2021 Volume 20 Issue 3 Pages 43-68
The skill transfer activities during the relocation of a domestic mother factory are illustrated in this study using a case at Horiba, Ltd. This case concerns vapor deposition, one of the processes involved in the manufacture of interference filters. A unique characteristic here is that the operation of the vapor deposition device requires a high degree of skill and experience. In this context, we discovered that the OJT (On the Job Training) undertaken in circumstances where attention on skill transfer would normally be overlooked counterintuitively realized high efficiency of skill transfer. After a detailed analysis of the case in question, we identified the following three contributing factors: (1) the incorporation of several other OJTs, each with different characteristics; (2) the tense situation due to the relocation to the mother factory; and (3) an introspective support of the OJT program that fostered “initiative.”
