The Adoption of Japanese Management Techniques in Korean Manufacturing Industry.

This article presents information on a study related to the adoption of Japanese management techniques in the Korean manufacturing industry. Facing the recent unfavorable environment, Korean manufacturing industries must find a way to regain competitiveness in domestic and international markets. At this moment, the most affordable and practical alternative is to make innovations in the current manufacturing process in order to enhance productivity and competitiveness. This study shows that there is considerable room for Korean manufacturing firms to improve their competitiveness through adoption of Japanese manufacturing techniques and concepts. There is no doubt that Korean manufacturing firms can compete with the world's best in price, quality and delivery performance through adoption of these techniques and concepts. This has been proved by a number of successful Korean manufacturing firms, which employ new manufacturing management concepts including Japanese techniques. In order to encourage Korean firms, many incentives, such as tax exemptions and low-interest loans, should be given to Korean manufacturing firms to replace old production systems and adopt new manufacturing technologies and systems.