Evolution of production paradigms: the Toyota and Volvo cases Available to Purchase

This article adopts an evolutionary perspective to analyse the similarities and the possibility of converging various types of production systems and in particular the lean production model and the Volvo production system. The evolution of the Toyota production system is studied from the point of view of assembly design, work organization and automation. Then the evolution of the Swedish model of production and its influence on the lean model is considered. Subsequently, the question of similarities and differences between the systems is studied in light of unique aspects of the social and cultural contexts where the production systems have been developed.