Top Global Companies In Japan

by Ishikawa, Akira; Nejo, Tai

• ISBN13: 9789812386847
• ISBN10: 981238684X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-06-01
• Publisher: Textstream

Summary

Amid the current, protracted recession in Japan, new corporations--termed "global excellent companies by the authors of this book--have been rising since the end of the 20th century. They are not yet in the spotlight but have a huge market share worldwide with regard to their specialized products and services. How have these corporations climbed to the top of the global market while many other large Japanese companies have fallen into a slump? The authors answer this question by shedding light on their corporate policies and strategies for achieving high earnings--the secret of "producing something from nothing" and "enabling the lesser to win against the greater."

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Obscure Top Global Companies in Japan	1	(12)
Decline of Large Corporations in Japan	1	(2)
High-Spirited Medium-Sized Companies Competing in the World Market	3	(2)
Six Strategic Patterns of Top Global Companies	5	(8)
Niche specialization --- speed	8	(1)
Niche specialization --- customizing	8	(1)
Niche specialization --- globalizing	9	(1)
First in the world	10	(1)
Growing in the parent company's nest	11	(1)
Creating new business	11	(2)
Niche Specialization --- Speed	13	(19)
Murata Manufacturing	13	(7)
Leading the world market in electronic ceramic components	13	(1)
Speedy capture of the market with ``black-boxed'' technology	14	(1)
Developing new products by combining existing technologies	15	(1)
Accelerating R&D by scientific management	15	(1)
Matrix management for strict cost control	16	(1)
Speedy response to technology advancement through wholly owned subsidiaries	17	(2)
Effective use of limited human resource	19	(1)
Pioneering overseas fund raising	19	(1)
Nidec	20	(7)
No. 1 supplier of spindle motors for HDD	20	(1)
Specializing in business fields shunned by other companies; capturing the domestic market by reverse landing	20	(2)
M&A for saving time for growth	22	(1)
Speedy and flexible product development	23	(1)
Three mottos to drive rapid growth	24	(1)
Human resource management for growth	25	(1)
``Made in the market'' --- offshore strategy	26	(1)
Advantest	27	(5)
Largest manufacturer of semiconductor testers	27	(1)
Capturing the market with the speed of product introduction	27	(2)
Speedy decision-making	29	(1)
Go first, pull ahead	30	(1)
Sole winner with a strategic niche focus	31	(1)
Niche Specialization --- Customizing	32	(15)
Rohm	32	(5)
Custom ICs	32	(1)
``Willing to do what big companies are reluctant to do''	33	(1)
Profiting from old technologies	34	(1)
Profitability in preference to sales revenue	34	(1)
High quality to win the market's confidence	35	(1)
Motivation management	36	(1)
Nakashima Propeller	37	(3)
Global No. 1 manufacturer of marine propellers located in a local city	37	(1)
Foresight and unique know-how	37	(1)
CAD/CAM for labor cost reduction, craftsmanship for the finishing touch	38	(1)
New propellers	39	(1)
Diverse applications	40	(1)
Keyence	40	(7)
Leading company of FA sensors	41	(1)
Niche specialization for high profits	41	(1)
Effective use of versatile products to meet individual needs	42	(2)
Efficient management of fabless company	44	(1)
``Customer information sheet'' for product development	45	(1)
Performance-based reward system to boost salesmen's morale	45	(2)
Niche Specialization --- Globalizing	47	(14)
Mabuchi Motor	47	(5)
50% share of the small DC motor market worldwide	47	(2)
High-quality low-cost products by division of labor on a global scale	49	(1)
Ideas and contrivances for minimizing cost	50	(1)
``Coexistence and Co-prosperity in Adopted Countries''	51	(1)
Minebea	52	(4)
Top manufacturer of miniature bearings	52	(1)
Factories all in Asia	53	(1)
Karuizawa Plant as home for production worldwide	53	(1)
Higher precision to compete with fluid dynamic bearings	54	(1)
Back to the core business	55	(1)
Tokyo Electron	56	(5)
Leading company of semiconductor manufacturing equipment	56	(1)
Reinforcement of personnel overseas for collecting information	56	(2)
Investment in advance in preparation for changes in the market	58	(1)
