**Article Title**: 20 Years Later: How Toyota’s Product Development Principles Are Still Core to a Lean Enterprise
**By**: Josh Howell, James Morgan, PhD, and Lex Schroeder — April 6, 2026
**Summary**:
In this special edition of the WLEI Podcast, Lex Schroeder and LEI President Josh Howell engage with former product development leader Jim Morgan to delve into the enduring teachings of The Toyota Product Development System: Integrating People, Process, and Technology, a seminal book co-authored with Jeff Liker. Even after 20 years since its publication, the principles behind Toyota’s approach to product development remain essential for any organization aiming to excel in producing outstanding products.
### Key Discussion Points:
– **Origins of the Research**: Jim shares the inspiration behind the research that led to the creation of The Toyota Product Development System and discusses his motivations for uncovering Toyota’s innovation strategies, along with their contemporary applications.
– **Enduring Principles**: Explore the fundamental principles that engineering leaders utilize today to cultivate teams capable of designing products that resonate with customers.
– **Practical Applications**: Jim elaborates on how he has implemented lean product and process development (LPPD) strategies effectively throughout his career, adapting these lessons to a range of challenges.
– **Common Challenges**: Discover the typical obstacles organizations encounter when trying to implement core LPPD concepts, alongside actionable steps to embark on the transformation journey.
– **Overcoming Hesitations**: Gain insights into why many firms are reluctant to embark on the critical steps needed for people development and authentic enterprise transformation.
### Hosts and Guest:
– **Hosts**: Lex Schroeder and Josh Howell (LEI President)
– **Guest**: Jim Morgan (former product development executive, co-author with Jeff Liker)
### Additional Resources:
– **Further Learning**: Visit lean.org/LPPD for more details on lean product and process development.
– **Visual Resource**: 
**Full Insight**:
In this engaging WLEI Podcast episode, the hosts focus on significant lessons that have persisted over two decades, particularly emphasizing the role of lean principles in shaping a company’s product development framework. This discussion caters to both newcomers to lean philosophy and seasoned practitioners, offering a blend of historical context and contemporary relevance in product development that emphasizes the significance of a lean enterprise. To learn more about lean product and process development, visit lean.org/LPPD.
