Title: A study of Japanese production technology and competitiveness

Authors: Okitoshi Tsunoda; Hiroki Nakano

Addresses: Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo Denki University, Ishizaka Hatoyama, Saitama, 350-0394, Japan ' Tokyo Laboratory IBM Japan Ltd., 5-6-52 Toyosu, Tokyo, 135-8511, Japan

Abstract: To cope with the increasingly severe international business environment, Japanese manufacturers have been focusing on the idea of 'Monozukuri' (Japanese way of manufacturing). The Monozukuri was highlighted because it is a simple way for Japanese industry to compete by producing good products based on manufacturing experiences going back to 1960. Japanese manufacturers and businesses have tried various production technologies to strengthen manufacturing to overcome the world-wide competition. This paper reviews the growth of Japanese industry and describes manufacturing innovations and future growth plans based on the technologies and business environment in Japan.

Keywords: factory automation; computer integrated manufacturing; CIM; product development; universal design; Japan; production technology; competitiveness; Monozukuri; manufacturing innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMA.2013.058349

International Journal of Mechatronics and Automation, 2013 Vol.3 No.4, pp.239 - 246

Received: 26 Mar 2012
Accepted: 12 Dec 2012
Published online: 30 Apr 2014 *

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