Maintenance service on-line	59	(1)
Discontinuing stable dividend distribution	60	(1)
First in the World	61	(12)
Yupo Corporation	61	(3)
80% market share in synthetic paper	61	(1)
Applications for making the most use of synthetic paper	62	(1)
Transforming adversity into opportunity	63	(1)
Global production and sales	63	(1)
Disco Corporation	64	(4)
Top manufacturer of dicing/cutting saws for semiconductors	64	(1)
Specializing in cutting with thin grinding wheels	65	(1)
Ultra-thin cut-off wheels for the semiconductor industry	66	(1)
Market expansion with user-friendly machines	66	(1)
Innovation by using external resources	67	(1)
Horiba	68	(5)
80% worldwide market share in engine emission analyzers	68	(1)
Horiba's precept ``Joy and Fun''	68	(1)
How the European market was won in emission analyzers	69	(1)
Product development in close contact with customers via the Internet	70	(1)
Reverse landing that helped an obscure company	71	(1)
Road to becoming a great medium-sized company	72	(1)
Growing in the Parent Company's Nest	73	(13)
Canon Kasei	73	(3)
Canon is the customer	73	(1)
Growing into global No. 1 with the growth of parent company	74	(1)
Optimum production system	74	(1)
Product diversification	75	(1)
Denso	76	(5)
Leading the global market in 14 automobile parts	76	(1)
Accumulating technology by supporting Toyota Motors	77	(1)
Overcoming economic crisis by following Toyota's lead	78	(1)
Growing out of ``Keiretsu''	78	(1)
Expansion of the business territory	79	(1)
Changing corporate culture	80	(1)
Nihon Electric Glass	81	(5)
Top manufacturer of cathode-ray tube glass	81	(1)
Success with independent-minded management	81	(2)
Scrupulous pursuit of technology	83	(1)
Global division of labor in response to regional needs	84	(1)
Technology for recycling CRT glass	85	(1)
Creating New Business	86	(20)
Seven-Eleven Japan	86	(6)
Distribution chain of high earning power and its information system support	86	(1)
Creating a new style of business in response to a change in society	87	(1)
Expansion of the chain through franchising	88	(1)
Information system --- the secret of strength	89	(2)
Sales expansion based on accurate information of order patterns	91	(1)
Transforming convenience stores beyond retail	92	(1)
Yamato Transport	92	(7)
Paramount leader in door-to-door parcel delivery service	93	(1)
How Takkyubin was born	93	(1)
New concept to draw customers	94	(1)
Nationwide service network and sales drivers	95	(1)
Takkyubin information system for efficiency	96	(1)
Incessant creation of new services	97	(1)
Developing new lines of business	97	(1)
Challenging public establishment and bureaucracy --- a spirit of defiance	98	(1)
Secom	99	(7)
Pioneer of centralized security systems	99	(1)
The advent of computer-based security system	100	(1)
From a ``safety'' provider to ``peace of mind'' provider	101	(1)
Information, communication, education, and herb production	102	(2)
Changes in management	104	(1)
Central control of the group personnel	104	(2)
Rules for Becoming a Top Global Company	106	(12)
Rule 1: Specialize in a niche	106	(1)
Rule 2: Be speedy	107	(2)
Rule 3: Develop your own technology	109	(1)
Rule 4: Focus on customers	110	(1)
Rule 5: Expand business in a global perspective	111	(2)
Rule 6: Use information technology to your advantage	113	(2)
Rule 7: Initiate personnel management to boost workers' morale	115	(3)
People and Organization of Top Global Companies	118	(13)
Leaders of Top Global Companies	118	(5)
Clear-cut managerial principles	118	(1)
Sharing of the managerial principle by all employees	119	(1)
Focus that determines the business domain	120	(1)
Great foresight and the ability to get things done	121	(1)
Ambitious goals	121	(1)
Out-of-the-box thinking	122	(1)
Widely spread network for collecting information	123	(1)
Management Style in the Era of Globalization	123	(8)
Changes in the management style caused by globalization	123	(2)
Reformation of the board of directors in progress	125	(1)
Reforming Japanese style employment system	126	(2)
Managing companies according to international accounting standards	128	(1)
Social responsibility in the era of globalization	129	(2)
Concluding Remarks	131	(2)
Bibliography	133	(4)
Index	137