Operations and Supply Chain Management The Core

CHAPTER 12
LEAN SUPPLY
CHAINS
Learning Objectives
LO12–1 Explain lean production.
LO12–2 Illustrate how lean concepts can be applied to supply chain processes.
LO12–3 Analyze supply chain processes using value stream mapping.
LO12–4 Explain lean design principles.
LO12–5 Apply lean concepts to service processes.
TOYOTA—NEW GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE
Toyota, the just-in-time pioneer, is transforming the way it designs and manufactures
vehicles. The Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) streamlines the process
by standardizing the size and position of key components with new standard
vehicle platforms. In an ongoing effort to lower cost while improving performance,
the cars’ platforms are designed with a low vehicle center of gravity, a quality that
is key to more precise and responsive handling without hurting comfort and ride.
TNGA uses special design rules for the position of such items as pedals, the steering
column, and the driver’s seat for each of the five vehicle platforms that are manufactured.
Previously, each new model was designed from scratch, but the new process
essentially automates this process. The new process simplifies vehicle design and