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Toyota Case, Background and Company History
Toyota Case
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Background and Company History
Toyota is amongst the largest car makers in the World and has her headquarters in Aichi, Japan with several international branches and dealership in various continents. They sold almost 7.47 vehicles globally in 2004. It enjoys a market share of about 45% in Japan alone. Cho was the executive officer who catapulted Toyota into its current state due to his hard work and determination. Cho derived management experience and skills from Taichi Ohno who was the founder of legendary Toyota Production System. Toyota is known to be producing numerous models of cars that ranging from Corolla, Lexus to the Scion xB (Bremner & Dawson, 2003).
Toyota enjoys huge revenues and profits from various parts of the world. The company has thousands of employees across the world. The company’s success is attributed to the fact that they build on every challenge and maximize on every opportunity that comes across. Toyota has relaxed her flexes by being able to adapt to any positive change without being too rigid (Bremner & Dawson, 2003). The company has had booming sales across the globe especially in areas where they have bigger market shares. Toyota’s share in the U.S market is 11.2% where they made sales of 1.94million and 756, 000 sales in Europe where they have market share of 4.4%.
Toyota’s model leaders in North America are Lexus while in Europe the leading models are Yaris and new Avensis. In Southwest Asia, Toyota made sales of 268, 000 where their durable Qualis suv was a big hit in India. In Southeast Asia the company made sales 455, 000 where they assemble cars in seven countries with an intention of expanding their operations in Thailand and Indonesia. Some other markets where Toyota is doing exceptionally well are South America, Africa, China and Japan where they made sales of 97, 000, 140,000, 58, 000 and 1.68 million respectively (Bremner & Dawson, 2003).
Cho’s positive attitude towards the company has seen it surviving amid fierce competition from other companies such as General Motors. He initiated adaptation of cost competitiveness in the 21st century that is currently used in the company. Frugality is an important aspect that has contributed to the success of Toyota (Bremner & Dawson, 2003). Toyota usually minimizes cost of production in various ways such as reducing of prices on the major constituents of the new models by around 30%. The company concentrates on how to reduce wastage of time and money as much as possible. Also Toyota pays close attention to the customers’ demand as a way of coming up with car models that are consistent with what the customers want (Bremner & Dawson, 2003).
Customer/Target market
Toyota Company is working on better ways of enhancing their economy, market share and maintaining a sustainable and stable world market. As a tool of global expansion the company creates and invests in various strategies. The company tirelessly works on a number of strategies to enable it reach her set goals and objectives over a given period of time (Bremner & Dawson, 2003). Toyota enjoys a wide range of expertise assisting it in carrying out research and development which are essential in the growth of the global market. R&D has ensured high class delivery of products and services. The company also has an extensive array of distribution network globally that enables it to reach a bigger share of the market.
Toyota’s customers are really diverse and they comprise of low income earners as well as high income earners who are widespread globally. The company successfully caters for the needs and wants of their customers by creating a wide range of motor vehicles stretching from small sports cars, vans, large family vehicles and trucks. The high class customers are provided with classy and elegance cars while the low income earners also enjoy an opportunity of having a basic mode of transportation which sufficiently satisfy their needs and income (Capon & Hulbert, 2007).Toyota enjoys a good share of North America and Japan’s market with sales of 1.94 and 1.68 million respectively. The market shares for the two big markets comprise of 11.2% and 40% in North America and Japan respectively. Lexus really sold in America while in Japan some of the models that comprises of a big share are Sienta compact minivan, sportier Wish minivan and Harrier suv.
Toyota targets to expand her operations in Europe where it performs poorly. Toyota intends to increase her production in Britain and France as well as other countries in Southeast that involve Thailand and Indonesia. Furthermore, the company enjoys good sales in Africa with their Corolla sedan and Prado suv. They also expect to boost their growth in China from 1.5% to 10% by 2010. Various models of Toyota cars have done very well in various markets thus boosting their revenues in those particular markets.
Toyota targets global market of 15% as well as 15% of global sales in the future which is an increase of 5%. They believe that targeted increase in market share would give them an edge over GM and become world’s number one car maker (Bremner & Dawson, 2003). The company’s effort to boost their market size is attributed to the advantage they took in psychological aspects of cars such as introduction of Prius. Their models target various markets such as Scion xB which solely targets young people and Lexus RX330 that targets rich customers who love luxurious life.
