Toyotism is a relationship in the environment of industrial production that was an important pillar in the Japanese industrial procedure system, and that after the 1973 oil crisis began to replace Fordism as a reference model in chain production. It stands out from its predecessor basically in its idea of ​​flexible work, increased productivity through management and organization (just in time) and combined work that surpasses the mechanization and individualization of the worker, a characteristic element of the Ford chain process.

When the Keynesian economic system and the Fordist production system showed structural exhaustion in the years 73-74, the focus on industrial production began to turn to the Japanese model; model that allowed Japanese industry to be taken from underdevelopment to the category of world power in just decades. The central axes of the model managed to reverse the crisis that occurred in Fordist chain production. These points would be:

The way in which this new conception of linkage/execution is ideally manifested has to do with an economy that has acceptable growth and broad control of external markets. Although only a small group of countries meet this scenario, Toyotism has also manifested hybrid forms in other countries with the aim of pursuing cost reduction and social stimulation for workers.

Without a doubt, the innovations introduced by engineer Taiichi Ohno at the Toyota automotive company imposed this model on Toyotism.

These are its characteristics: