Question

Review the discussion below and reply with your thoughts in your own words:

1. Why are hospitals adopting the “Toyota Way”?

According to Colliver (2013), “the Toyota Way, as it is called, is the company’s systematic approach to producing cars and trucks efficiently, with the primary goal of pleasing the customer” (para. 2). Hospitals are adopting the “Toyota Way” because of the need to compete as reimbursements are dwindling. More hospitals are doing this to attract patients because the available options for patients’ keeps growing and hospitals need to retain them to keep their business solvent as reimbursements will continue to dry up.

2. What are some Japanese terms that could have prevented the lost patient? Why did you select these terms?

The Japanese terms that I picked are Hansei, Jidoka, and Kaizen. I picked these terms because all of them could have had an impact in preventing the lost patient. Hansei is a self-reflection term that would allow hospital staff to look at what they themselves could have done better. Jidoka is a term that combines human intelligence with technology and helps stops the first sign of a problem. This will help a hospital recognize a problem when it’s happening so they can then correct the behavior if needed. Kaizen, is about continuous improvement and this will show the hospital a measurable improvement and how changing the behavior will improve morale. According to Colliver (2013), “in one improvement session, hospital staff members looked at operating room cancellations. They analyzed the reasons for those cancellations – ranging from surgical scheduling conflicts to patients not having their pre-op preparation done in time – and recommended changes that reduced cancellations by 17 percent” (para. 26).

3. Toyota has repeatedly outperformed its competitors in quality, reliability, productivity, cost reduction, sales and market share growth, and market capitalization. Thus, many companies have tried to adopt the “Toyota Way” and failed to match its performance. What do you believe might be some causes and why?

I think the “Toyota Way” has failed in some other companies because it’s not necessarily ingrained in their company culture. The “Toyota Way” is something that will take time to cultivate and build over a period of years. According to Colliver (2013), “Believers in Toyota's method say the key to making the system more than just another management fad is to standardize the new processes so that everyone does them the same way and works to sustain the changes” (para. 27).

Answer 1

1. Hospitals Adopting Toyota way - Toyota way principle is continous improvement and respect for people. In todays world, day by day many diseases and deficiencies are happening to the people.When people are looking into hospitals they will look over the speedy recovery and kindness towards the patients.When these two are properly and effectively done automatically people will choose your hospital for medication and goodwill of the hospital also increased.And in terms of business also it shows the positive result.

2.Japanese terms to prevent lost patients

Hansei - A continous improvement practiceof looking back and thinking about how a process or personal shortcoming is improved. In simple terms it is self reflection.In case of hospitals, they just have a glance what was made them to lost the patient and think over to cut down the faults made by them.finding another source and alternative way to get the patients.And working on that could not happen again.

Jidoka - Automation with human intelligence.It highlights the causes of problems and the work stops.Actually this was a good one when it is applied in hospitals,because you may reduce the risk when you find the cause and stops the work. Another important thing is you have to immediately or as early as go for the alternate solution for the recovery of the patient.

Kaizen - Continuous improvement either it is small or large, change for better. By applying kaizen in hospitals, they can give a better solution for the problems of the patients.repeatedly monitoring the health of the patients will avoid further complications and major discomfortness of health.

3.Failure of Toyota Way by other companies -

• Often failed to implement the whole system
• Companies are not fully get through the concept of Toyota Way
• Other companies doesn't retain and greet their employees as like Toyota
• It takes time to fully implement the process and costs is much involved.
• Companies looking for speed development and return of what they have cultivted.