At the recent 2011 ESSA (Exhibition Stand Suppliers Association) G50+ conference, keynote speaker, Tony Wallis of Toyota Material Handling UK, delighted delegates with his presentation of business practices (as defined by the Toyota Production System), as part of a continuous improvement programme.
The inspirational presentation struck an important chord with long time ESSA member, Peter Bowen, CEO of exhibition specialists Access Displays. Peter explains, “The information coming across formalised some of the ideas we were trying to implement at Access Displays and I felt that we needed to know more.”
Access Displays expanded its relationship with Toyota, subsequently, when Production Director, Emma Thatcher, accepted a place at a TPS master class.
(The Toyota Production System empowers team members to optimise quality by constantly improving processes and eliminating unnecessary waste in natural, human and corporate resources. TPS influences every aspect of Toyota’s organisation and includes a common set of values, knowledge and procedures. It entrusts employees with well defined responsibilities in each production step and encourages every team member to strive for overall improvement.)
And what of the master class? Emma explains, “It highlighted many of the issues important to Access Displays, including service and teamwork.
I enjoyed, particularly, the practical elements, where the role play emphasised the major benefits to be achieved by setting clear goals and giving relevant training and instruction.”
But will this experience influence future plans? Emma believes that it will and envisages challenges ahead to ensure that any manpower changes are linked to improved process implementation, consistency of operation and optimum stock holding.
Peter Bowen agrees and concludes, “Involving staff in the decision making and jointly agreeing procedures to improve efficiency, is the smart way to reduce waste and give customers better value and service”.
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