[tharne]

This is not quite accurate. Toyota began stockpiling materials a while back after having its supply chain disrupted. Having extra inventory, no matter how well-implemented, is actually an anti-pattern in lean manufacturing -- the good folks at Toyota are simply wise enough to know when they they should embrace lean vs. when they should back off it a bit.

[PontifexMinimus]

> Having extra inventory, no matter how well-implemented, is actually an anti-pattern in lean manufacturing

Arguably lean manufacturing is an anti-pattern.

[tharne]

> Arguably lean manufacturing is an anti-pattern.

When taken to the extremes that modern business has taken it to, it is 100% an anti-pattern.