What is Jidoka?
Jidoka is a core principle of Lean Production, often translated as “autonomation”, “intelligent automation”, or “automation with a human touch.”
The key idea behind Jidoka is that machines automatically stop when an error occurs, allowing human workers to intervene, resolve the issue, and prevent defects from continuing down the line. This ensures higher product quality and avoids costly downstream problems.
Machines are designed to detect abnormalities on their own, triggering a stop in production to signal the need for attention. Jidoka is one of the foundational pillars of the Toyota Production System (TPS).
The Four Principles of Jidoka:
- Detect deviations and defects
- Immediately stop the process
- Identify the root cause
- Implement corrective actions
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