1. Some of the key advantages of the Japanese automotive supply chain were a) its leanness in terms of
inventory, which helped keep costs low, b) the emphasis on a few, key suppliers, which help firms focus their
quality improvement efforts, and c) an emphasis on waste reduction. Running supply chains with very little
2. The push toward standardization of parts and more autonomous supply sources for each region are
consistent with lean. But what about higher inventory levels? One could argue that higher inventory is
3. In addition to the above strategies, Toyota and other manufacturers might also try working with
competitors to establish inventory or capacity “pools” that can be tapped into in case of severe interruptions.
4. If Toyota asks its upstream suppliers to keep more safety stock inventory, then Toyota has to be willing to
pay for the added protection. Toyota will also need to work closely with suppliers to identify what the “right”