Toyota's New Journey in Manufacturing: An Exploration of Takumi Kobo - Part 1
Toyota's Takumi Kobo: Preserving Tradition and Embracing Innovation
In April 2022, Toyota launched the Takumi Kobo, a specialized workshop that embodies the spirit of "monozukuri" (the art and craft of making things). This unique workshop combines traditional sheet metal craftsmanship with modern automotive manufacturing techniques, preserving and revitalizing master artisans' skills that have been passed down since Toyota’s founding.
The Takumi Kobo is a hub for craftspeople who specialize in expert shaping and hammering of sheet metal, creating intricate car bodywork that machines alone cannot achieve. This fusion of traditional methods and advanced technologies allows for highly precise and innovative car bodywork, ensuring unmatched finish and quality.
Yuto Tanaka, Project Manager at the Technical Development & Prototype Division's Strategy and Planning Group, was one of the key figures behind the Takumi Kobo's creation. Tanaka, who studied applied laser physics at university, aspired to contribute to Japanese manufacturing since his student days, having grown up watching his father run a small-scale factory business.
Tanaka and Hitoshi Tsuchiya, a sheet metal craftsman who joined Toyota in 1997 and has won in the Autobody Repair category at both national and international WorldSkills competitions, worked together to propose the creation of the Takumi Kobo. Their vision was to inherit and evolve takumi skills, develop products that showcase these skills, and create customer touchpoints to appreciate monozukuri.
The Takumi Kobo's activities aim to create customer touchpoints, collaborate with people both inside and outside Toyota to create products, and receive direct feedback to improve the monozukuri experience. One of their first projects was the creation of the optional takumi scuff plate named the Masame on the new Century model. The Masame scuff plate design imitates the wood grain pattern found in cedar and cypress logs when they are cut vertically, adding a unique artistic touch to the premium model.
The Takumi Kobo is not just a workshop; it's Toyota’s “new monozukuri frontier,” bridging heritage artisanal skills with cutting-edge technology, sustaining craftsmanship that defines Toyota’s quality and design excellence in the modern automotive landscape.
The various metal pieces on display at the Takumi Kobo workshop were crafted by the artisans under their own initiative as a way to hone and preserve their skills. Oyaji Kawai, a renowned figure in Toyota's monozukuri, created the Takumi Kobo logo at Tanaka and Tsuchiya's request.
Incorporating takumi skills into computer simulations and machine processing leads to better carmaking, according to Yuto Tanaka. This integration of traditional craftsmanship with modern technology allows Toyota to push innovation in manufacturing, creating new value in their monozukuri.
The Takumi Kobo was created by bringing together sheet metal artisans from the division's Prototype Body Production Section and technicians responsible for devising and arranging new projects. They also explored product ideas, including a prototype scuff plate that utilized sheet metal skills, which was displayed at the Gunma Parts Show in September 2021.
The Technical Development & Prototype Division handles everything from developing the latest manufacturing methods and digital technologies to producing vehicle prototypes. By integrating the Takumi Kobo into this division, Toyota is ensuring that the traditional skills of their master craftsmen continue to play a vital role in the future of automotive manufacturing.
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- The Takumi Kobo, Toyota's new monozukuri frontier, blends traditional sheet metal craftsmanship with modern automotive manufacturing techniques, demonstrating a fusion of industries like finance, transportation, and the automotive industry.
- With the creation of the optional takumi scuff plate named the Masame on the new Century model, the Takumi Kobo's projects aim to create customer touchpoints, showcasing the refined skills of their artisans and contributing to the financial success of Toyota in the competitive automotive landscape.