Toyota Company is targeting to reach worldwide market through meeting the needs of particular markets due to diversification in the various markets. For instance they attempt to meet the market needs for Europe in order to increase their market share in Europe. Toyota intends to enhance their production by offering high quality models and services at lower prices and also separating their luxurious Lexus brand so that it can establish her own heritage (Capon & Hulbert, 2007).
Situation Analysis
Toyota’s superb performance in the global market is exclusively dependent on her internal environment. Toyota has managed to be on top of production, speed, efficiency and quality standing because of their splendid internal environment. Top managers such as Cho have successfully ensured efficient production process through their recognizable aptitude. For a deep understanding of Toyota’s situational analysis it is advisable to consider SWOT analysis.
Considering the SWOT analysis, strengths and weaknesses may be classified as internal factors since their influence begin from within while the external factors are threats and opportunities. Under competent leadership of Cho, Toyota reached greater heights in production process by embarking on cost production techniques and reducing the steps of making a car (Hino, 2006).
Toyota further managed to offer hybrid products which were customer friendly by diverting from production which was only intended to satisfy the Japanese market. Also, Toyota ensured increase in plants, distribution branches and dealership as a way of boosting their sales and covering a wide market. The workforce of Toyota is also empowered through better pay and even encouraging faster delivery of quality materials and services from their suppliers. However, the company has had various weaknesses such as failure to gain revenues from sales of their hybrid cars such as Lexus as well as the expense of establishing distribution network (Hino, 2006).
Toyota projects stability of future market expansion however, their low price products may imply that the quality of their product is low. The company has managed to differentiate their products as a way of setting competitive edge and also ensuring distinction in the market. Distinction of their car models such as Lexus has given the model an advantage over other great models such as BMW and Mercedes Benz. They have embarked on high technology models that are also eco-friendly (Hino, 2006). Nevertheless, their competitors such as GM and ford are also working hard to come up with high technology models that impose great threat to Toyota’s brands. Decrease in consumer income especially during global recession negatively affected the company’s revenue.
References
Bremner, Brian and Dawson, Chester. (2003, November 17). Can Anything Stop Toyota? BusinessWeek,114-122.
Capon, N., & Hulbert, J. M. (2007). Managing Marketing in The 21st Century: Developing And Implementing The Market Strategy. Bronxville, N.Y: Wessex Inc.
Hino, S. (2006). Inside The Mind of Toyota: Management Principles For Enduring Growth. New York, N.Y: Productivity Press.
Toxic Response Of Biological System
Toxic Response Of Biological System
Toxins are chemical, biological or physical substances that cause damage to an organism when they enter the biological system. These toxics can affect the entire system of the organism or just a substructure of the organism like cells or organs. Biological systems respond to toxins in various ways and this depends on many factors. Even though many toxic effects of foreign compounds are biochemically based, the way these effects are expressed may be very different. The interaction of toxins with normal metabolic processes can cause muscle paralysis or even fall in blood pressure. Toxic responses can be detected in various ways, these responses may be the all-or-none type like death of organism or they can be graded responses. Therefore the means of detection can be death, pathological changes, biochemical change, physiological change and changes in the normal status of the biological systems.This paper will therefore look at how biological systems respond to toxins (Monsoon, 2010).
Direct toxic action: tissue lesions refers to how Toxic compounds cause direct damage to tissues that leads to death of some or even all cells in an organ. This damage may either be reversible or irreversible and the toxic response will depend on factors such as how important the tissue is, the degree of its specialization, its reverse functional capacity and how able the tissue is to repair the damage (Timbrel, 2000).
Toxins may also lead Biochemical lesions to biological systems. This is biochemical changes like absence or inactivation of an enzyme that may cause the diminishment of the normal healthy state of an organism and may often lead to pathological conditions.
Pharmacological, physiological and biochemical effects of toxins are considered together since they are closely interrelated. Toxins have an effect on the homeostasis of an organism by altering the biochemical process. These effects can be reversible if they involve enzyme receptor binding .these effects include the inhibition of cellular respiration, disturbance of central nervous sytem, anaesthesia, noxia, respiratory failure, changes in water/ion balance, ion transport and may others.
