--- description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. title: No Substitute for Quality image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # No Substitute for Quality In the face of competition from low-cost rivals, Japanese manufacturing has leveraged its most important unique selling point for generations. The pursuit of quality, despite higher cost and price, has always defined the nation’s business practices,and even in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, modern standard bearers show no willingness to compromise. Across a wide range of sectors and industries, Japanese businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector, remain committed to the traditional tenet of monozukuri —prioritizing the best possible quality. “Customers often demand good products at low prices, but in reality, such a combination rarely exists. Instead, we focus on understanding what our customers consider a good product and strive to meet those expectations,” said Eiki Tsushima, president of FJ Composite Materials Co., Ltd. “The secret to sustained success is maintaining a mindset that continuously seeks new challenges and breakthroughs,” he added. Monozukuri is a vital principle for Sugawa Shatai Co., Ltd., according to Executive Managing Director Takayuki Sugawa. “When it comes to the competitive advantage of monozukuri, it all relates to quality. We continually strive to make our products more durable and easier to maintain. Companies always look to hear the voices of their clients, which differentiates them from their counterparts overseas,” said Sugawa. Hideki Moriguchi, president of Nippon ITF Inc., said, “Japanese people have a good spirit, focusing on manufacturing products at the absolute best quality, without the need for conscious thought. “Our concept of monozukuri relates to this, with many people making their best efforts to make something without any mistakes,” he added. Takae Nishizawa, representative director and CEO of Nishizawa Electric Meters Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and NEITZ Co., Ltd., agreed. “Our competitive power and the aspect that sets us apart from other competitors is the idea of Japanese craftsmanship. In the past, China rose up as a competitor, and many large companies in Japan outsourced production to benefit from the lower costs. Despite this, many are now returning to Japan,” Nishizawa said. “The timing is right for us to make the most of it—Japan can float to the top again and shine in the international market,” she added. Hiromi Ishizuka, CEO and representative director of Tomei Diamond Co., Ltd., is also a firm believer in Japan’s quality USP. “The ‘adding value’ area that we are concerned about is the stability of our quality. When we sell parts, all of them require strict quality control to ensure top-quality performance. Clients can get inexpensive parts from China. However, they come to us at a higher price, and what they get in return is the peace of mind that we have the highest quality,” she said. For equipment manufacturing companies, such as Tenryu Saw Mfg. Co., Ltd., a crucial factor in the coming years will be balancing the need for labor-saving automation with preserving the artisan skills that set them apart. “There is still a part of our manufacturing that requires the craftsmanship of skilled humans. We are constantly thinking of ways to automate, but we always test young workers in that manual production to discover their talents and strengths,” said President Takaaki Oishi. “Our focus is to balance the combination of integrating more automation with preserving the accumulated know-how and skills from our workers to improve our efficiency,” he added. This drive for automated efficiency while retaining quality also holds true for iron casting firm Nabeya Corporation, according to President Tomohiko Okamoto. “We focus on not just iron casting, but also more modern techniques such as digital design and surface processing. Currently, there are pressing concerns about how companies can further automate to improve efficiency,” said Okamoto. “In this area, we are producing components specifically to be used in the next generation of robots and machine tools,” he added. Precision components manufacturer Hikari Seiko Co., Ltd. has enjoyed working with some of the biggest and most well-known Japanese brands as a result of its reputation for quality. “We have been very fortunate as a company. Originally, we worked with Mazda, and this then led to working with the Toyota Group, which now accounts for 80% of our total sales,” said President Masayoshi Nishimura. “Our commitment to quality and our sincere approach have ensured that we meet the needs of all of our clients, which is another reason for our success, in my opinion,” he added. 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