Japanese Watch Makers Trade Uncertainty for Reliability - By: Mitch Endick

To fully understand the history of Japanese watch making, we need to go back to the end of World War II. From the ashes of war, Japanese manufacturers have created a well deserved reputation for producing competitively priced and highly reliable consumers products.

With an economy in complete collapse and an infrastructure that was completely destroyed, post war Japan was in a shambles. Whatever remained of Japans commercial sector was faced with limited access to raw materials, machine tooling and electricity. Even basic needs like food and fresh water were in short supply.

Through a painfully slow process, Japan began rebuilding its shattered economy. Early attempts at production were plagued by quality problems and shortages. A great deal of emphasis was placed on producing goods for export and doing so in a hurry. As a result, the term Made in Japan became synonymous with poor quality. Some Japanese entrepreneurs saw the chance to turn tragedy into turnaround and began to work on products that would forever change the perception of Japanese products.

Japanese entrepreneurs quickly learned to do more with less. This process became the basis for the Japanese manufacturing model, model that has swept the through the manufacturing world. Adopting strict quality standards and strategies such as designing products in a way that makes the production process more efficient, the Japanese helped to reinvent the production process. The new philosophy was grounded in a philosophy that integrated design and manufacturing functions. As a result production efficiency and quality increased.

While much of Europe suffered tremendously after the war, the Swiss were largely spared the terrible effects of the war. The Swiss had established a reputation for craftsmanship and quality. The Swiss has long been known for producing fine watches and clocks and optics. The Swiss had more in common with Japan then first meets the eye. Both countries are relatively small and lack many of the natural resources found in abundance in other parts of the world. The two countries also shared an intense passion for precision.

The Japanese has the help of several former adversaries, including and principally the United States. Through the efforts of Americans like Dr. W. Edward Deming, Japanese manufacturing was reshaped in a way that continues today and has become recognized around the world. Working with other like minded professionals Deming helped the Japanese set up new systems of quality control, product design and production. In a complete departure from prior practices, the quality control process moved from the end of the production line into the product engineering department. Using Demings Fourteen Principles, many Japanese companies incorporated the engineering philosophy of design for manufacturability. The result as they say is history.

The quality of consumer goods produced by Japanese companies extended into precision products like watches and other time keeping devices. Founded in 1930, the Citizen Watch Company has been producing precision wrist watches and timepieces and the lessons of Dr. Deming were not lost on the Citizen Company. Citizen was into an era of growth through producing very precise watch components that featured greater reliability and ease of repair.

Founded in Nineteen Thirteen, the Seiko Company was a major of clocks and watches, producing its first wrist watches with the brand name of Seiko brand name first appearing on watches in Nineteen Twenty Four. Despite their long history, Seiko, like the rest of Japans commercial sector, was crippled by the war and had much to overcome during their journey into the future. Like Citizen, Seiko adopted many of Demings Fourteen Principles and, like the Citizen Company, have become a brand name synonymous with innovation and quality.

About the Author

Mitch Endick is a staff writer for the quality online store LaneReclinerSale.com LaneReclinerSale.com offers quality recliners by Lane. Visit LaneReclinerSale.com today for Lane Lane Comfort King, Big Man and Lift Chair recliners.

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