Thursday, November 18, 2010, 11:30AM - 5:00PM
ENGLISH
JETRO Event

AGENDA

The cost of this luncheon seminar is $50. The program will begin promptly at 11:30 am. The seminar will feature simultaneous translation (English and Japanese).

Click here to view the brochure in Japanese [PDF, 244 KB]

For program information, please contact Kevin Kalb at JETRO Chicago: 312-832-6023 or Kevin_Kalb@jetro.go.jp.

BACKGROUND

In the United States, Japanese automotive OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are currently responsible for more than 30% of total automotive production, with plans to further expand production capability in North America and "localization" of supplier networks. As a result, there have been significant business linkages between American automotive parts and equipment manufacturers and Japan's OEMs and Tier-1 companies.

As successful as these business relationships have been, many obstacles still remain for automotive companies in both countries: challenges focused on manufacturing philosophies, management methodologies, and recognition of the differences in the way business is conducted. While American and Japanese automotive manufacturers continue to be competitors, these companies increasingly find themselves collaborating with each other in the world's largest automotive market. We believe this collaboration will only enhance the success of the global manufacturing industry.

This is precisely why the key to fostering collaboration between the U.S.-Japan manufacturing communities is to go beyond simply giving information on salesmanship and how to conduct Buy-Sell interactions. What is needed instead is a fundamental understanding of Japan's philosophy in product making, or monozukuri in Japanese. Once monozukuri is achieved, it serves as a catalyst for accelerating innovation, management solutions, production processes, human resources, and sales and marketing. In order to truly enhance business relationships between U.S. and Japanese manufacturing companies, it is critical to have a fundamental understanding of Japan's monozukuri practices. Based on this belief, JETRO Chicago has organized five previous monozukuri seminars in Chicago, Illinois (2007), Plymouth, Michigan (2007), Indianapolis, Indiana (2008), Columbus, Ohio (2009), and Toronto, Ontario (2009).

PURPOSE FOR THE "MONOZUKURI" SEMINAR

This seminar will encourage the continued development of the automotive industry toward further management interaction and cooperation between companies in the United States and Japan. With this objective in mind, we intend to provide practical guidance concerning how Japanese companies manage their production processes and create innovation; share manufacturing philosophies in order to develop mutually strong business ties between American and Japanese automotive companies; and provide insights on developing relationships with Japan's automotive sector.

We will provide attendees with examples of the best and most innovative practices, both by American and Japanese companies. We will examine how Japanese manufacturers refine their production processes in the United States and how American manufacturers enhance competitiveness by working with American-based Japanese companies.

We expect that the outcome of this type of intensive interaction will contribute to the primary purpose of this seminar, which is to forge more successful and fruitful manufacturing partnerships between Japan and the United States, specifically with the Midwest's Japanese automotive companies and their Midwest peers.

ORGANIZERS & SUPPORTERS

Organizers:
JETRO Chicago
Japan/America Society of Kentucky (JASK)

Supporting Organizations:
Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development (KCED)
Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM)
Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA)
Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA)
Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
Robotics Industries Association (RIA)

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