Akio Toyoda Shares Core Values of His Company with the Next Generation of a Qatari Family Enterprise
In a recent visit to a Toyota Group guest facility, Akio Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota Motor Corporation founder Kiichiro Toyoda, welcomed three members of the Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. (AAB) family. The meeting served as an opportunity for Akio to share Toyota's rich history and philosophy with the Qatari business leaders.
The AAB family, who have been in the infrastructure business since 1958, have had a longstanding relationship with Toyota. Their collaboration began in 1964, when the Qatari market was primarily dominated by European and American cars. Over the years, Toyota and AAB have worked together to understand market needs and make swift improvements, leading to Toyota's establishment in the Qatari market by the mid-1970s.
During the visit, Akio Toyoda emphasised the philosophy and skills handed down through the years, including the concept of automation with a human touch. He used the automatic loom, an invention by Sakichi Toyoda, as a metaphor for this philosophy. The automatic loom, developed in an era without sensors, stops if a broken thread is detected, preventing the production of defective products. This embodies Toyota's commitment to quality and valuing people over quantity.
The automatic loom also serves as a symbol of Toyota's innovation. Prior to Sakichi Toyoda's invention, one operator was required for each machine. His automatic loom allowed for one person to oversee several machines, demonstrating the use of skills to embody philosophy.
Akio Toyoda also referred to the weft shuttle, a point of origin for both Toyota's automotive business and its future-focused endeavours. The weft shuttle inspired the Lexus spindle grille and the name "Woven" in Woven Planet, Toyota's new company dedicated to future mobility and technology.
The visitors had previously visited the Sakichi Toyoda Memorial House in Kosai, Shizuoka, where they gained a deeper understanding of Toyota's roots. AAB is currently run by Nasser, a member of the second generation, with his son Abdulghani as vice president. While specific information about advice given by Akio Toyoda to the third generation of the Abdulghani family regarding Toyota's history and philosophy could not be found, it is clear that the meeting served as an important exchange of ideas and values between two successful and innovative organisations.
- The AAB family, with their background in infrastructure and long history of collaboration with Toyota in the Qatari market, may consider venturing into the automotive industry, leveraging Toyota's Philosophy of 'automation with a human touch' and embracing innovation, as demonstrated by Sakichi Toyoda's invention of the automatic loom.
- By understanding Toyota's commitment to quality and valuing people over quantity, the third generation of the Abdulghani family might find inspiration in Toyota's approach to finance and entrepreneurship, potentially applying similar strategies to expand their transportational business ventures.
- Having been inspired by Toyota's rich history and philosophy, AAB might explore partnerships with Toyota in developing future mobility solutions, drawing upon the lessons from Toyota's new company, Woven Planet, and the weft shuttle, symbolizing both the origins of Toyota's automotive business and its future-focused endeavors.
