games and simulations!
Please feel free to check out the following additional resources,
Toyota University | Maya University | Auburn University: Mayan Ruins| Mayan Palace Cancun | Riu Palace Cabo | Miami University: CaboPalace
This video shows one of the lean training simulations developed by the experts at Toyota. As you can see, the game uses toy car manufacturing (what a surprise!) to illustrate pull production. Different coloured kanban locations show which type of car is required.
You can see the last guy with the stop watch taking a car at specific intervals from the coloured locations. He is the customer. When the car is taken, the coloured spot is replenished with a car from upstream. This triggers the fabricators to build another one of that colour. A classic kanban set-up!
Has anyone had any experience playing this particular game? Has anyone "graduated" from Toyota University? Add your opinion to the comments below!
Toyota University Simulation Video:
I've added this video to my list of lean games and simulations!
Please feel free to check out the following additional resources,
Toyota University | Maya University | Auburn University: Mayan Ruins| Mayan Palace Cancun | Riu Palace Cabo | Miami University: CaboPalace
I played this game in 2010 at the Toyota Dealer Development Centre in the Netherlands. After that we bought it through them and I am now using it as a training tool for our employees and partners at Heembouw (construction company).
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me where you purchased the game?
DeleteThanks for the comment Rudy. I didn't know that Toyota used it to train their dealers, but I guess it makes sense. Must be fun to play with the little cars!
ReplyDeleteI am a trained teacher in this game. It is however a short/quick game and the pupils are not really invited to participate with suggestions, improvements etc. As a simulation it works really well but as TPS/Lean training Toyota has better education tools.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from someone that knows about this game. With those fancy cars, I expected more of an interactive game. Although even a short simulation is nice for demonstrating lean processes. Thanks!
DeleteLooks like there is still some improvement possible on load balancing or Skills ;) The lady last in the production line is slowing down.
ReplyDeleteAck. . .bottleneck! She's putting a whole car together, what do you expect :)
DeleteRebalancing is definitely worthwhile here, or perhaps they could reallocate an operator and run with two. Depends how often the customer wants a car.