Getting a job at a Toyota factory apparently requires more than just showing up with a resume – you have to do a six-second rope hiring test before you’re even considered.
The challenge has stunned netizens after the test designed to measure hand-eye coordination started going viral.
At first glance, it looks deceptively simple, but most people quickly discover just how difficult it really is.
The unusual test has sparked huge debate online as viewers try to figure out whether they could pass.
North Carolina Toyota factory’s 6-second rope hiring test has people baffled
If you want to get a job at Toyota’s North Carolina car factory, then just turning up with your resume isn’t going to get you anywhere.
Videos of the famous ‘Rope Twist’ challenge have exploded across social media, with viewers amazed at how effortlessly experienced workers complete the task.
The challenge requires participants to wrap a rope around six wall-mounted pegs in a precise order and direction in under six seconds.
Toyota
It sounds straightforward enough.
But when newcomers give it a try, many quickly become tangled up or run out of time.
The test has become so popular online that thousands of people have attempted to recreate it themselves, often with less-than-impressive results.
While some initially believed it was simply a quirky interview gimmick, the brand says the challenge is actually one of its long-standing ‘dojo training tools’ to get people ready for its busy factory environment.
Toyota
According to the automaker, the test shown online appears to be located inside one of its Kentucky experience centers, where visitors and prospective employees can experience some of the exercises used to develop manufacturing skills.
The exercise is designed to build dexterity, speed, and muscle memory – all skills that become incredibly valuable when working on a fast-moving vehicle assembly line.
Toyota’s manufacturing philosophy has long focused on precision and efficiency through the Production System, which has influenced countless companies around the world.
Toyota
6-second rope test is only one way the car manufacturer measures coordination
The Rope Twist isn’t the only challenge the manufacturer uses to sharpen workers’ skills.
The company also demonstrated another exercise called “Flip and Place,” which is based on the well-known Minnesota Dexterity Test.
Toyota
In this activity, participants use both hands to flip 10 pairs of puck-shaped discs as quickly as possible.
The manufacturer says the average person completes the task in around 20 seconds, while the average plant employee finishes it in just 14 seconds.
Toyota
Toyota
According to the company, both exercises help improve dexterity and hand-eye coordination, making employees better prepared for the repetitive yet highly precise movements required on the production floor.
Toyota also says the demonstrations help visitors better understand the level of training that goes into building its vehicles.
The viral rope challenge may look like fun, but it’s actually a small glimpse into the discipline behind one of the world’s most respected manufacturing systems.
Do you think you’ve got what it takes?