Abstract
The success of Toyota is incredible today, and the company is showing astonishing financial results when most of Japanese companies are in the doldrums. It is the biggest of the heavyweight competitor in the car industry. General Motors and Ford, whose market shares are falling in favor of Toyota, are only selling 10% of the global cars. This car manufacturer is an example to follow, but also a mystery that is not so easy to understand. The reasons for its success are numerous and come from a clear policy, which is shared in factories and headquarters all around the world: the search for excellence. Several key strengths are fueling this policy, which are flexibility, speed and productivity. Toyota managed to create a global and integrated manufacturing system to increase its productivity and guarantee perfect market responses.
