Great article on Japanese manufacturing and trade policies
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,370
From: Germany
Re: Great article on Japanese manufacturing and trade policies
Originally Posted by Todd80Z28
Edward Deming. The "Deming" principles focus on continuous refinement- that things can ALWAYS be made better than they are.
That article is a bit dated- looks like it was written in 1993.
I work for a Japanese company (semiconductor equipment), and seeing it from my end, I can tell you-
1. The Japanese don't work as hard as you think.
2. They are a bit close-minded to the ideas from "Round Eye," until you prove your worth. Once you're "in," though, you're in. Sometimes, it's a bit daunting, really.
3. They are not nearly as greedy as we are. The markups on their products are WAY WAY lower than what many American companies would do. They are perfectly happy to toil away in a low-margin business (like the manufacture of semiconductor equipment, for instance).
It's a bit funny to read a few things in that article, particularly about their domination of the DRAM market. It didn't exactly work out that way- the Koreans (Samsung and Hynix) dominate now, with Micron (an American company) close behind. Not surprisingly, it's the Koreans who work harder than anyone. A recent survey showed that Koreans put in more hours than any other country, and in 2nd place- the US.
It's interesting to note that after decades of articles on how the Japanese are overtaking us, they still don't live nearly as well as we do. Not close, really- I've been able to compare, since I work daily with a few Japanese nationals.
I see the "Union Mentality" as a cancer on industry/manufacturing in America. Whereas the average Japanese expects (and usually gets) a lifetime of employment with a particular company, that doesn't keep him from working to better himself and the company. I am mindful of the honor that my Japanese colleagues put into their work. By contrast, anyone given a lifetime employment opportunity via a union contract in the US seems to go into a cruise mode- the prize is won, game over. This is where we lose our competitive advantage. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but it seems much more prevalent than it should be.
That article is a bit dated- looks like it was written in 1993.
I work for a Japanese company (semiconductor equipment), and seeing it from my end, I can tell you-
1. The Japanese don't work as hard as you think.
2. They are a bit close-minded to the ideas from "Round Eye," until you prove your worth. Once you're "in," though, you're in. Sometimes, it's a bit daunting, really.
3. They are not nearly as greedy as we are. The markups on their products are WAY WAY lower than what many American companies would do. They are perfectly happy to toil away in a low-margin business (like the manufacture of semiconductor equipment, for instance).
It's a bit funny to read a few things in that article, particularly about their domination of the DRAM market. It didn't exactly work out that way- the Koreans (Samsung and Hynix) dominate now, with Micron (an American company) close behind. Not surprisingly, it's the Koreans who work harder than anyone. A recent survey showed that Koreans put in more hours than any other country, and in 2nd place- the US.
It's interesting to note that after decades of articles on how the Japanese are overtaking us, they still don't live nearly as well as we do. Not close, really- I've been able to compare, since I work daily with a few Japanese nationals.
I see the "Union Mentality" as a cancer on industry/manufacturing in America. Whereas the average Japanese expects (and usually gets) a lifetime of employment with a particular company, that doesn't keep him from working to better himself and the company. I am mindful of the honor that my Japanese colleagues put into their work. By contrast, anyone given a lifetime employment opportunity via a union contract in the US seems to go into a cruise mode- the prize is won, game over. This is where we lose our competitive advantage. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but it seems much more prevalent than it should be.
SOOO far... good read... still working on it tho...
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 439
From: Northern VA
Re: Great article on Japanese manufacturing and trade policies
I think the reason they dont live as well as us, is because as soon as they have money, they come here...
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,977
From: SeVa
Re: Great article on Japanese manufacturing and trade policies
Unions, Management, the Stockmarket, and the Feds. Take your pick, all of them are out to ruin the US economy.
Unions - unrelaistic expectations compounded with extreme myopia.
Managment - a bunch of unsympathetic leeches sucking up to board members so they can bleed the coffers dry without actually doing there jobs.
Stockmarket - A bunch of pencil pushing number crunching suits who have forgoten what its like to be a human being, profit on tuesday is thier only god.
Feds - Public sychophants who dont give a damn as long as they redistribute somebodies wealth while having a good time doing it.
Unions - unrelaistic expectations compounded with extreme myopia.
Managment - a bunch of unsympathetic leeches sucking up to board members so they can bleed the coffers dry without actually doing there jobs.
Stockmarket - A bunch of pencil pushing number crunching suits who have forgoten what its like to be a human being, profit on tuesday is thier only god.
Feds - Public sychophants who dont give a damn as long as they redistribute somebodies wealth while having a good time doing it.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,817
From: O-Town
Re: Great article on Japanese manufacturing and trade policies
Everyone is out to get their piece of the pie and make sure it is bigger then everyone elses. There is hardly anyone left that has pride in their work and is willing to bust their *** for their job. I have heard too many times the phrase "If their going to pay me xx.xx amount, then their going to get xx.xx worth of work since they don't pay me enough."
I think Wal-mart is starting to get infested by people willing to kiss *** and careless about anyone else or the company. BTW, trust me I have more then just an outside view of this personally.
I think Wal-mart is starting to get infested by people willing to kiss *** and careless about anyone else or the company. BTW, trust me I have more then just an outside view of this personally.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,911
From: Southern California (SoCal)
Re: Great article on Japanese manufacturing and trade policies
While recently Japans stock market reached it highest level since 2000, its overall economy is still sluggish (recession-like) for nearly '15 years'.
Why would Japans overall economy being doing poorly for so long?
Other then obvious inherant problems Japan's economy always faces there is a new 5-letter word that has given them alot of problems over the last decade. Can you guess what it is????
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
."CHINA"
.
You guessed it!
.
.
.
Why would Japans overall economy being doing poorly for so long?
Other then obvious inherant problems Japan's economy always faces there is a new 5-letter word that has given them alot of problems over the last decade. Can you guess what it is????
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
."CHINA"
.
You guessed it!
.
.
.
Last edited by johnsocal; Dec 27, 2005 at 01:36 AM.
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