Research Projects
Education
1989 Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Harvard University.
1979 B.A., The University of Tokyo
Experience
2004-present Executive Director, Manufacturing Management Research Center
1998-present Professor, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo
1997 Senior Research Associate, Harvard Business School
1996 Visiting Professor, Harvard Business School
1996 Visiting Researcher, INSEAD
1996 Visiting Professor, Lyon University
1990-1998 Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo
1989 Research Associate, Harvard University
1979-1990 Mitsubishi Research Institute
Selected Publications and Papers
Books and Monographs
In Japanese
Introduction to Production Management 1&2, Nihon Keizai Shinbunsha, 2001
Business Architecture: Strategic Design of Products, Organizations, and Processes, Yuhikaku, Tokyo, 2001 (edited with A. Takeishi and Y. Aoshima )
Successful Product Development, Yuhikaku, Tokyo, 2000 (edited with M. Yasumoto )
An Evolutionary Theory of Production Systems, Yuhikaku, Tokyo, 1997
Readings on Supplier Systems, Yuhikaku, Tokyo, 1997 (edited with T. Nishiguchi and H. Itoh)
In English
The Evolution of a Manufacturing System at Toyota, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999
Coping with Variety: Flexible productive Systems for Product Variety in the Auto Industry, Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot, 1999 (edited with Y. Lung, J. Chanaron and D. Raff)
Transforming Automobile Assembly, Springer, Berlin, 1997 (edited with K. Shimokawa and U. Jurgens)
Articles
In Japanese
"Oraganizational Capability and Product Architecture: Strategies by Looking up from the Shop Floor, " Proceedings of Annual Meeting of the Academy of Organizational Science, Sosiki-gakkai , Oct. 2002
"Competence of a Firm, " Introduction to Management Studies , Nihon-Keizai-Shinbunsya, Oct. 2002
"Manufacturing Industries in the 21st Century: Strategy Building and Product Architecture ", Management Trend, Keiei-kenkyujo, Vol. 7, No. 2, Oct. 2002
"Variety of Adaption Strategies at Japanese Firms: An Analysis, " Ex-Globalism Manifesto: Beyond Pax Americana , Fujiwara-shobo, Sep. 2002
"Functional Chemicals and the Japanese Manufacturing Industry in the 21st Century, " Functional Chemicals: A Challenge toward Value-Proposing Industry, Kagaku-kogyou-nikppou, Sep. 2002 (with K. Kuwashima )
"Analysing Chinese Manufacturing Industries: An Architecture Perspective, " Keizai Sangyo Journal, Research Institute of Economy Trade and Industry, Vol. 35, No. 6, Jun. 2002
"Product Development Organizations and Competitiveness -A Literative Survey, " Akamon Management Review, Global Business Research Center, Apr. 2002
"Is the Japanese Manufacturing Sector Really Collapsing Altogether? " CREO, Shinko Human Create, No. 1 2002
"The Japanese Supplier System and Modularization: A case of the Automobile Industry, " Modularity, RIETI, Mar. 2002
"Information Technology and Manufacturing Industries in Japan: Organizational Capability is Critical, " Computer Today, Science Co., No.106, Nov. 2001
"International M&A-s and Alliances in the Automobile Industry : A Capability- Building and Mutual Leaning Perspective, " The Annual Bulletin, Japan Academy of International Business Studies, Tokyo, Sep. 2001
"The Automobile in the 21st Century; Does Evolution Continue? " Sokeizai Keiei, Materials Process Technology Center Japan, Tokyo, June.2001
"Historical Implication of RENAULT=NISSAN Alliance, " The Diamond weekly, Diamond Inc., Vol. 89, No. 23, 2001
"The Effective Product Development Process in the Chemical Industry/Framework and Empirical Study, "Journal of Economics, Vol. 67, No. 1, 2001 (with K. Kuwashima)
"The Japanese System of Production in the 20th Century, " Business Review, Hitotsubashi University Innovation Research Center, 48(3), 2000
"The Product Development System of Chinese State-owned Automotive Enterprises; The Cases of FAW and Dongfeng, " Chinese Management Studies, No.1, The Society for Chinese Management Studies, December 2000 (with Chun-li Lee)
"The Present and Future Automotive Parts Procurement System: Impact on Modularization and Electronic Purchasing, " JLI Research Report, 16, Japan Logistics Research Center, 2000
