Hitozukuri and monozukuri in relation to research and development in surface coating

Abstract

This chapter addresses the rich set of meanings evoked by the terms monozukuri and hitozukuri, which refer to a centuries-old philosophy deeply rooted in Japanese culture. The former refers to the art of making things with excellence, skill, spirit, zeal, pride, and more. The latter refers to the need to educate and train a person to become expert in monozukuri. Together, monozukuri and hitozukuri can provide the basis for a balanced approach to using technology and enhancing human capacities, one where integration and synthesis play a more important role than specialization and analytical skills. This chapter is intended to address how monozukuri and hitozukuri can be applied to benefit twenty-first century advanced manufacturing, using automobile painting technology research and development as an example.