Toyota's New Journey in Manufacturing: Exploration of Takumi Kobo - Part 1
In the heart of Toyota's head office, a workshop named Takumi Kobo stands as a testament to the company's commitment to preserving and evolving traditional craftsmanship, particularly in sheet metal work. This team of master artisans, known as Takumi, carries forward the refined skills and techniques handed down since Toyota's founding, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship and innovation in car production.
The formation of the Takumi Kobo within the Technical Development & Prototype Division took place in April 2022. Yuto Tanaka, a graduate of applied laser physics, joined Toyota in 2012 and played a pivotal role in its creation. He met Hitoshi Tsuchiya, another key figure, in January 2021 when Tanaka's division merged with Tsuchiya's, forming the Technical Development & Prototype Division.
Tanaka and Tsuchiya advocate for incorporating takumi skills into computer simulations and machine processing to improve carmaking. They believe that this blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology is essential for maintaining Toyota's reputation for quality, precision, and innovation in automotive development and production.
The Takumi Kobo's creations are not limited to car bodies and prototypes. They have also developed a prototype scuff plate that utilizes sheet metal skills, showcased at the Gunma Parts Show in September 2021. The scuff plate, named the Masame, imitates the wood grain pattern found in certain logs, as seen in the new Century car model. The excellent response from visitors revealed the potential of takumi-crafted products, leading to the launch of Takumi Kobo and the release of the scuff plate as an optional add-on for the new Century.
The Takumi Kobo workshop, adorned with the bold lettering of its name on a wood-paneled wall, is a testament to the team's dedication to their craft. The logo, written by Oyaji Kawai, known as the personification of Toyota's monozukuri, symbolises the team's commitment to preserving and evolving traditional skills.
The various metal pieces on display at the workshop are crafted by the artisans under their own initiative as a way to hone and preserve their skills. Mitsuru Kawai, another supporter of the Takumi Kobo, endorses their efforts, further motivating the team.
Tanaka and Tsuchiya have established three focal areas for the Takumi Kobo: inheritance and evolution of takumi skills, providing new value to customers, and creating customer experiences. They began by creating customer touchpoints, such as participating in circuit driving events and organizing metalworking sessions.
The Takumi Kobo serves as Toyota's artisan frontier, blending traditional skills with new approaches to product development and manufacturing. This commitment to preserving and evolving traditional craftsmanship ensures that Toyota continues to produce vehicles of the highest quality, while also creating new value for its customers.
- The Takumi Kobo, established within Toyota's Technical Development & Prototype Division, endeavors to incorporate traditional craftsmanship in sheet metal work, a key aspect of the automotive industry, into computer simulations and machine processing, aiming to maintain the company's reputation for quality and innovation in both finance and transportation.
- In addition to car bodies and prototypes, Takumi Kobo has branched out into other areas, such as creating a prototype scuff plate, the Masame, featuring a wood grain pattern inspired by certain logs, for the new Century car model, demonstrating their potential in expanding the automotive industry's product offerings.