"Why Product Architectures Matter, " Focus Japan, JETRO, 27(9), November 2000
"The Automobile in the 21st Century, " Doro Kotsu Keizai, Zaidan Hojin Keizai Chosakai, October 2000
"Interaction between Component Architecture and Transaction Types - A Case of an Automobile Parts Manufacturer, " Discussion Paper CIRJE-J-34, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, October 2000 (with Ge Dongsheng)
"A Preliminary Analysis on Product Development in the Chemical Industry, " Discussion Paper CIRJE-J-32, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, September 2000 (with K. Kuwashima and J. Tomita)
"IT Investment Is Not a Sufficient Condition for Competitive Advantage, " Ronso, Toyo Keizai, July 2000
"Automobile Industry: Towards Strategy-Oriented Lean Production, " Efficiency and Recovery of the Japanese Economy: Why Did Japan Lag Behind the US, Ministry of Finance, June 2000 (with A. Takeishi)
"What Does 'Die ' Mean to the Future of the Japanese Manufacturing Industries? " Kinzoku Press, 32(6), June 2000
"Application of Digital Technologies and Product Development in the Auto Industry: 3D-CAD, " Discussion Paper CIRJE-J-27, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, June 2000 (with S. Ku)
"The New Trend of the US Car Distribution and Information Technology: A Field Study, " in K. Shimokawa and T. Iwasawa eds., Information Revolution and Innovation of Automobile Distribution, Bunshindo, April 2000
"Restructuring in the Global Auto Industry: Are Sizes All That Matters, " Business Review, Hitotsubashi University Innovation Research Center, 47(2), 1999
"Development and Transformation of Automobile Parts Transaction: A Survey of Japanese First-Tier Suppliers, " Discussion Paper, CIRJE-J-17, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, June 1999 (with A. Takeishi and T. Matsuo)
"Daimler and Chrysler: Fallacy of the Global Oligopoly Hypothesis, " Economist, 76(26), 1998
"Technological Human Resource Development in the Automobile Industry, " Japan Labor Research Magazine (Special Edition on 'Innovation and Labor '), 40(8), 1998
"New Phase of American Automobile Distribution System and Information Technologies: A Field Survey, " Discussion Paper, CIRJE-J-8, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, October 1998
"Inter-Industrial and Inter-Product Comparison of Effective Product Development: Results of a Questionnaire Survey of 203 Product Development Organizations, " Discussion Paper, CIRJE-J-7, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, October 1998 (with M. Yasumoto)
"A Preliminary Note on Comparative Analysis of Lean Production Systems: A Case of Body Buffer Management, " Discussion Paper, CIRJE-J-6, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, September 1998
"A New Phase of Automobile Product Development: Capability Building Competition by Front-Loading, " Discussion Paper, 98-J-15, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1998 (also in Business Review, Hitotsubashi University Innovation Research Center, 46(1), 1998)
"What I Learned from Taiichi Ohno: A Lecture by Michikazu Tanaka, Former Senior Managing Director of Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., " Discussion Paper, 98-J-2, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1998 (with K. Shimokawa, K. Kuwashima and Y. Sugiyama)
"A Preliminary Theory for Inter-Industrial Analysis of Effective Product Development: Applicability of Existing Theoretical Constructs, " Business Review, Hitotsubashi University Innovation Research Center, 45(2), 1997
"Present and Future of Korean Auto Industry: Based on Presentation Materials of Korean Automobile Industry Study Group, " Discussion Paper, 97-J-8, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1997 (with Kichan Kim)
"Toyota Motor Corporation Australia: An Emergent Global Strategy, " Discussion Paper, 97-J-6, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1997
"An Interview with Taiichi Ohno, Former Vice President of Toyota Motor Corporation, " Discussion Paper, 97-J-4, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1997 (with K. Shimokawa)
"Evolution of Body Buffer Management at Toyota: An Interview with Former Chairman Kusunoki, Hino Motor Company, " Discussion Paper, 97-J-1, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1997 (with T. Matsuo)
