HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Human Resource Management Assignment



Human Resource Management Assignment

Historical Development

Toyota is one of the largest automakers with 7.4 million vehicles sold each year on five continents. With its commitment to its customers and its constant search for improvement, Toyota occupies a leading position in the market, has the unique advantage of being the best Japanese brand sold in the United States and to be number one in Europe. The story of Toyota begins at the end of the 19th century with the invention of the first Sakichi Toyoda automatic loom in Japan, a machine that helps to revolutionize the textile industry countries (Vlasic, Bill, Fackler, Martin, 2008; Dawson, Chester, 2004).

Outside Japan, Toyota has begun to conquer foreign markets in the 1950s. The first Toyota Crown models arrived in the United States in 1957, and by 1965, the company forged a reputation for quality, service and customer satisfaction, particularly through models car like the Toyota Corolla, which enabled it to compete with top car manufacturers. In the 1930s, Toyota transferred Ford's practices to its assembly lines; however, Kiricho Toyota's goal was cost reduction without economy of scale. Toyota could not afford huge capital investments, so mass-production practices were adapted to Toyota's capabilities. Taiichi Ohno, an assembly-shop manager, brought additional elements from his experience with the textile industry. Setup time reduction, workstation layout, and reduction in inventories were gradually tested on Toyota's assembly line.

In 2004, annual sales of Toyota vehicles in the United States exceeded 2 million, including 1.4 million vehicles and nearly 1.36 million engines manufactured in the United States. The first European imports were made in Denmark in 1963 and since that date, the company has grown steadily in the market. In 2006, Toyota shipped its 15 millionth vehicle in Europe and achieved sales figures record for the tenth consecutive year. Toyota has adopted a policy of locating its vehicle production to meet the specific and varied needs of European customers (Dawson, Chester, 2004).

The company's operations in Europe - whether in production, research and development or marketing are generally located in the heart of the communities where continues its development (Dawson, Chester, 2004). The first European imports were made in Denmark in 1963 and since that date, the company has grown steadily in the market. In 2006, Toyota shipped its 15 millionth vehicle in Europe and achieved sales figures record for the tenth consecutive year. Toyota has adopted a policy of locating its vehicle production to meet the specific and varied needs of European customers (Dawson, Chester, 2004).

The company's operations in Europe - whether in production, research and development or marketing are generally located in the heart of the communities where continues its development (Dawson, Chester, 2004). - current market context Major Threats and Opportunities Facing Toyota as a Company Since 2005, the Japanese auto Enterprise Honda decided to introduce to the Mexican market the Civic hybrid. Nowadays, the automobile are more ecological that is commercialized in Mexico.

Therefore, enterprises as Smart (German) and Toyota (Japanese) decided ...