JIT EC

What carmaker has perhaps the most worldwide momentum? Check out this Business Week article about Toyota. Notice the frequent references to the Georgetown facility (Toyota's CEO held positions there).

Answer the following questions:

1) How does Toyota's performance compare to other automakers? Provide data to support your answer.

2) What is kaizen? Provide two examples of how Toyota has applied kaizen to its operations.

3) We've discussed the "Seven Zeros" of Just-In-Time philosophy. Using info from the article, explain how Toyota expresses two of the Seven Zeros in its operations.

4) As Toyota implements new process innovations, how easy will it be for competitors to copy these advancements? Explain.

Submit your answers in memo format, although you may answer these questions as they are numbered.