Abstract
Japan's hundreds of thousands of small manufacturing enterprises not only provide high-quality inputs to large Japanese companies, but also are becoming innovators and growth generators in their own right. In addition to help from larger customers, small Japanese companies can call upon an array of public support mechanisms, including about 170 local Kohsetsushi examination and technology centers which provide research, testing, training, and guidance for firms with under 300 employees. With their intensive geographical coverage, broad range of technical services, and nominal fees, these centers offer small Japanese firms a readily available and effective source of assistance to improve their manufacturing operations, technology, and products. After reviewing the changing context for small manufacturers in Japan, the article examines the role of local Kohsetsushi centers in small firm modernization. This article considers the history, organization, and services of the Kohsetsushi system, explores the operation of five case study centers, and discusses how small Japanese firms benefit from Kohsetsushi services. Finally, there is an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the Kohsetsushi system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Freidman, David (1988).The Misunderstood Miracle: Industrial Development and Political Change in Japan. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (1980).Outline of the Small and Medium Enterprise Policies of the Japanese Government Tokyo: Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
Japan Small Business Corporation (1990).Guide to Japan Small Business Corporation. Tokyo.
Yokokura, Takashi (1988).Small and Medium Enterprises. Komiya, Ryutaro, Masahiro Okuno, and Kotaro Suzumura, eds. inIndustrial Policy of Japan. Tokyo: Academic Press Japan, pp. 513–539.
Edgington, David (January 1989).New Strategies for Technology Development in Japanese Cities and Regions. Town Planning Review, 60(1): pp. 1–27.
US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1990).Making Things Better: Competing in Manufacturing. OTA-ITA-443, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office (especially Chapter 6).
Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (1991).Small Business in Japan, 1991 White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan. Tokyo: Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
Broadbridge, Seymour (1966).Industrial Dualism in Japan: A Problem of Economic Growth and Structural Change. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Company.
Minami, Ryoshin (1986).The Economic Development of Japan. London: Macmillan.
Ballon, Robert J. and Iwao Tonita (1988).The Financial Behavior of Japanese Corporations. Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International.
Chalmers, Norma (1989).Industrial Relations in Japan: The Peripheral Workforce. London and New York: Routledge.
US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1990).Worker Training: Competing in the New International Economy. OTE-ITE-157. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office (Chapter 3).
Cairncross, David and Ronald Dore (1990).Employee Training in Japan, contract report No. L3-4335. Washington DC: Office of Technology Assessment.
Dore, Ronald (1986).Flexible Rigidities: Industrial Policy and Structural Adjustment in the Japanese Economy, 1970–80. London: The Athlone Press.
Aoki, Masahiko (1988).Informatin, Incentives, and Bargaining in the Japanese Economy. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Trevor, Malcolm, and Ian Christie (1986)Manufacturers and Suppliers in Britain and Japan. London: Policy Studies Institute.
Kiamann, Edmund (March 30, 1991).Lowly subcontractors begin to assert technological might. Japan Economic Journal.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (March 19, 1991).Roundtable discusses solutions to labor problem, FBIS-EAS-91-053, pp. 6–10.
Holland, Laura (May 4, 1991)A dark entry, an uneven life for many illegal aliens. Japan Economic Journal.
The Nikkei Weekly (October 12, 1991).Labor Shortage Heightens Demand for Industrial Robots: Small Businesses Turn to Automatons.
Ibid., Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (1991).
Ibid., Friedman.
Francks, Penelope (1984).Technology and Agricultural Development in Pre-War Japan. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Saito, Masuru (1974).Diffusion Mechanism of Technology and Industrial Transformation: Case of Small Scale Industries. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, pp. 161–176.
Shapiro, Philip (1990).Industrial Restructuring and Economic Development Strategies in a Japanese Steel Town: The Case of Kitakyushu. Town Planning Review, 61(4), pp. 389–411.
Masser, Ian (1990).Technology and Regional Development Policy. A Review of Japan's Technopolis Programme Regional Studies, 241. pp. 41–53.
US Consulate, Osaka (1991 July).Kansai's Kohsetsushi Centers Adapt to SME's Changing Needs. US Consulate Cable 91. Osaka-Kobe 1164
US Consulate, Fukuoka (1991 July)Kohsetsushi in Kyushu: Industrial Research Centers Alive and Adjusting, US Consulate Cable, 91 Fukuoka 370.
Ibid, US Consulate, Osaka.
Shapira, Philip (1990).Modernizing Manufacturing: New Policies to Build Industrial Extension Services. Washington, DC: Economic Policy Institute.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Where he teaches and conducts research on economic and regional development, industrial restructuring, and technology policy.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shapira, P. Modernizing small manufacturers in Japan: The role of local public technology centers. J Technol Transfer 17, 40–57 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02175820
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02175820