Kiichiro's system was to provide the substeps of the productive sub processes for the production sequence (e.g., machining, painting, welding etc). The JIT concept was to eliminate the waste, producing only the nec essary, when necessary, and just in the necessary amount. Nevertheless, it was still hard work because American production was eight times bigger than that of the Japaneses increasing the productivity was a matter of sur vival for Toyota.
Another major milestonein the developmentof TPS was the work of Taiichi Ohno. Kiichiro Toyota invited Ohno machines manager at that time, to develop a more efficient production system in order to increase productivity.
In 1956, with the concepts taught by Sakichi Toyoda (Jidoka) and Kiichiro Toyoda (IT), Ohno traveled to the United States to visit auto factories, intending to improve the Japanese low productivity when com pared to the American one .
At this opportunity Ohno observed countless opportunities to improve such as production cel areas, excessive movement of parts, long setups, high rejection levels, etc