Japanese Case Study

suthra · 06-18-2004, 04:28 AM

One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the
case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest
cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer
had bought a soap box that was empty.

Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line,
which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery
department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line
empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste,
the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with
high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap
boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No
doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent whoopee
amount to do so.

But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the
same problem, did not get into complications of X-rays, etc but instead
came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/the-break-room/34617-japanese-case-study.html
fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as
each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the
line.

Moral of the story: KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) i.e.
always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution
that solves the problem :-)

So, learn to focus on solutions not on problems

"If you look at what you do not have in life, you don't have anything"

"If you look at what you have in life, you have everything"

***armstrong*** · 06-18-2004, 05:39 AM

Quote:

The company received a complaint that a consumer
had bought a soap box that was empty.

What kind of shopper can't tell that a soap box when is empty when lifting it from the shelf?

Webtwink · 06-18-2004, 06:10 AM

It is similar to the Nasa and Russian story lol

Blackpanther · 06-18-2004, 06:19 AM

Yes nasa discovered thier pens dont work in zero gravity so spent years and billions on research and development to create a pen that would work in zero gravity

The Russians however just used a pencil!

theparrot · 06-18-2004, 06:54 AM

right, thats the story, but it is urban legand.

suthra · 06-18-2004, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blackpanther
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=34617
Yes nasa discovered thier pens dont work in zero gravity so spent years and billions on research and development to create a pen that would work in zero gravity

The Russians however just used a pencil!

F*******g funny LOL

06-18-2004, 04:28 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
suthra Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,656	Japanese Case Study One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soap box that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent whoopee amount to do so. But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, did not get into complications of X-rays, etc but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/the-break-room/34617-japanese-case-study.html fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line. Moral of the story: KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) i.e. always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problem :-) So, learn to focus on solutions not on problems "If you look at what you do not have in life, you don't have anything" "If you look at what you have in life, you have everything" __________________ A single smile can be a solution to several problems.:) www.adult.ec is for Sale! Why not make an Offer?

06-18-2004, 06:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
theparrot NamePros Regular Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 633	right, thats the story, but it is urban legand. __________________ Need a break? Check out TheDamnBlog.com Free $6.95 directi accounts at Directi Name Bin Instant free $8.95 eNom accounts at Dncube.com

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06-18-2004, 06:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Webtwink Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: United States of America Posts: 1,158	It is similar to the Nasa and Russian story lol

06-18-2004, 06:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Blackpanther NamePros Regular Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 304	Yes nasa discovered thier pens dont work in zero gravity so spent years and billions on research and development to create a pen that would work in zero gravity The Russians however just used a pencil!

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