Physical Science, Measurement and Instrumentation, Management and Education, IEE Proceedings A

The author reports on a mission of European manufacturing executives to study ´just-in-time´ and ´total quality´ control in nine Japanese electronics companies. Among the main findings are that it is too simplistic to claim that the success of the Japanese manufacturing companies is just due to their culture, this undoubtedly gives them an edge but management is the key difference; their longer term commitment to improvement and how they use the technology and related techniques to improve manufacturing efficiency are other primary reasons for the success. It is also pointed out that the solid foundation which has been built during the last 25 to 30 years on total quality control, quality-control circles and employee suggestions, is allowing them to make still greater improvements in manufacturing efficiency through concepts such as just-in-time and total productive maintenance.