American Car manufactures never learned from the Japanese

I lived in Japan and worked for a Japanese firm for 10 years. I arrived knowing nothing about Japan but after two weeks I decided to stay. As I was a specialist in French Wine and Liqueurs I got a job with a local importer out of Yokohama. Living on the economy and working with many wholesalers, I learned the traditional Japanese way to organize and operate companies.

When I returned to America to continue my education, I kept hearing American businessmen say: “We do it the “Japanese Way!”. I just shook my head because these businessmen were talking the talk but not walking the walk.

From the time the child enters school until they enter the workforce, they learn the importance of working as a team member and not as a bunch of individuals working together. Suppliers work closely with customers and take pride in what they do, workers have a lot of pride in their work and put the time and effort into the job to make it as good as possible and felt shame when things did not perform properly.

This is not a philosophy appreciated in America not Canada nor Mexico. We can see it in the products that come from all three countries. Individualism is not always the best way to behave when in a large family environment found in manufacturing.

I have owned Toyota Camrys since 2000 (three and a Yaris ) I take care of them and they take care of me. I wife has had two Camrys both over 275,000 miles and not any major problems just ordinary upkeep.

If you want to understand a little about what I am saying watch the movie: Gung-Ho. The writers did a very good job in showing the differences in the Japanese attitude about manufacturing and the American attitude about manufacturing as well as the differences in attitude of Japanese workers and American workers.

One of the conclusions you should get from the movie is that there are different ways to do something, but some ways are better than others in particular situations. And these ways can be adopted to achieve better results without losing your individual personality completely.

Yes, I know, Japan businessmen have changed since I lived and worked there, and they have taken to making the bottom line more important than the product image and dependability. But the old Japanese ways are proven to be far better than European or American ways in the long way. Perhaps they will come back in time, but they are honored and respected by me.