Bridging the Jidoka Knowledge Gap: Toward a Standardized Definition for Modern Manufacturing

The emergence of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the rapid advancements in digital technologies have spurred a growing interest in the evolution of Jidoka in manufacturing. Jidoka, a core concept of the Toyota Production System also known as autonomation, integrates automation with human oversight. This approach allows machines to detect irregularities, halt operations, and enable workers to intervene, mitigating defects while promptly addressing issues. As a result, Jidoka plays a crucial role in enhancing operational efficiency and fostering sustainable business practices, which are key contemporary concerns. Despite increasing interest in Jidoka and the potential of I4.0 technologies to aid its implementation, research in this area remains limited. Few studies have explored the practical use of Jidoka in manufacturing, with most scholarly attention directed toward other Lean methodologies (e.g., 5S, Kanban, etc). One major reason for this gap is the absence of a widely accepted definition of Jidoka. Existing literature lacks a unified explanation that captures all essential aspects of Jidoka, leaving researchers and practitioners uncertain about its scope, thus limiting further scientific exploration. To bridge this gap, this paper systematically reviews existing literature, tracing the evolution of Jidoka’s definitions from its inception. Accordingly, this study aims to identify and integrate Jidoka's fundamental components to establish a clear and comprehensive definition and a framework for guiding Jidoka’s implementation. The provided definition and framework represent the main outcomes of this study, fostering consensus among scholars and practitioners, and providing them with a deeper understanding of Jidoka. This, in turn, will facilitate Jidoka’s recognition and adoption in manufacturing while strengthening the synergy between Lean practices and I4.0 technologies.