In 1974, the award system was broken into Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. And in 1974, the number of creative ideas proposed reached one million. Toyota’s creative idea award system is an excellent example of employee motivation and encouragement.
One of the focus areas in TQM is on utilizing the knowledge of lower-level employees who are the most involved in day-to-day operations. Their knowledge is often overlooked, even though they are the employees that have the closest relationship with the majority of the manufacturing process. Hence, when there is the slightest problem or room for improvement, it is the lower-level employees that are the most likely to spot it.
The Suggestion Idea Program gives these employees a chance to present their ideas without fear and have them considered by the upper management team who can assess it and carry it out successfully.