Toyota Knowledge Management

These are special and unique resources. There is a dire need in the society today for companies to increase their acquisition of knowledge so that they can improve their competitive advantages. Firms require creative new ways of doing business exhibited by the presence of new working business innovations. The innovations will aid the company in all its operations including all production processes and technical functioning. Over the past years, there has been an exponential growth in innovations coupled by the basis of knowledge. KM also involves the application of information within the organization so as to captivate potential customers. Discussions and arguments have boiled up in the last several years over the importance of knowledge management in businesses and in the society.

There is a common sentiment among all the economic commentators. All the participants in this growing debate agree that the management of knowledge within any firm is paramount as an integral economic tool. The growth in the management of knowledge has been instigated by an increase in failure in numerous businesses including global firms. Globalization led to a concerning challenge of management of the company’s resources. This challenge prompted the management of Toyota to apply knowledge management as it was the most appropriate tool to control and maximize the management of its resources. Toyota applied the tacit model of knowledge management (Moos, 2013). Fig 1: Tacit model of knowledge management (Liker, 2004) With the application of knowledge management, the operations of the company swiftly started growing creating a new Toyota market face.

Knowledge management also led to the testing and application of some more complex approaches in the company. According to the Toyota motor corporation management, knowledge has distinctive characteristics which make it important for the growth of the company. Knowledge can increase the business returns, has an unending usage period, combines both production and consumption and the most integral bit of knowledge is that it is based on the relationships built by human beings. The basic factor in management of knowledge at Toyota lies in the interaction of tacit and explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is made up of information that cannot be explained in writing or in numbers. Tacit knowledge is the specific context within the technical and cognitive abilities of the employees in the company.

Socialization in the company is done in form of apprenticeship or through written material. New members of the company are able to learn from the most experienced members of the company. The major aim of knowledge management at Toyota is to create knowledge across all the departments (Bhasin, 2012). After receiving all the shared knowledge, the information is broken down within the members in the company. The knowledge is then put into practice. The culture is seen in hiring new personnel, available skills and attributes. The company insists on knowledge sharing within its personnel. There also exists an environment which is characterized by collaboration among all the members of the organization. Listening to customers is prioritized to ensure they are satisfied. Toyota holds a culture which motivates and rewards activities which are driven by knowledge.

Through knowledge management, the members within the Toyota manufacturing process are able to share ideas and new concepts. Any individual can share any problem encountered within the organization with other members of his/her team. This spreads the risks and also grows any innovative idea. The KM approach ensures that Toyota enjoys continuous improvement in its products. New products are realized within the company via sharing knowledge and information. Service to customers has been effective through the use of knowledge management (Davenport, 2000). QUESTION TWO: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTRODUCTION Artificial intelligence (AI) has grown over several years. AI refers to the knowledge exhibited by machines. The purpose of artificial intelligence is maximize the outcome of activities which would naturally have errors due to human nature.

Artificial intelligence is the exact opposite of natural intelligence (shown by humans and animals). The introduction of Wireless sensor technology adopts the use of data collection through use of radio technology. Sensors are fitted into specific locations in the vehicle and they are used to transmit local information of the surrounding. Various aspects are remotely controlled through a robust sensor network. The sensors collect data through the use of infra-red technology. This is where the sensors collect infra-red light surrounding the area and send it to a control system. The system is used to control important features in the vehicle. Driver-assist features enable the driver to have control of the vehicle without touching the wheel. Such features include automatic braking system, systems that avoid collision, pedestrian alerts, intelligence cruise control and cyclist’s alerts.

Smart technology has proved to be paramount in maximizing profit and improvement of agriculture. Via new and highly advanced technologies firms are able to increase production of their goods. A customer driving one of these cars is able to easily locate the nearest gas station and also he/she is able to pay for the services at the gas station inside the car. Apart from this, the cars are fitted with the necessary data to pinpoint nearby restaurants. The restaurants selected are those that have similar characteristics the driver’s preference. The artificial intelligence in the automobiles provide easy payments based on tokens through the drivers interface. The artificial intelligence fitted inside the vehicles can offer ordering services in areas that the driver often visits as the driver nears the locations.

This method is more effective than the traditional way of keeping track of the vehicles. Artificial intelligence has improved the marketing and production in many automotive companies. Though this new and innovative technology has improved competition on its users, it has also brought numerous issues in dealing with the labor force. Artificial intelligence requires a lot of money in its installation, control, maintenance and repair. Some companies have been forced to reduce the wages of their workers so as to accommodate this fast growing technology. Labor force is an asset in the firm which if absent, the company’s functionality are impaired. Artificial intelligence creates job opportunities for skilled workers while bringing the labor of unskilled workers into an obsolete state.

The firm has put into place a definite framework so as to address the labor force in the wake of new innovative automotive technology. The smart machines require to be controlled by human beings (Intelligence, 2008). These smart technology is in most cases maintained and repaired by human workers. All existing automotive companies should therefore embrace this new technology so that they compete favorably in this dynamic automotive world. Artificial intelligence increases the level of production, quality of finished goods, marketing abilities and general management. Most automotive firms have realized the integral function of artificial intelligence bringing into focus the utopic automotive future. References Anon. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT. Global Ranking of knowledge management and intellectual capital. Journal of knowledge management, 21(3), pp. Davenport, T.