Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to share the experience of implementing Toyota Kata for an ETO manufacturer in the Norwegian construction industry. The authors present observations and experiences from the application of Toyota Kata, with the aim of bringing out critical success factors and a modified version adapted for this industry, something that is so far lacking in the extant literature.
Design/methodology/approach: An action research approach was used which includes participatory form of inquiry and learning from outcomes both intended and unintended, while simultaneously building up scientific knowledge for successfully accomplishment of Toyota Kata.
Findings: This study shows that the modified version of Toyota Kata can be useful as an approach for an ETO manufacturer in the construction industry, when selecting a cyclic repetitive process to embark on. All identified success criteria can be found in the existing literature and confirming the existing knowledge, but extending the extant literature regards within the context of Toyota Kata as an approach for CI. A modified approach for the improvement Kata was identified regarding running small experiments – go to Gemba and extend the team to involve people who work on the problem in daily basis.
Originality: This research fills a gap identified in the literature regarding how Toyota Kata can be modified and applied for an ETO manufacture in the construction industry. It also presents the critical success factors that can be used for researcher and practitioners paving the way for increase the likelihood of success for such approach.
Design/methodology/approach: An action research approach was used which includes participatory form of inquiry and learning from outcomes both intended and unintended, while simultaneously building up scientific knowledge for successfully accomplishment of Toyota Kata.
Findings: This study shows that the modified version of Toyota Kata can be useful as an approach for an ETO manufacturer in the construction industry, when selecting a cyclic repetitive process to embark on. All identified success criteria can be found in the existing literature and confirming the existing knowledge, but extending the extant literature regards within the context of Toyota Kata as an approach for CI. A modified approach for the improvement Kata was identified regarding running small experiments – go to Gemba and extend the team to involve people who work on the problem in daily basis.
Originality: This research fills a gap identified in the literature regarding how Toyota Kata can be modified and applied for an ETO manufacture in the construction industry. It also presents the critical success factors that can be used for researcher and practitioners paving the way for increase the likelihood of success for such approach.