Abstract
Japanese sewing machine industry was promoted as an export industry after the World War II and expanded rapidly thereafter. At the beginning, Japanese sewing machines were regarded as “imitation of SINGER” and “cheap and nasty”.
Later, however, Japanese sewing machines surpassed SINGER, which they modeled after, not only in export volume and value, but in terms of quality as well.
In 1974, the sewing machine industry was released from Export Inspection Law, reaching its goal of improvement and stability of quality, far earlier than the camera (1989) and watch (1991) industries.
This paper clarifies the reason and background of the above. In 1949 Japanese sewing machine industry, in cooperation with Japanese government, standardized household sewing machines and their parts, and the de facto standard of sewing machine parts was formed in the 1950s. In the case of the parts of cameras and watches there is no standard specification like the one of sewing machine parts. Standardization of parts contributed to the stability of quality and cost down of sewing machines.
This paper demonstrates quality improvement of Japanese sewing machines, based on Japanese export inspection results and the product ratings by the Consumers Union of the United States.
Figures show that Japanese sewing machines surpassed SINGER, in terms of production quantity in 1957, and of quality in 1969. From this point of view, it can be said that standardization of sewing machine parts was one of the reasons why this industry gained international competitiveness earlier than cameras and watches. Just for reference, Japanese camera industry surpassed German ones, in terms of production quantity in 1962, and of quality in 1976.
This achievement was due primarily to the persistent efforts of Japanese sewing machine makers to improve their products, and to export promotion policy (including Export Inspection Law) of Japanese government (including JSMIA: Japan Sewing Machinery Inspection Association).
