Strategic Industrial Sourcing: The Japanese Advantage [Hardcover]

Toshihiro Nishiguchi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195071093 | ISBN-13: 978-0195071092 | Publication Date: February 17, 1994

A major aspect of Japan's international economic success has been its industrial firms' ability to develop a system of subcontracting with suppliers. Through an exploration of the evolution of subcontracting in Japan as well as an analysis of its current practice in advanced economies, Nishiguchi reveals what he believes to be the shortcomings of existing theories of contractual relations. He shows that subcontracting can be described as the evolutionary product of complex historical interaction among social, political, technological, and company-level strategic plans--but not one constrained by culture. This makes it possible for other countries to use models similar to those employed in Japan, encouraging continuous improvement in product quality and cost reduction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most interesting parts of Nishiguchi's descriptions is his contrast of Japanese-style managers' attitudes toward suppliers with the attitudes of American and British managers whose firms have not adopted these practices...No amount of asset flexibility can substitute for a system of flexible employees such as is described in Strategic Industrial Sourcing. Management scholars fail to see the true contours of the Japanese business landscape if the reality of these business arrangements is ignored."--Academy of Management Review

"Based on eight years of research and over 1,000 interviews, Nishiguchi's book provides a detailed and well-balanced account of why subcontracting persists in Japan more than in other countries and how it has contributed to Japan's economic success story."--Contemporary Sociology

"Constitutes a definitive study of Japanese subcontracting, supported by numerous tables and figures, and extending in coverage to Europe and the US....One of the important contributions of the book is its proof of cross-cultural applicability of the Japanese system. This work also contains rich and captivating anecdotal evidence. Highly recommended."--Choice

"I have always thought that in the long run the Japanese system of subcontracting is beneficial to all parties... I am grateful that Dr. Nishiguchi, through his painstaking research, breaks down myths about the Japanese subcontracting system."--Fujio Cho, President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing U.S.A.

"The coordination of the supply chain has always been the secret weapon of the best Japanese firms. In this remarkable volume Toshihiro Nishiguchi finally explains how they do it. Any Western manager who fails to read, indeed to study this book, is passing up an extraordinary opportunity to improve industrial performance. "--James P. Womack, Coauthor of The Machine that Changed the World

About the Author

Toshihiro Nishiguchi is at Hitotsubashi University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 17, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195071093
• ISBN-13: 978-0195071092
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellant analysis of Japanese sub-contracting system., October 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Strategic Industrial Sourcing: The Japanese Advantage (Hardcover)

The book gives a very good background to the way the Japanese system of sub-contracting developed over the years and how various factors including Government support at right time and in specific areas helped in making their system one of the main reasons for Japanese Success particularly in Automobile & Electronic fields.The author has done a very well structured indepth study of working of sub-contractors in Japan as well as Europe & America and has hilighted the differences which helped Japanese success.He has also clearly brought out the different reasons for sub-contracting for different sectors of the industry.The book is very well supported by large amount of actual data and foot-notes as well as unusually large Appendices give a wealth of information to a keen reader.A"don't miss" book for professionals in purchasing function.