The Mindset of Monozukuri

Enhancing Collaboration Between North American and Japanese Enterprises & Sustaining a Culture of Manufacturing Talent

The Logic of JETRO’s Monozukuri Series
As Japanese automotive OEMs have expanded their North American market share over the past decade, there has also been a significant expansion of business partnerships and collaboration between U.S. based Japanese and American automotive suppliers. Seeking to localize their supplier base, some Japanese automotive companies have found difficulty in building successful business relationships with their U.S. and Canadian counterparts. Why? There are critical differences that go beyond mere buy & sell techniques, such as manufacturing processes, how quality practices are implemented and improved and specifically, how quality practices are articulated to prospective Japanese clients. These misaligned expectations have created a gap in understanding how best to prepare for and then grow a relationship with U.S. based Japanese automotive suppliers.

To help bridge this gap, JETRO Chicago organized two introductory seminars in April 2007, focused on the theme of Monozukuri, the Japanese spirit or quest for manufacturing excellence. Held in Chicago, Illinois and Plymouth, Michigan, attendees embraced this concept that has defined Japanese manufacturing excellence for decades. A third Monozukuri seminar was held in Indianapolis, Indiana in August 2008 with over 300 attendees. The success of this event indicated that managers from American suppliers were eager to collaborate with Japanese OEMs and suppliers in North America, not to mention understand and embrace the concept of Monozukuri.

In the late spring of 2009, Monozukuri seminars in Columbus, Ohio and Toronto, Ontario were organized at a time when the automotive industry and economy were both facing unprecedented instability. The theme of Monozukuri could not have come at a more important time, as suppliers look to prepare themselves for business alliances with Japanese automotive companies began to internalize that it’s not the nationality of the company that matters so much as the quality practices of the company.

What is MONOZUKURI?
In Japanese, the words mono (thing) and zukuri (process of making), when taken together literally mean the process of making or creating things, however a mere translation does not convey the accurate connotation of monozukuri. The concept is much more intense; monozukuri means having the spirit to produce excellence products and the ability to constantly improve a production system and process.

Monozukuri therefore may be a somewhat new and exotic word that American managers hear coming from their Japanese partners. However, American suppliers hoping to develop closer collaboration with Japanese companies will have to fully embrace the concept and practice of monozukuri at their respective companies.

Information on definitions and terms used in our Monozukuri program can be found by clicking here.

Information on our previous Monozukuri seminars can be found on the right of the page. If you have any questions or feedback regarding JETRO Chicago’s Monozukuri program series please contact Kevin Kalb, Project Coordinator at 312-832-6023 or at Kevin_Kalb@jetro.go.jp.

How can JETRO help your company to open an office in Japan? Click here for more information on our many services.