Page 147 - NITI - Navigating Indian Traditions in Industry

Tantra in action. This system focuses on applying knowledge, expertise, and process
management to achieve operational excellence, and it reflects how Tantra can be
applied to modern business for sustained success.

Toyota’s Application of Tantra:
1. Mastery of Processes (Skillful Execution):
Toyota’s success can be attributed to its ability to execute efficiently and consistently.
By mastering the Toyota Production System (TPS), the company has fine-tuned its
manufacturing processes to ensure that each step is optimized. Like Tantra, which
focuses on the skillful application of knowledge and techniques, Toyota has mastered
the art of reducing waste (Muda), improving quality (Jidoka), and ensuring smooth
flow in production (Just-in-Time).

Each of these techniques reflects Tantra’s emphasis on applying techniques with
precision and expertise to ensure that resources are maximized and value is added
efficiently.

2. Continuous Improvement (Kaizen):
Toyota’s Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement aligns with Tantra’s emphasis
on perfection through constant refinement. The company encourages small,
incremental changes that, over time, result in significant operational improvements.
This approach mirrors Tantra’s concept of mastering and perfecting a skill through
continuous practice, making small but impactful adjustments to improve effectiveness,
efficiency, and outcomes.

3. Just-in-Time (JIT) Production:
Tantra is about applying knowledge and skills to ensure efficiency and success.
Toyota’s JIT inventory system embodies this principle by reducing inventory costs and
ensuring that materials arrive exactly when needed, eliminating waste and optimizing
resource usage. By applying this technique, Toyota ensures that resources are used
efficiently and products are made with precision, further exemplifying Tantra’s focus
on the skillful application of process knowledge to enhance operational outcomes.

4. Quality Control (Jidoka):
Tantra involves mastering techniques that ensure quality and effectiveness. Toyota’s
Jidoka (automation with a human touch) involves empowering workers to stop the
production line when a defect is detected, ensuring that any issue is addressed
immediately. This commitment to quality control reflects Tantra’s emphasis on applying

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