Crafting Value Innovation through Expert Skills: Continuation
In the heart of Toyota's monozukuri (craftsmanship) frontier lies the Takumi Kobo, a team of master artisans established in April 2022. The Takumi Kobo harnesses the sheet metal craftsmanship and the monozukuri spirit passed down since Toyota's founding, with the aim of creating fascinating cars and accessories.
One of the team's members, Yoshiki Horikawa, has been a mentee to Eisuke Yoshino, the leader of the Prototype Body Production Section, who was featured in the fourth article of this series. Horikawa has spent the past two decades honing his metalworking skills at the Prototype Body Production Section and has been involved in product development for around seven years.
The journey of the Century scuff plate's transformation into a product is a fascinating part of the story. Yuto Tanaka, a Project Manager at the Technical Development & Prototype Division's Strategy and Planning Group, led the planning and development of the Century scuff plate. Hitoshi Tsuchiya, a sheet metal master at the Takumi Kobo, played a crucial role in helping Tanaka launch the Takumi Kobo.
The Century's optional Takumi scuff plate, named Masame, is given an elegant woodgrain-inspired finish. This finish is achieved by sheet metal takumi (artisans) hammering the design onto stainless steel plates, line by line. The richly creative pieces developed by the Takumi Kobo members can be seen as a cornerstone of the team.
However, the identities and roles of the Takumi Kobo team members involved in the creation of the Century scuff plate Masame are not publicly detailed in the search results. If more precise data is needed, contacting Toyota directly or consulting specialized Toyota craftsmanship publications might yield further insights.
It is worth noting that Yuko Murata, a technician at the Takumi Kobo, coordinates all aspects of manufacturing with partners inside and outside Toyota. Prior to joining Toyota, Murata researched aluminum, carbon fiber, and other composites through to the graduate level and worked for a chemical manufacturer.
Despite the safety issues that prevented some of Yoshiki Horikawa's creations, such as a prototype Lexus LS steering wheel and gear stick covers, from becoming products, they can still be seen on display in the Takumi Kobo workshop. These pieces serve as a testament to the team's aspirations and the monozukuri genba (the place where things are made).
Jun Nitahara, another member of the Takumi Kobo, joined Toyota in 2015. After spending the first three years developing his sheet metal skills, followed by four years assembling car bodies, he returned to the company in 2022 to become a Takumi Kobo member.
The Takumi Kobo's commitment to mastering sheet metal craftsmanship and upholding the monozukuri spirit is evident in their work. As the team continues to grow and evolve, we look forward to seeing the fascinating cars and accessories they will create in the future.
- The Takumi Kobo team's diverse skills extend beyond automotive craftsmanship, as demonstrated by Yuto Tanaka's background in finance at the Technical Development & Prototype Division's Strategy and Planning Group.
- In the realm of technology, Jun Nitahara, a member of the Takumi Kobo, brings a unique perspective having previously worked on car body assembly before returning to the team in 2022.
