The First Toyota Production System Manual (1973, Japanese)

An internal Toyota textbook on the Toyota Production System compiled by the company’s Education Department in January 1973 (Showa 48). The preface, written by Taiichi Ohno, recalls Kiichiro Toyoda’s dictum that parts should come to the assembly line just in time and defines the system as activities to raise productivity and reduce cost through thorough elimination of waste. Chapters cover the Toyota method of man-hour reduction, efficiency, standardized work, and the kanban system, with an appendix on the evolution of machine layout and work methods.