Problem
Provide a summary of the key points of the case in two paragraphs. Answer the following questions in full.
A. What are some of the unique attributes of the Toyota Production System, and what are the implications for Toyota's supply chain?
B. Toyota learned from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. What changes did the company make to create more resilient global supply chains?
C. How did automakers contribute to the global microchip shortage? What could they have done differently?
D. Was the global pandemic something that could have been anticipated by Toyota so that the company could better manage supply chain risks, or was it the type of black swan event that defies risk management? Define a Black Swan event.