The TPS (Toyota Production System) and the Piggly Wiggly chain of shops

The Toyota Production System is a method of organising production derived from a different philosophy and, in some respects, an alternative to mass production, i.e. large-scale, series production based on Henry Ford's assembly line. At the heart of TPS is the idea of “doing more with less”, i.e. using the (few) resources available in the most productive way possible with the aim of dramatically increasing factory productivity.
The Toyota Production System is often illustrated with a figure representing a house built on two pillars: the Just-in-time and the Jidoka. The objective of this production system, indicated on the roof of the house, is to achieve the best quality at the lowest price and in the shortest time possible. This system uses a series of tools, described below, which all follow the common thread of hunting down and eliminating waste (Muda).
In order to pursue the elimination of Muda, all aspects of the production process are addressed with an approach based on continuous improvement (Kaizen) and in small steps. The extraordinary results achieved using this new production philosophy led to the success of TPS, also renamed Lean Production to highlight the aspect of eliminating everything that is superfluous and weighs down the system, generating costs rather than value.