Sakichi Toyoda

was a Japanese inventor and industrialist who founded Toyoda Automatic Loom Works (later Toyota Industries). The son of a farmer and sought-after carpenter, he started the Toyoda family companies. His son, Kiichiro Toyoda, would later establish Japan's largest automaker, Toyota. Toyoda is referred to as the "King of Japanese Inventors".

Early life and education

Sakichi Toyoda was born on March 19 (the 14th of the 2nd month in East Asian Lunar Calendar), 1867, in Yamaguchi, Tōtōmi Province (present-day Kosai, Shizuoka), It earned him the moniker of father of the Japanese industrial revolution. He is also the founder of Toyota Industries Co., Ltd.

Toyoda invented and innovated numerous textile-focused weaving devices, introducing innovative fueling systems used to power his Toyoda-branded machines. His most famous invention was the automatic power loom in which he implemented the principle of Jidoka (autonomous automation). The principle of Jidoka, which means that the machine stops itself when a problem occurs, became later a part of the Toyota Production System.

Toyoda developed the concept of 5 Whys: When a problem occurs, ask "why" five times to try to find the source of the problem, then put into place something to prevent the problem from recurring. This concept is used today as part of applying lean methodologies to solve problems, improve quality, and reduce costs.

The luxury vehicle Toyota Century, introduced in 1967, derived its name from the 100th birthday of Sakichi Toyoda.

On April 15, 1973, the Japan Patent Office selected him as one of Ten Japanese Great Inventors.

Family tree