Some comments and proposals for better application of theories and tools to actual practice

The characteristics of theories, including professional techniques and tools, and practice are compared to show their differences. Some important and necessary factors to better apply theories and professional tools to actual practice are first discussed. Then, three basic methods to bridge theory and practice are presented from a macroscopic viewpoint. The first two, which rely on exceptionally capable persons who know about theory and practice, have limitations in that such people rarely exist. The third, a strategic systems approach and methodology, is emphasized. A brief summary of three long-existing methodologies in the industrial engineering field which have achieved good results in the past, namely, work simplification, TQC (total quality control, including company-wide quality control and quality control circles), and work design (or purpose design) are given together with some comments on the Japanese perspective concerning these issues