Toyota Way Fieldbook : A Practical Guide for Implementing Toyota's 4Ps

a full-time team leader, which is an hourly position with a slightly higher pay

ratethan that of team members. These two positions—group leader and team

leader—have direct responsibility for all production-related activities in the plant.

Above the group leaders are assistant managers, who are usually responsible

for between four and six group leaders and are assigned to both shifts equally.

All assistant managers report to one department manager. The assistant manager

has direct daily responsibility for production activities and spends much of his

or her time on the floor. The manager has direct responsibility for production

activities, but does not tend to the daily issues. The manager is involved when

issues become larger, and must be contacted in the event of any major failure in

production, especially a potential shortage to the customer.

Based on the number of employees assigned to a department (e.g., assembly

has more people), an assistant general manager has a different number of man-

agers reporting to him or her. This would generally be between two and four,

depending on the size of each department. A general manager often has respon-

sibility for a “functional area,” which might be all of the vehicle production, or the

engine plant, or staff functions. Generally managers are not involved with the

daily activities on the production floor. But they are expected to prowl the floor

regularly looking for opportunities to teach and coach.

Chapter 10. Develop Leaders Who Live Your System 223

Figure 10-1. Toyota Georgetown organizational structure

President

Vice President

General Manager

Assistant General Manager

Department Manager

Production and Maintenance

Assistant Managers

Group Leader

Team Leader

Team Members

Staff Assistant Manager

Specialist

Associate Staff

Assistant Staff