2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
A Study in Small-group Activities in the Transition of the Japanese Production System
| Project/Area Number |
19730328
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Sociology
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| Research Institution | Yokohama National University |
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Principal Investigator |
OGAWA Shinichi Yokohama National University, 経営学部, 准教授 (30334618)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2007 – 2010
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| Keywords | 日本的生産システム / 小集団活動 |
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| Research Abstract |
The small-group activities, which are also known as quality circles, had their highest rate of adoption by Japanese firms in the 1980s. In the following decades, however, their rate of adoption decreased because of the long recession, the transfer of the manufacturing sites overseas, and the replacement with new management approaches. Nevertheless, some of the Japanese firms still continue small-group activities steadily. They estimate that involving their employees with continuous improvements contributes toward management. The associations that diffuse the small-group activities and the firms that implement them sensitively comprehend the changing industrial structure, and are experimenting with the diversified approaches to the activities, while discovering new needs in various industries and workplaces.
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