They had the machines. They had the drawings. But still… the wrong part got delivered.
That’s not a quality issue. That’s a people issue — and the cost of ignoring it is huge.
Toyota calls it:
“Respect for People is about building trust, responsibility, and teamwork at every level.”
We call it:
Fixing the mindset before fixing the machine.
What It Really Means
This TPS principle isn’t about being nice.
It’s about designing systems where people think, speak, and act responsibly.
In the best factories:
Operators can stop the machine if they spot a problem
Supervisors don’t need permission to correct a drawing error
Workers suggest improvements — and they’re heard
Cross-trained teams prevent downtime if someone is absent
In short: respect means capability + accountability.
Real Example #1 – CNC Shop Reduced Rejections with Handover Logic
In Rajkot, a CNC unit faced repeat rejections — same job, different operators.
Every shift blamed the last.
Fix:
Supervisor created a 1-page “handover checklist” for each machine
Operators were required to sign off on part condition, program, and notes
Result:
Rejections dropped to zero in that job
Ownership went up — because every operator knew: This is my machine now.
Real Example #2 – Cross-Trained VMC Shop Prevented Delays
In Ahmedabad, a buyer needed urgent dispatch — but the operator had a family emergency.
Most shops would delay.
Not this one:
Two team members were trained to operate the same job
Setup files were saved and accessible
The part shipped on time — and the buyer never even knew
Respect is not posters or HR slogans.
It’s preparing people so that your customer never suffers.
Visual Scene: How “No Respect” Created Over $500 of Scrap
A TheSupplier audit team once saw this:
QC team rejected 17 parts
But no one told production
96 more were machined — with the same tool error
Total scrap cost: over $500
Root cause: “We didn’t think it was urgent to inform.”
That’s not a machine failure. That’s a respect failure.
Why Buyers Should Care
If your supplier lacks this mindset:
❌ Rejections repeat — because no one owns the problem
❌ Communication breaks — because roles are unclear
❌ Dispatch delays happen — because “that’s not my job”
But with real respect:
✅ Teams solve problems early
✅ Cross-trained operators keep flow moving
✅ Your RFQ gets executed — even when surprises happen
What TheSupplier Checks
We don’t just ask:
“Do you have a CNC machine?”
We ask:
“Who updates the tool offset when tolerance shifts?”
“Can your operator explain the drawing — or only the supervisor knows?”
“Do your people own their jobs — or just follow instructions?”
Because good parts don’t come from machines alone.
They come from people who care.
📣 Work With Teams That Think Like a Team
👉 See How We Evaluate Suppliers
📎 Upload Your RFQ
💬 Question for You
Have you ever worked with a supplier where the team made all the difference — good or bad?
👇 Tell us your story in the comments — we’d love to feature a few in our next TPS blog.
📚 References
Toyota Global: https://global.toyota/en/company/vision-and-philosophy/production-system/
“The Toyota Way” – Jeffrey K. Liker
TheSupplier field reports and audit logs (2023–2024)
