The Emergence of the Productivity Improvement Movement in Postwar Japan and Japanese Productivity Missions Overseas

Satoshi SASAKI

doi:10.5029/jrbh1984.12.39

Satoshi SASAKI

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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1996 Volume 12 Pages 39-71

DOI https://doi.org/10.5029/jrbh1984.12.39

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Published: March 15, 1996 Received: - Available on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010 Accepted: - Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: June 28, 2010 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Right : 1This description of America's postwar overseas assistance,unless noted otherwise,is based on KenjiroTakaki's Nishi Yxythoroppa ni okeru seisansei kojoundo[The movement for productivity improvement in western Europe](Japan Productivity Center,1962),pp.15-18,and Otohiko Hazama's Seisansei undosanju-nen shi[Thirty years of the produc-tivity improvement movement](Japan Productivity Center,1985),pp.59-69.
2For a discussion of France see Terushi Hara,“Hobei seisansei kojo shisetsudandai niji sekai taisengo no Furansu no jirei”[Productivity improvement observation teams to the United States:The case of France after World War II],Keieishigaku30,no.1(1995),and for a discussion of Germany see Akira Kudo,“Nishi Doitsu seisansei kojo undonoto”[Notes on the productivity improvement movement in West Germany],Shakai kagaku kenkyii(Tokyo University)46,no.5(1995).
3This description of circumstances surrounding the establishment of the Japan Productivity Center is based on Japan Productivity Center,ed.,Seisansei undo ju-nen no ayumi[Ten years of the productivity movement](Japan Productivity Center,1965),pp.23-35;Hazama,op.cit.,pp.94-104;and MITI,ed.,Tsfisho sangyo seisaku shi[The hisory of MITI industrial policies](MITI,1992),vol.6,pp.384-97(penned by Minoru Sawai).
4See Kinsaburo Sunaga,“Nihon kigyo no keiei kanri no kindaika-Amerika no seifu kikan no katsudo o chushin ni”[The modernization of business management in Japanese enterprises,with special emphasis on the activities of American governmental agencies],Shogaku ronsan[Collection of essays on commercial science](publ.by Chuo University's Shogaku Kenkyukai[Commercial Science Study Group],vol.36,nos.3/4(1995),p.94.
5See K.Takaki,op.cit.,pp.40-41.
6For the position of labor unions in both Japan and overseas countries in regard to the productivity improvement movement,reference can be made to Shiryo rodo undo shi[Materials on the history of the labor movement](Ministry of Labor,1955),pp.510-44.
7See K.Sunaga,op.cit.,p.96.
8Ibid.,p.96.
9Ibid.,pp.96-98.
10Ibid.,p.96.
11MITI,op.cit.,p.385.
12Noboru Yamaguchi,“Hobei shisatsudan-Hinshitsu kanri chiimu dancho to shite”[Observations made on a visit to the United States:As the leader of the quality control team saw it],Keiei5,no.5(1958).
13JPC,Showa30nendo jigyo hokokusho[Report on fiscal1955projects],p.21.
14JPC,Showa35nendo jigyo hokokusho[Report on fiscal1960projects],pp.1-2.
15JPC,Showa36nendo jigyo hokokusho[Report on fiscal1961projects],p.8.
16A full list of the170reports can be found in Nihon Keiei-shi Kenkyujo[Japan Business History Institute],ed.,Keiei to rekishi[Business and history](1987),pp.40-42.
17JPC,Tekko seisansei shisatsudan hokokusho[Report of the steel productivity observation team](1956),pp.21-22.
18This description of Fuji Steel Works is based on JPC,Kaigai shisatsudan wa dono yo na seika o osameta ka[What were the positive achievements of overseas observation teams?](1958),pp.34-40.
19This description of Sumitomo Metal Industries is based on ibid.,pp.41-53.
20JPC,Toppu manejimento shisatsudan hokokusho[Report of the top management observation team](1956),pp.35-47.
21Figures on report meetings are found in JPC,Showa30nendo jigyo hokokusho,pp.11-13.
22JPC,Makettingu seisansei senmon shisatsudan hokokusho[Report of the specialist observation team on marketing productivity](1957),p.24.
23This description of Sumitomo Chemical Industries is based on JPC,Kaigai shisatsudan wa dono yo na seika o osameta ka,pp.41-53.
24JPC,Hinshitsu kanri senmon shisatsudan hokokusho[Report of the specialist observation team on quality control](1959),p.204.
25Ibid.,p.206.
26Ibid.,p.204.
27See Toshiba Hinshitsu Kanri Iinkai[Toshiba Quality Control Committee],comp.,QC handobukku soron[Quality control handbook:An outline](internal Toshiba document,1950),p.6.
28See JPC,Kaigai shisatsudan wa dono yo na seika o osameta ka.This work is a compilation of the results of a survey questionnaire sent by the JPC to people involved in enterprise management who were members of the35observation teams that went overseas(34to the United States),from the first one in May1955(the steel industry team)to the April1957Kansai small and medium-sized business team.Questionnaires were sent to291people,of whom196replied.
29Ibid.,pp.133-34.
30Ibid.,pp.133-34.
31Ibid.,p.136.
32Ibid.,pp.137-39.
33Ibid.,pp.139-41.

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