The Japanese Production System

Since the early 1980s, Japanese management and production systems have attracted worldwide attention because they offer techniques and methods of production that outperform existing US or European engineering technologies. ¹ The so-called Japanese transplants, while not very large, have spread with surprising speed into almost every nook and corner of the world. The decision to establish a worldwide network of local production factories has only been taken reluctantly. ² This is because the Japanese production model draws its strength from the human-related dimension of engineering technologies, workplace practices and a corporate culture that is deeply rooted in Japanese society and culture. Even Japanese manufacturing firms with considerable overseas market commitments have for this reason often delayed starting foreign production.