Gemba: Toyota's Practical Leadership and Its Global Impact

"Based on a series of interviews with Taiichi Ohno, the book Gemba: Toyota's Practical Leadership and Its Global Impact – edited in the Italian edition by our Partner & Account Relationship Leader Francesco Culòs – offers a clear and concise overview of the thinking behind the Toyota Production System through the words of the father of this system.

As a leading figure at Toyota, Taiichi Ohno was a pioneer in business management, setting standards that have inspired generations of leaders and shaped the way companies approach production and management. This book provides a unique perspective on Ohno’s leadership approach and his lasting global influence.

The essence of the book lies in the Japanese concept of Gemba – literally 'the real place' – which refers to the location where action occurs or where value is created. Genba is commonly translated as 'workshop' or 'workplace.' Ohno uses Gemba to refer not only to the administrative workplace and Toyota’s workshop but also to the people working within it. Essentially, Gemba is 'the place where things happen', where value is created, and where true leadership is exercised. This concept, central to the Toyota Production System, goes beyond the physical location and extends to a leadership approach that emphasises direct involvement in the field and solving problems at their root. Ohno believed that only by fully immersing oneself in daily activities and deeply understanding the challenges and opportunities in the field could significant improvements truly be made.

One of Ohno's keys to success – and that of the Toyota Production System – was his emphasis on eliminating waste. Through the concept of 'muda', Ohno taught leaders to identify and reduce all forms of waste, from overproduction and unnecessary transportation to excess inventory and process defects. This approach enabled Toyota to achieve remarkable operational efficiency while maintaining high standards of quality at every production stage.

But Ohno's influence extends far beyond Toyota’s factories. The book Gemba: Toyota's Practical Leadership and Its Global Impact explores how the principles and practices he developed have had a transformative impact on companies worldwide. From reducing lead times and costs to driving product innovation and enhancing customer satisfaction, the lessons learned from Genba have proven to be universally relevant, delivering extraordinary results across a wide range of industries and contexts.

Taiichi Ohno's legacy lives on, not only within Toyota but in every company that embraces Genba principles. His book remains an invaluable guide for those tackling process efficiency challenges with determination and insight. He encourages readers to move beyond abstract management theories and adopt a more hands-on, direct approach.

Gemba: Toyota's Practical Leadership and Its Global Impact' by Taiichi Ohno is not just a detailed analysis of the Toyota Production System; it offers leaders a chance to learn directly from the experiences and wisdom of one of the greatest innovators in business management. It invites us to transcend conventional leadership boundaries and adopt Genba as a corporate philosophy, with the potential to radically transform organisations and improve lives worldwide."

Why re-publish an Italian edition of a book written decades ago, in a context where the socio-economic fabric has radically changed  – and continues to evolve at unprecedented speeds?

Lean Thinking is the evolution of experimentation carried out at Toyota, particularly after World War II. This approach transformed a small Japanese car manufacturer – where, in 1951, one day of production at a Ford plant equalled Toyota’s entire annual output – into the world’s largest vehicle seller by 2008. The production model that underpinned this sales success became known as the Toyota Production System. One of the key architects of this transformation was Taichi Ohno, a Manchurian engineer whose revolutionary ideas – supported by the vision of the Toyoda family (first Sakichi and Kiichiro, and later Eiji) – reshaped not only the automotive sector but the entire business world.

Today, the Lean System is recognised as a system of principles, methods, techniques, and tools that guarantee customer value generation, continuous process improvement, and people involvement.

There are many lessons to be drawn from Taiichi Ohno's book, originally titled Gemba Management. If I had to choose one that remains particularly relevant today, it would be the concept of value and its counterpart: waste. It is considered wasteful to produce more than necessary or earlier than needed. Likewise, unnecessary movement and transporting objects without purpose are also wasteful. In a world that is belatedly starting to ask which new behaviours to adopt, which models can lead us to a more sustainable use of the planet's resources, and what leadership model best supports this vision, Gemba: Toyota's Practical Leadership and Its Global Impact is a valuable companion for reflection.

Francesco Culos - Partner & Account Relationship Leader auxiell