Project background
According for industrials statistics in 2002, the value of Aichi's manufacturing shipments exceed 34 trillion yen, showing steady growth. It is no exaggeration to say the Aichi leads Japan's manufacturing sector.
However, as competition in manufacturing becomes more globalized and more emphasis is placed on merely cost and quality, the danger that this manufacturing base could move to Asia countries that continue to produce low cost, high quality product is becoming a reality.
In particular, small and medium sized companies who cannot easily expand overseas are facing serious competition. This is a problem which threatens the to shake the foundations of our economy.
In response to this sense of crisis over the "hollowing out" of the manufacturing industry, this project was implemented with the three following ideas.
- In order to dynamically renovate the production chain in response to globalization and advances in IT, companies must secure a high position in the industry and a world-wide level of recognition.
- Manufacturing is seldom completed all at one company; rather this is accomplished by a chain of companies. In the future the fluidity of this process is expected to increase. What is demanded in response is the ability to efficiently link with other companies as well as strong skills and core competencies. Manufacturing is seldom completed all at one company; rather this is accomplished by a chain of companies. In the future the fluidity of this process is expected to increase. What is demanded in response is the ability to efficiently link with other companies as well as strong skills and core competencies.
- The managers must be "customer oriented" to learn how to offer products or services that the customers want, and it is particularly important to create value through the relationship with customers. In other words, it is necessary to enhance the equity to the customer, such as through value equity, brand equity, customer retention equity and partnership equity.