"A Note on Product Development Systems in the Chinese Automobile Industry, " Discussion Paper, 9 "A Note on Automobile Product Development Systems in China, " Discussion Paper, 96-J-2, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1996 (with S. Liwith)
6-J-2, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1996 (with C. Lee )
"Competitive Capability and Its Evolution of the so-called Toyota-Style Production Systems: Unintended Success and Ex-Post Rationality (1) (2), "Journal of Economics, Vol. 61, No. 2 and 3, 1995
"Planning and Development of Wool Textile Products: Men 's Wear, " Discussion Paper, 95-J-4, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1995
In English
"Evolution of Global Product Development Strategy: A Case of "Asia Car, " in H.Horiguchi, K.Shimokawa, eds., Japanese Foreign Direct Investmen and the East Asian Industrial System: Case Studies from the Automobile and Electronics Industries, Springer-Verlag, 2002 (with Y. Sugiyama)
"Evolution of Manufacturing Systems and Ex post Dynamic Capabilities, " in G. Dosi, R. R. Nelson, S.G. Winter eds., The Nature and Dynamics of Organizational Capabilities, Oxford Press, 2000
"Product Development Strategy in Indonesia: a Dynamic View on Global Strategy, " in J. Humphrey, Y. Lecler, M.S. Salerno eds., Global Strategies and Local Realities, The Auto Industry in Emerging Markets, Macmillan Press, 2000 (with Y. Sugiyama)
"The Effect of 'Front-Loading ' Problem Solving on Product Development Performance, " Journal of Product Innovation Management 17, 2000 (with S. Thomke)
"Shortening Lead Time through Early Problem-solving - A New Round of Capability-building Competition in the Auto Industry, " in U. Jurgens ed., New Product Development and Production Networks, Springer-Verlag, 2000
"Why Product Architectures Matter, " Focus Japan, JETRO, 27(9), November 2000
"Conclusion, " with D. Raff, in Y. Lung, J. Chanaron, T. Fujimoto and D. Raff, eds., Coping with Variety: Flexible Productive Systems for Product Variety in the Auto Industry, Ashgate Publishing, 1999
"Capability Building and Over-Adaptation: A Case of 'Fat Design ' in the Japanese Auto Industry " in Y. Lung, J. Chanaron, T. Fujimoto and D. Raff, eds., Coping with Variety: Flexible productive Systems for Product Variety in the Auto Industry, Ashgate Publishing, 1999
"The Road to a 'New Standard ' Camera, the Canon EOS 1000: A Case of Dynamic Capability Building in a Japanese Camera Firm, " Enterprises et Histoire, Editions ESKA, No.23, December 1999 (with M. Yasumoto)
"The Evolution of Asia Car: A Dynamic Approach to the Global-Local Trade-off, " Conference Paper, Symposium "East Asian Economy and Japanese Industry at a Turning Point, " June 16 and 17, 1999, Research Institute of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), 1999 (with Y. Sugiyama)
"The Effect of Front-Loading Problem-Solving on Product Development Performance, " Harvard Business School Working Paper 98-103, revised May 1999 (with S. Thomke)
"The Impact of Product-Industry Characteristics on Effective Patterns of Product Development, " Discussion Paper CIRJE-F-33, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, December 1998 (with M. Yasumoto)
"Toyota Motor Manufacturing Australia in 1995: An Emergent Global Strategy, " Discussion Paper CIRJE-F-23, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, October 1998
"Transformation of the Japanese Management System: A Contingency View ", in D. Dirks, J. Huchet and T. Ribault eds., Japanese Management in the Low Growth Era: Between External Shocks and Internal Evolution , Springer, 1998
"Different Behaviors of Chinese Auto Maker in technology Introduction and Assimilation, " Discussion Paper CIRJE-F-10, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, June 1998 (with Jin Chen)
"The Toyota System in the 1950s, " Social Science Japan, Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo, 12, March, 1998
"Automobile Industry, " in Japan Commission on Industrial Performance ed., Made in Japan, Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 1997 (with A. Takeishi)
"Transforming the Japanese Auto Industry in the 1990s - Toward a Lean-on-Balance System -, " IIES Seminar Series, 9711:54-84, Institute for International Economic Studies, 1997
