How Did Japanese SME Manufactures Obtain Scientific Knowledgeand Form Organizational Capabilities?

—An Exploratory Analysis on Making Processes of Die and Mould—

Abstract

Broadly, it has been considered that technological advantage of Japanese SME manufacturers is based on tacit knowledges of experience of craftsmen. However, some of them start to obtain and utilize scientific methodologies such as analysis with measuring instruments against the change of their business environments. Then how did Japanese SME manufactures obtain scientific methodologies for their own business? In this paper, we tackle this puzzle with an exploratory analysis on their making process of die and mould. Additionally, we attempt to show hypothetical framework to analyze this process.