Terracotta Army Craftsmen Pioneered Toyota-style Industry
The most comprehensive analysis of the Terracotta Army’s weapons has revealed that the craftsmen responsible for arming the 7000 warriors, chariots and horses followed a sophisticated labour model now associated with Toyota, the world’s biggest car maker.
Toyota is widely credited with introducing an alternative method of mass production to standard assembly lines. Sometimes referred to as ‘Toyotism’, the approach involves using small workshops of highly skilled engineers, capable of producing any model of car as and when it is needed, rather than a production line where each unit concentrates on making individual components. (more…)