You have got to love Toyota. It is the representation of how hard work, focus and deep perseverance can overcome the goliath. The slumbering, slowly staggering goliath is of course Ford, GM, and even Chrysler.

Some tenets:

1) Mutual ownership of problems

2) Solving problems at the source instead of behind desks

3) Constantly looking for and implementing improvement, particularly at the level of an individual worker or a work team.

People often overlook corporate/company culture as a source for competitive advantage. I think the Toyota Way is a strength that Detroit will never match. Detroit can attempt to adopt the manufacturing improvements like Just In Time Manufacturing, or Six Sigma. However, Detroit will never be able to the one thing that the Toyota Way requires --treating their employees with respect and empowering them to implement change.

Take this example: Assembly line workers can stop the process line if they feel there is a potential problem. Can you ever imagine this happening here?  Another reason why America should be afraid..... Though lucky for us globalization works both ways and Toyota is here already.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/15/business/worldbusiness/15toyota.html