1 what changes would you propose to both TPS and to FPS in order to cope with customer demands for increasing product variety and more rapid model changes? A car assembly plant is built around a simple sequence of tasks that starts in the press shop and ends as a car rolls off the final assembly line. Figure 6.7 shows these basic tasks in summary form.

While these basic tasks are the same for both Ford and Toyota, the way they are managed by the two firms is quite different. We compare policies and practices in relation to small cars like the Ford Fiesta and the Toyota Yaris:

● Ford has been driven by a long-term strategy in Europe. It has invested heavily in fixed assets, and does not seek an early return on them.