American factory-Japanese factory

Abstract

In contrast to the prevailing view that the once-praised Japanese economic miracle stemmed from unique Japanese-style factory management, the present paper suggests that this system of management shared common roots with that of the US, which was modified to suit the social and economic environment of a latecomer to industrialization. The transplanted version was the perfected to such an extent that it was later adapted in other countries, including the US itself. The original, US-born production control skills were successfully transferred because a need for them was keenly felt and their value was highly appreciated by the Japanese workmen and engineers who adopted them.