Kiichiro Toyoda founded Toyota Motor in 1937 and supplied the idea behind just-in-time production. His father Sakichi’s loom ideas and Taiichi Ohno’s later work also shaped Toyota’s production system. Credit the evolving system, not one founder’s supposed finished invention.
He beats Walton for coordinating production around need. Disney edges him on the range of consumer experiences built from an original business. Manufacturing specialists may reverse them: lasting process improvement can matter more than memorable brands.
Sources: Toyota origins · Production system.
Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domain. Resized/compressed; source status retained.
