SYSTEMS-ENGINEERING - FOR BETTER ENGINEERING

The complexities of today's products and the techniques needed to make them have made systems engineering methods essential to effective competition. The ability of the Japanese to make products of high quality, low cost and strong consumer appeal is based on the application of many methodologies and technologies within such an approach. The whole activity is supported by the relentless use of kaizen, continuous improvement against benchmark measures of performance. The Toyota production system (TPS), typifies the best features of this approach to the promotion of industrial competitiveness and growth. In many ways the precursor to today's practice of business process reengineering, the TPS proved particularly well matched to the Japanese dedication to detail and the pursuit of perfection.