The japan way. Re-thinking of our behaviour

No doubt that Japan have proof their domination at world economy. Some the biggest japanese Automotive company such us toyota motor corp and sony corp are some evidences.I don’t know much about sony culture. But i know a little about Toyota.

Toyota motor corp have target to make year 2006 as a number 1 in the world in car volume production (to beat GM). As we know from IMV report since 1957 Toyota have productivity for 15 car per one man hour toyota employee. Just compare with GM that 12 at max.

Their productivity always continue due trial & error of their famous Toyota production system , TPS. In 1985 based on the same report. Toyota Productivity achieved 60 car unit per man hour employee meanwhile GM still stagnant at 15 unit/Man-hour.

hundreds Study has been deeply investigate of their production system. I just write which i have seen and heard about how japan develop their people. They call this technique is “Horenso”. Horenso means Hokoku. renraku, sodan. What is this??.

The new employee or trainee have one companion (senior member). The senior will give the trainee one an not too difficult assignment (of course after the trainee have accomplished some informal training). the trainee have freedom to use their fresh logic to complete the assignment. after a long day usually the trainee have some barrier to accomplish their job. This is what we call hokoku. After the trainee stuck with the problem, they shall make report about what have they done and what problem arise. The trainee report to his senior partner and do some discussion with him. This is renranku finish.

the senior based on their experience try to see another view of the trainee approach. And give some advice to improve. It is possible senior give him a very new technique. This is what we call sodan. An interactive activity between senior and junior. Ending of sodan is the trainee will make some new activity to solve the problem, yes with new paradigm and spirit.

So the trainee will follow the activity with fully understanding. This activity perform cycle of improvement. This is the strength of japanese people. They never stop to get the best. So obviously the trainee will become skillful time by time and become master in their field. Horenso process as a habit for japanese people old and new. They always do these activity.

Full support from senior and full respect from junior perform high quality relationship between them.

The searching of most effective way to increase productivity until limit is the core of kaizen. Kaizen is doing better from time to time.

So obviously why Japan become leader in productivity and economic.
If we think clearly is not special the way of japan. Just consistency in kaizen is difficult to follow. But difficult it does not mean we can not.

Article Source: http://www.kalifanayla.com/niche_art

Section of production and TPS leader