ABSTRACT
This chapter examines changes in industrial attitudes and practices brought about at Nissan. Overall, there is nothing new about Nissan as a multinational company investing in a context of high unemployment with explicit government assistance. On a worldwide basis, Nissan manufactures 2.6 million vehicles per annum, of which 1.8 million are made in Japan. Site clearance for the Nissan plant in the North-East of England began in July 1984 and the foundation stone was laid in November of the same year. The jewel in the crown of this reputation is the Nissan car company, whose industrial philosophy is represented as based on the triad of 'Flexibility, Teamwork, and Quality'. Nissan is regarded as a new lead to be followed, but manufacturers argue that this does not necessarily engage the car industry in taking a new direction. It has become commonplace to note the accelerating impact of Japanese vehicle production in the context of global shares.