Immunotocicity also termed as immunological reactions this involves the reaction of toxic compounds reaction with the immune system. The function of the immune system is the protection of organism against infection, foreign proteins and neoclastic cells. The toxic substances can therefore react with component of the immune system to inhibit or depress the immune system; hence inhibit the functioning of the immune system. They can also react to bring about an elicitation of an immune response. This type of response to foreign substances is termed as allergic or hypersensitivity reaction. These responses can be minor such as development of skin rash or they may be fatal such as anaphylactic shock (Timbrel, 2000).
Teratogenicity the development of toxicology involves the interference with normal development of embryo or fetus that brings about abnormalities in neonate. The interference may be in many forms hence no specific general mechanism underlies this type of response. Toxins that have a teratogenic response may be drugs that are taken during pregnancy, radiation, chemical hazards in workplace, dietary deficiencies and natural contaminants. Teratogenicity is confined to effect of toxins on somatic cells within developing embryo or fetus and the consequent effects on the particular individual.
Mutations are heritable changes that are produced in the cell genotype. Genetic toxicity may therefore be induced by various agents that include foreign compounds and this occurrence is an implication that there have been changes in the DNA double helix which is the source of genetic information. The interaction of toxins and genetic material can be divided into three types of effects; mutagenesis which is the loss, addition or alteration of small base pairs. Aneuploidization, which refers to the acquisition or loss of a complete chromosome and Clastogenesis which is the loss, addition, rearrangement of chromosome parts.Carcinogenicity or chemical carcinogenesis involves a complex multistage process of abnormal cell growth and differentiation that leads to cancer. This occurs as a result of exposure to some toxins and there are two stages that take place this is the initiation where normal cells undergo irreversible changes and promotion in which the initiated cells are stimulated to progress cancer. The chemical toxins can act as initiators or promoters of tumors (Monosson, E. 2010).
References
Monosson, E. (2010).Toxicity. Retrieved November 26, 2012 from http://www.eoearth.org/article/ToxicityTimbrel, J. (2000).Principles of Biochemical Toxicology. Third edition Chapter 6 (pg105-256).Reetrieved November 26, 2012 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/48908390/074-Principles-of-Biochemical-Toxicology-3-Ed
Toxic Products of Combustion
Toxic Products of Combustion
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Toxic Products of Combustion
The burning of different materials results in the release of varying matter into the air. The smoke and toxic substances released during combustion are likely to cause various effects on the environment. Even respiratory irritants are likely to impact the body and cause some irritations, including skin and eye and respiratory diseases such as asthma, coughing, and choking. Therefore, people should exercise caution in the event of any combustion by ensuring the right gear is worn, staying indoors until the fumes are over, and ventilating all the closed areas. This research indicates three toxic products of combustion.
Carbon monoxide is one of the asphyxiate gases present in fire effluent. Carbon monoxide piles up in the bloodstream of fire occupants, especially when it is dominant in the air. The supply of oxygen is replaced by carbon monoxide on the surface, making it and individuals’ bodies resulting in red blood cell suppression. Too much carbon monoxide in the body is dangerous and has effects such as headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and even loss of consciousness (Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, n.d.). Firefighters, while combating fire, can be exposed to carbon monoxide leading to unconsciousness and more severe consequences.
Hydrogen cyanide is a standard toxic gas that emerges from smoke from house fires, plastics, fumigants, and even some pesticides. Inhalation of hydrogen gas is likely to cause various symptoms such as dizziness, body weakness, nausea, and even fainting and death in severe exposure. Hydrogen is highly flammable, and this is dangerous to firefighters since they might be exposed to irritating toxic gases (Hydrogen Cyanide: New Concerns for Firefighting and Medical Tactics, 2009).
Hydrogen chloride gas is slightly bulky than air. The gas mainly forms during the combustion of plastics and is irritating to any tissue it contacts. Exposure in low levels affects the throat, while high levels can complicate breathing processes and affect other respiratory organs. Mild irritations are also noticeable on the skin and eyes of the victims (2021). Firefighters should be ready with protective gear to prevent exposure to harmful gas.
References
(2021). Iafss.org. https://www.iafss.org/publications/fss/9/665/view#:~:text=Hydrogen%20chloride%20(HCl)%20gas%20isCarbon Monoxide Poisoning. (n.d.). https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/carbonmonoxide-factsheet.pdf
Hydrogen Cyanide: New Concerns for Firefighting and Medical Tactics. (2009, June 29). Fire Engineering. https://www.fireengineering.com/firefighting/hydrogen-cyanide-new-concerns-for-firefighting-and-medical-tactics/#gref