Assessment of Toyota Company Operational Strategy (Term Paper Sample)

ASSESSMENT OF TOYOTA COMPANY OPERATIONAL STRATEGY
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INTRODUCTION
Firms have widely made use of operating strategies as a guide on resource allocation and distribution. Therefore, making it a tool words achievement of both short-term and strategic firm objective (Arnold et.al, 2016). Consequently, leading to development and achievement of a competitive edge. Toyota has an operational strategy that would be used to guide the assessment.
EVALUATION OF KEY ELEMENTS
Analysis of the vision and mission statements
The firm vision has two major elements “respect” and “success”. This two elements have quality assurance to customers, expansion of the firms, profit generation, being a leaders and a build to the brand image (Liker, 2005).
The firm’s mission is directed towards customers who would be satisfied with the best quality. Therefore, the firms will be making customer oriented production to improve on satisfaction (Krijnen, 2007).
Toyota business operation strategy
Toyota is a world leading producer and seller of automotive. It has been enjoying a competitive advantage for a long period through its strong operations management approaches including use of just-in-time, lean management, and kaizen models. In addition, it has invested widely in R&D to be able to employ techniques that suite customers need thus in line with achievement of their mission (Andrews et.al, 2011).
The operation strategy of the firm has been seen to revolve around five major areas. This includes; development of production systems that only apply to the firm thus unique developments, investment is business re-engineering, emphasis on quality assurance and high tech operations, employee’s welfare through motivation, and production of high valued vehicles. Theses facets have been used by the firm to drive its production and market participation (Arnold et.al, 2016).
Supply chain
Toyota has for the past ensures low cost distribution without a compromise on customer’s service quality. Therefore, its chain has been cost driven. Consequently, the firm sis able to offer its products on a consumer friendly price package. The supply chain of the firm is however dependent on the production system of the firm thus forming a key element to the operational strategy (Barney & Hesterly, 2010). It relies on lean manufacturing which has helped it gain a competitive advantage. The supply chain has been strengthened by information sharing, joint improvements, interlocking structures, control systems, and mutual understanding.
Just-in-time philosophy
According to Andrews et.al (2011) the firms has organised its information flow and with resources in a manner that they are able to enjoy to JIT benefits. The model has been applied for quality assurance, TQM, elimination of waste, continuous improvement, as well as improved cooperation. As a manufacturing philosophy, the model was adopted in 1970s. These was with an aim of controlling inventory as well as eliminating waste in the production system. This has been to achieve its mission on customer satisfaction with minimal waste. They have been able to ensure quality, improved transparency, and production complexities have been reduced (Marksberry, 2012).
Total quality management
The TQM tool for the firm has been on ensuring customers first, continuous improvement, and total participation. This has helped the firm engage all its stakeholders towards meaningful production. Consequently, assuring quality and improved customer satisfaction (Kindström, 2010).
Forecasting methods
The firm has made use of projections to ensure they are able to meet customers demand when they arise. To move sales effective management and sales are needed thus making forecasting a crucial tools. The firm is thus able to predict the anticipated sales and the profits that could be realised. Therefore, a tool that has been used to assess the market (Barney & Hesterly, 2010).
CHALLENGES WITH THE CURRENT OPERATIONAL STRATEGY
However, despite the wide success as well as expansion to most continents, the firms has also had big challenges like sales resale stipulated by quality, designs and production faults. This calls for extra costs of replacements, and time to fix the issues. A study by Connor (2010) on the company revealed that the operations model of the firm influence on the production cost which led to inflation of markets process. The firm’s huge recalls have been estimated to be high compared to the competitors which has an effect of the competitive balance of the firm.
Therefore, it is meant to support the firm’s objectives at minimum costs. In the resent past Toyota, has been straggling with effecting its operational strategy which has been hitched with ineffective in quality assurance. Consequently the firm has had a lot of returned cars. In addition, the firm has been battling with developments and product design. Most of their products have been termed as outdated with most consumers changing their preferences (Krijnen, 2007).
The firms has also been faced with marketing challenges, pricing problems, and stagnation of sales in the domestic markets. These key issues have affected the firm’s competitive advantage and thus need an improvement on the operational strategy which would guide the firm to move sales at best prices. As well as assure quality to reduce the number of recalls.
The current operational strategy has been based on just-in time production as well as technological innovation. Differentiation and forecasting have also been some of the tool used by the firm to remain in the market. However, the operation strategy has not been able to address the exorbitant prices resulting from the production operations, it has not been able to managing the rising sales recalls, also it has not been able to address the market challenges as well as the stagnated domestic market (Barney & Hesterly, 2010). Therefore, the current analysis will be geared towards development of a strategy that would help the firm address these key issues. Consequently, earn a competitive balance.
NEW OPERATIONAL STRATEGY
Having discussed the current operational strategy of the firm and the major issues that have not been addressed, there is a need to develop a more sophiscated operational strategy for the firm. Consequently, help the firm achieve its objectives as stated in the mission and vision statements.
Competitive priority

Operational strategy

Cost

One of the major challenges has been for the firm to maintain cost a minimum so that they are able to offer their products at favourable prices. The JIT production which emphasis on customers’ needs has led to increase cost. The firm will need to identify its product line with some being offered and standard production with room for customisation (Barney & Hesterly, 2010). This will help reduce the production cost and the consequently, market prices. Therefore, they will be able to deal with the pricing challenges as well and the marketing challenges they are currently facing.

Quality

The firm has widely made use of TOM as a tool for quality assurance, JIT has also helped minimise waste and optimise on quality. However, the firm has been straggling with sales recall form all over the region. This has an indication of quality hitches. For the firm to counter the problem, they will need to invest on design and product development and re-engineering of the current design and product development operations (Connor, 2010).

Time

The firm has made use of JIT method of production. Thus on high peeks they are at time running short of production. The firm would make use of balanced score cards, mix production methods, standardisation of some product lines, and process production (Krijnen, 2007). The methods would complement the JIT production and offer their products when demand is high. Thus meet customer’s time needs.

flexibility

Flexibility as measures by the ability of the firms to deal with the dynamics in the business environments as well as be able to address issues as they arise has been a major issue for the firm. This has been evident in its hitches when dealing with