Mechanism
Andon Cord System
TL;DR
In 1950s Detroit, stopping the production line was a firing offense.
A junior worker's judgment is trusted over production quotas.
The andon cord represents a biological principle: distributed authority based on local knowledge. Just as prosocial primate leaders delegate threat response to those closest to the danger, the andon cord trusts frontline workers' judgment over central authority.
Business Application of Andon Cord System
In 1950s Detroit, stopping the production line was a firing offense. Toyota gave every worker an 'andon cord' - pull it and the entire line stops. The message: A junior worker's judgment is trusted over production quotas. Result: Toyota achieved 45 defects per 100 vehicles vs. GM's 5,000 defects with same workforce education level.