"Without Improving Quality, Toyota Cannot Expect to Grow"

by Robert Farago

January 2nd, 2008 8:48 AM

without improving quality toyota cannot expect to grow

According to a New Year's PR greeting from ToMoCo Prez Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota is going so damn green you'd be hard-pressed to find it in a field of clover. Just before I nodded off (sorry), Watanabe pledged to "contribute to the sustainable development of society and the earth in the future" in three main areas: research and development, manufacturing and social contribution. Yada, yada, "sustainable mobility," "cellulosic ethanol," "planting trees" and "hands-on environmental education at the Forest of Toyota." And now for the real news: Toyota wants to achieve "hybrid vehicle sales of 1 million units annually as soon as possible in the early 2010s," and put a Synergy Drive (possibly lithium-ion equipped) into every one of their models (hybrid Tundra?). As for those pesky quality issues dinging their brand rep, Watanabe is so committed to rectifying the situation he's quoting himself: "I am always saying that 'without improving quality, Toyota cannot expect to grow', and I believe that quantitative growth is the result of improved quality. For this, we understand well that corporate management must achieve growth that maintains a balance between corporate activities and environmental preservation, as well as between volume and quality." What, a pragmatic approach to multiple demands rather than seamless spin and endless hype? Where's the fun in that?

Comments

Join the conversation

4 of 16 comments

Jazbo123 on Jan 02, 2008
"corporate management must achieve growth that maintains a balance between corporate activities and environmental preservation, as well as between volume and quality". I'd be delighted if they'd just acheive a balance between self-congratulatory smarminess and reality.

Like Reply
Cicero on Jan 02, 2008

If the Forest of Toyota is full of fluffy bunnies and bluebirds, shouldn't GM have its own Jurassic Park?

Like Reply
KixStart on Jan 02, 2008

Watanabe seems perfectly sensible. Humble, even. Oh, man, look at the time. I've gotta surf over to FastLane.GMBlogs.com to see if Lutz has said anything particularly outrageous or stupid today.

Like Reply
210delray on Jan 02, 2008
Johnster: It would be so nice to have interior plastics that would not easily scratch. Like when you try to clean the clear plastic panel in front of the speedometer with a damp cloth, or when you are not able to open the passenger door more than a few inches and your foot scrapes the the bottom of a door panel when exiting or entering the car. As far back as I can recall, instrument panel gauge covers have always been this fragile. I suppose back in ancient times, real glass was used. With respect to the door panels, I think the old-fashioned strip of carpeting worked the best. Of course, these disappeared more than a decade ago.

Like Reply