Jidoka translates roughly as "autonomation," meaning automation with a human touch, emphasizing that the machine operates with human intelligence built into it, unlike standard "automation". 

Crucially, in TPS, the machinery is granted the built-in intelligence to detect an abnormal condition or defect and immediately stop itself, often signaling the issue via an Andon system.

The key philosophy is "Build Quality In". By halting production at the moment an error occurs, Jidoka prevents minor issues from propagating downstream, ensuring no defective item moves to the next process. This separation of continuous machine operation from human supervision simultaneously increases productivity and guarantees the highest level of product integrity.