Toyota Instructors Deliberately Challenge Youth of Generation Z
Toyota Technical Skills Academy: A Comprehensive Training Ground for Future Technicians
The Toyota Technical Skills Academy, one of only four facilities worldwide, stands as a testament to Toyota's commitment to nurturing highly skilled technicians grounded in the company's core values and manufacturing philosophy.
Located in Japan, the academy offers a unique blend of academic and technical learning, including welding, sheet-metal working, and other monozukuri skills. The curriculum is designed to prepare trainees for the realities of the production environment, providing them with hands-on experience that is closely tied to Toyota's methods.
The academy's approach is rooted in the philosophy of Kiichiro Toyoda, the company's founder, who believed that "monozukuri is about developing people." This philosophy is reflected in the academy's aim to nurture individuals who care about making customers happy and remain committed to quality.
Trainees at the academy are treated as Toyota employees, receiving a monthly salary (stipend) and bonuses. They live in dormitories away from home and undergo rigorous training, which includes team discipline training, physical activities, endurance swims, and multi-day long-distance walks. This rigorous training is considered essential in developing Toyota's technicians.
Instructors at the academy are selected from among the technicians at Toyota's various genba to serve on a three-year rotation. Current Toyota employees serve as instructors, providing trainees with valuable insights into the company's methods and culture.
Upon graduation, trainees receive a high school diploma and are assigned to their respective workplaces. The academy is not just a training school but a holistic development program that integrates education, work experience, respect for the individual, and Toyota’s long-term philosophy of continuous skill enhancement and social contribution.
The academy's educational approach may appear rigorous, reminiscent of a bygone era, but it is a modern education that embraces individual values. It is a testament to Toyota's overarching commitment to the Toyota Production System (TPS) and the Toyota Philosophy, which prioritizes respect for people, continuous improvement, and the craft of manufacturing.
The academy's success is evident in the career of Hisashi Yamashita, a graduate who had a successful career as a sheet metal technician, winning gold at international WorldSkills competitions. Today, Yamashita serves as the Director of the Toyota Technical Skills Academy, continuing the legacy of the academy and embodying the values it represents.
In conclusion, the Toyota Technical Skills Academy is a unique facility that offers a comprehensive training ground for future technicians, respecting students as contributors, integrating skill development with work, providing educational attainment alongside vocational training, and grounding its philosophy in Toyota's core values and manufacturing philosophy.
The Toyota Technical Skills Academy, while grounded in Toyota's core values and manufacturing philosophy, focuses not only on technical skill development but also on personal growth and education-and-self-development, as reflected in its holistic program that integrates academic learning with hands-on experience. The academy's approach to learning fosters the continuous improvement and social contribution that are integral to the Toyota Philosophy, encouraging trainees to strive for personal growth and quality in their future careers, just as Hisashi Yamashita did, rising from a trainee to the Director of the academy and winning gold at international competitions.
