Wednesday, February 22, 2012

"Michi" the Japanese Philosophy of Work

As we know that Japan have the ability to produce high quality manufacturing product such as automotive and electronics industry. Japan has been concurred automotive and electronics industry all over the world. 

If we track back the way that japan step until they have a great achievement like now, we will find that the Japanese way is understandable for us. I have this reference for my professor in my major of Industrial engineering class of Quality Control. 

Lets start from when Japan have a great depression. this happen in 1945 when second world war had just  ended. at that time America (US) bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the new generation of bomb. atomic bomb.  Japan crush and being zero nation in everything, didn't have any strength. Industrial bankrupt, military loose and the civilization had a lot of suffer because of the war.

United States who the winner of second world war have planning to be powerful nation for everlasting year. so they seized their economic. in specific chase they plan that Japan must be the one nation that become a right hand for the US economic. 

The US government then send their expert economic to built economic system for Japan. one of  the man is Edward Deming. He is an Expert in Quality Control known as American Statistician, Professor, author and Consultant. in the end of his effort "Japan Hero" is given to Him. Deming made a significant contribution to Japan's later reputation for innovative high-quality products and its economic power. He is regarded as having had more impact upon Japanese manufacturing and business than any other individual not of Japanese heritage. Despite being considered something of a hero in Japan, he was only just beginning to win widespread recognition in the U.S. at the time of his death.

Now, lets start to the point of this article. "Michi" related to above paragraph has meaning, Michi is the philosophy of work. It is the way of Japanese people see everything they do for work that: they work not determine by result but they do the work focus in process of work. how the process is more precious for them. Michi has strong related for Japan Continuous improvement. 

so in a simple word "Michi" is how we focus on process not for the result. they believe that there is no best result but there is always better result. this philosophy has made Japan lead the Industrial in technological based. They never stop in point that others maybe stop because their result has been done.

like the image bellow that show you the different philosophy when some people or country work based on process or result.



Unlimited improvement is the way of Michi. either if based on result it will stop when the result has done. 

how is my explanation? it's clear? 
wait for the next article..

regards,

Candidate Bachelor of Industrial Engineering