Author(s) :

Cayden Bunjamin.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The Toyota Production System (TPS) is recognized for fostering continuous improvement and its emphasis on team-based problem-solving within a culture that values open communication and learning. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming manufacturing by introducing opportunities for augmentation and automation. This study models how AI integration could influence psychological safety in environments inspired by TPS principles, using synthetic data generated by large language models (LLMs). Drawing from literature on organization learning, AI integration, and workplace psychology, a conceptual model is developed and tested across four simulated organizational scenarios: TPS with transparency and participative decision-making (TPS+), TPS without these moderators (TPS−), traditional manufacturing environment with automation-based AI transparency and participative decision-making (Non-TPS+), and a traditional manufacturing environment with automation-based AI without these moderators (Non-TPS−). Quantitative analyses demonstrated significant differences across conditions. Teams in the transparent and participative TPS condition (TPS+) reported substantially higher psychological safety (M = 5.11) than those in the Non-TPS− condition (M = 2.70), F(3, 996) = 972.56, p < .001. Similar effects emerged for team performance (M = 5.54 vs. 2.56; F(3, 996) = 1453.27, p < .001) and AI adoption (M = 4.61 vs. 3.00; F(3, 996) = 347.28, p < .001). Chi-square analyses further confirmed significant categorical differences in pay outcomes (χ²(6) = 836.07, p < .001) and job redundancy (χ²(15) = 686.91, p Non-TPS+ > TPS− > Non-TPS−. While the data are synthetic, the results offer preliminary support for the theoretical integration of psychological safety and AI augmentation frameworks within human-centered production systems. Future research should validate these trends through human-subject surveys and ethnographic case studies in real manufacturing contexts.