Analysis: Beyond Mass Production

This article discusses the dynamics of Japanese capitalism while focusing on Japanese labor processes and social organization of production. The social organization of production in Japan “has reached a level of development that is postfordist”(122). Postfordist principles are replaced with organization based on teams, flexible production, as well as job rotation. Japan’s ability to cope with technology based economic restructuring is founded on postwar historical forces (i.e.) stakeholder philosophy; which also created a closer association of innovation and production, established “periphery” agencies for technological innovations and allowed for these innovations to be incorporated into mass production easily (130). The industrial organization that affords this type of restructuring in Japan is called fujitsuism.

The article also suggested that stable social institutions that link production and innovation is prerequisite to structured flexibility. Structured flexibility is what enables economic success in Japan. There are three models that explain Japanese political economy. Toyotism or “hyperfordism” in which exploitation is the norm and where progress is related to the disorganized and powerless working class. Chalmers Johnson’s, “statist approach” -- Japan Inc., overestimates the capacities of the Japanese state. The state has certainly helped the directives of capital accumulation but it is organization and the production processes, the last model, that best explain Japanese development. This type transforms skill into productivity by overcoming “taylorist” organization.

I agree that Japanese production by integrative organization, has created its economic success in the latter part of this century. I also am aware first hand that Japanese success goes far beyond its production processes.