Beyond World-Class Productivity: Industrial Engineering Practice and Theory

Industrial engineering is not known for its contribution to management requirements, which can be both challenging and varied. However, productivity and profitability are subjects that preoccupy manufacturers, distributors, warehouse managers and third-party logistics firms, many of which are multinational companies that cater to an end customer thousands of miles away. Industrial engineers must therefore follow a balance between maintaining a commitment to basic traditional tools that have been proven to improve productivity and keeping up with the evolution of their profession by staying informed about and trained in modern approaches.

This ＂balance＂ of essential information, theory, case studies, and a thorough examination of many timeless applications for productivity and profitability is evidenced in Beyond World-Class Productivity. It serves as a practical, informative source of information in the field of industrial engineering because it is neither an instruction manual nor a theoretical textbook. Practical examples and commentary come from the author’s 40 years of real-world experience on the shop floor and in the boardroom.

Industrial engineering has a tendency to devote its time to ＂non-real gain＂ activities, or to making small improvements occasionally with a small-cycle time reduction. The effect of this ＂improvement＂ is calculated by annual reduced cycle time - an effect which consequently is practically invisible.

Instead, industrial engineers should aim to achieve real gain; for example, reducing the allocated number of workers to reduce paid hours immediately, but accruing the same or more powerful results. Management, particularly in human resources departments, is most interested in this type of gain and industrial engineering should be a department that fosters such connections with management. Industrial engineering tools are effective enough to support management with these goals in mind.

Shigeyasu Sakamoto is a management consultant in productivity improvement and president of Productivity Partner Incorporation. Before his current appointment, Dr Sakamoto was vice president of Maynard MEC AB (Sweden) and vice president of JMAC (Japan).

Dr Sakamoto is a Fellow at the World Academy of Productivity Science. He received his doctorate degree of policy science from the Graduate School of Doshisha University in Japan and is certified as a P.E. by the Japanese government. He is also certified as an industrial engineer by the European Institute of Industrial Engineers, an MTM instructor by the International MTM Directorate (IMD), and a MOST instructor by Maynard Management Institute. He worked for the IMD as the technical coordinator responsible for developing a new system of MTM. Dr Sakamoto is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers. He is also a Work Factor and Mento Factor Instructor for WOFAC Corporation.

Dr. Sakamoto has published many books and papers in English and Japanese regarding productivity, industrial engineering and work measurement. Recently, he explored the subject of company dignity through experiences as management consultant of productivity. Dr. Sakamoto insists that the fundamentals for a higher level of Syakaku* are only achieveable through a higher level of profitability based on a higher level of productivity.

*Shakaku is company dignity; that is, intentional management of the compatibility of social and economical items, and reconsideration of wealth or welfare.