"A Preliminary Note on Comparative Lean Production - Revisiting the Case of Automobile Body Buffer Management- " Discussion Paper 97-F-16, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1997
"The Japanese Automobile Supplier System Framework, Facts, and Reinterpretation, " Discussion Paper 97-F-13, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1997
"Shortening Lead Time through Early Problem Solving - A New Round of Capability-Building Competition in the Auto Industry - " Discussion Paper 97-F-12, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1997
"The Dynamic Aspect of Product Development Capabilities: An International Comparison in the Automobile Industry, " in A. Goto and H. Odagiri eds., Innovation in Japan, Oxford University Press, 1997, Also in Discussion Paper, 94-F-29, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1994
"Strategies for Assembly Automation in the Automobile Industry, " in K. Shimokawa, U. Jurgens and T. Fujimoto eds., Transforming Automobile Assembly, Springer, Berlin, 1997
"Capability Building and Over-adaptation - A Case of 'Fat Design ' in the Japanese Auto Industry, " Actes Du GERPISA, 19, Reseau International, February 1997
"External Integration in Product Development, " in Nishiguchi, T., ed., Managing Product Development, New York, Oxford University Press, 1996 (with M. Iansiti and K. B. Clark)
"An Evolutionary Process of Toyota 's Final Assembly Operations - The Role of Ex-post Dynamic Capabilities - , " Discussion Paper, 96-F-11, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1996 (Presented at the Third International Workshop on Assembly Automation, Ca ' Foscari University of Venice, October 1995)
"Note on the Origin of the 'Black Box Parts ' Practice in the Japanese Auto Industry, " in H. Shiomi and K. Wada eds., Fordism Transformed: The Development of Production Methods in the Automobile Industry, Oxford University Press, 1995 (Japanese translation available as Discussion Paper, 95-J-12, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 1995)
"Product Development Performance in the Auto Industry: 1990s Update, " Harvard Business School Working Paper 95-066, 1995 (with D. J. Ellison, K. B. Clark and Y. Hyun)
"An International Comparison of Productivity and Product Development Performance in the Automobile Industry, " in R. Minami, K. S. Kim, F. Makino, and J. Seo, eds., Acquiring, Adapting and Developing Technologies - Lesson from the Japanese Experience -, St. Martin 's Press, 1995 (with A. Takeishi)
Other Languages
"The case for cautious optimism, " Look Japan, 47(542), May 2001
"Modularisation in the auto industry: interlinked multiple hierarchies of product, production and supplier systems, " International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, Vol.1 No. 4, March 2001 (with A. Takeishi)
"The Japanese automobile parts supplier system: the triplet of effective inter-firm routines, " International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 1(1), March 2001
"Functions and Emergence of New Work Organizations at Toyoto, " Past, Present and Future, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2001
"Capability-Building Competition for Lead Time Reduction - A Case of Front-Loading Problem Solving in the Auto Industry , " in H.D.Buergel(Hrsg.) Forshungs- und Entwicklungsmanagement 2000plus, Springer, 2001
"The System Competition Power by the Cooperation Between Large and Small Firms, "(in Korean) Small-Medium Enterprise Research, Korean Society for Small-Medium Enterprise Research, Vol.17, No.2, December 1995 (edited with K. Kim and T. Fujimoto)
Reviews
Yoshihiko Akashi and Hiroshi Ueda, eds., R&D Systems of Japanese Firms, (Economic Research Quarterly, Osaka City University Economic Research Institute, 18(4), 1996, in Japanese)
Others
Nikkei BP/BzTech Book Award, 2005 (Nikkei)
Japan Academy Prize, 2002 (The Japan Academy)
The Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, 2001 (National Association for Manufacturers, Utah State University)
The Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, 2000 (National Association for Manufacturers, Utah State University)
The Nikkei Prize of Economics Books, 1993 (Nikkei)
Jai Doblin Award, 1991 (Design Management Institute)
