How the Coronavirus Is Upending the Way Toyota’s CEO Works
- Akio Toyoda spending most of his time at a training facility
- CEO says he’s discovering things can be done more efficiently
Akio Toyoda
Photographer: Akio Kon/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Officer Akio Toyoda says he is starting to question long-ingrained practices at the Japanese carmaker after cutting travel by 80% and spending less time in meetings as part of measures to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.
The grandson of Toyota’s founder, who has spent recent weeks at a company training facility, said on Tuesday he is now questioning “Genchi-Genbutsu,” a Japanese phrase that translates roughly into “go and see for yourself.” The principle was built on the idea that problems can be solved more quickly and efficiently by going to where they exist and analyzing root causes.