A Programmed Approach for the Implementation of Lean Manufacturing - Adapting Japanese Techniques to a Western Environment

Tim Preston spent 9 months at Honda Motor Corporation's motorcycle factory in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He worked alongside Honda engineers studying and using Japanese management and production techniques. Since his return to the JCB factory in the United Kingdom, he has been introducing improvements in production methods and management.

This paper summarizes his findings and shows ways of overcoming cultural differences to allow world-class Japanese methods to be introduced.