I saw that the previous "Things We Learned" post generated some interest, particularly around the piece of advice to let every employee stop the line.
If you're interested in hearing that more in depth, there's a fantastic This American Life about the partnership between Toyota and GM where Toyota revealed their manufacturing secrets to GM in return for co-running a plant in America called NUMMI.
That podcast is also a stark contrast to the more recent This American Life featuring Mike Daisey's Agony and the Ecstacy of Steve Jobs -- where Foxconn makes its manufacturing success through mass, hand-made labor, Toyota makes its manufacturing success through efficient machine processes and intelligent labor.
Also, if you're interested in more secrets of Toyota management (in a much shorter form!) I suggest you pick up the podcast 99% Invisible, and their look at how a Toyota consultant helped a cancer clinic hugely increase their quality of patient care, with nothing more at hand than some big blue yarn.
