Comments on: Implementing the Toyota Sewing System at Fit Couture

By: Sarah M

Sarah M — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:28:31 +0000

Thanks for a great posting. I checked out your website and am very impressed. I’m a new Texan, having moved to Bay Area Houston from NY this year. I’m still using my NY contractors (I could not find anyone here), but hope someday to have my own lean machine for my handbags. Thanks for the inspiration. Best of luck with the new system.

By: Mike C

Mike C — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:01:57 +0000

After thinking it through, I don’t think we’re going to be able to take you up on the work-study proposal.

If we run a second open-house, you’d certainly be welcome to come down for that though.

By: Georgina

Georgina — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:23:54 +0000

Thanks fellow Texan!

By: colleen

colleen — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:14:31 +0000

Thanks, Mike, it’s a very interesting article!

By: J C Sprowls

J C Sprowls — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:54:08 +0000

It’s been ages since I’ve sewn basketball and football uniforms in production. But, I’m sure the feeling comes back.

I have a project I’m currently working on for a client – a sample production run of tot’s knit dresses. By the time I get to the end of these 200 units, I should be back up to appropriate levels of speed and accuracy.

I understand TSS – the recursion loops are instantly identifiable. I’ve never worked under the system, only studied and implemented similar Lean and DFSS flows in claims processing shops and kitchens.

I suspect a week may not be necessary. But, I would be concerned for adding value in exchange for hospitality. A minor dip in production may not be too painful for a day or two because it could be recovered by the week’s end. But, if I kludge, I might need to be re-deployed to breaking down boxes.

By: Mike C

Mike C — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:08:10 +0000

I don’t think we could afford to have the line down for a week day right now, but if there was enough interest, I’d be willing to open the shop on a weekend and do that.

As far as trading labor for training, that’s also a possibility. Len Egan told us that we could put up to three folks on this line, though we’ve never tried it. Assuming you know how to sew and have some aptitude for working with knits, I’d be open to a training session like that.

I’d be surprised if you needed a whole week though. TSS is actually quite intuitive once you actually see it.

By: J C Sprowls

J C Sprowls — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:57:50 +0000

I’m curious if Mike & Amy would be amenable to making the 2nd session a “working” session? In other words, would it be possible to cut non-production garments and let the group walk-thru the system for several cycles?

Failing that, how painful is it to add a worker to the circuit for a short period of time? I mean, I have vacation I need to take during the 1st couple weeks of December. This might time out during a peak cycle. Would the Cerny’s be willing to swap a week of shop assistance for TSS training?