colorful,lively,and fun display areas.
Of course,the name of the game here
(and,I suspect,the real draw for many
of the attendees) is samples,samples,
samples.Nearly every exhibitor,down
to the smallest booth,had some kind
of free bread,Japanese or Western
pastry,chocolate or other sweets
for the taking.The largest exhibitor areas were akin to professional
kitchen sets for television cooking shows,with many foreign bakers and
patissiers on hand to show their skills.
This year, MOBAC Show had 261 exhibitors, and over 60,000
attendees, 2,000 of which were international attendees. It seemed
that about half of the attendees were business people, and half were
members of the general public.
Though MOBAC Show is geared toward the domestic Japanese
audience, one could find some international exhibitors doing business.
For example, the Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA)
promoted the health benefits and tasty flavor of wild blueberries,
grown only in the northeast U.S. and Canada.
I assisted with the exhibition booth of JPMA, the Japan Packaging
Machinery Manufacturers Association. JPMA is the only packaging
machinery-focused association in Japan, with 253 member
companies, including 155 packaging machinery manufacturers along
with 98 packaging material manufacturers, trading companies and
packaging-related equipment manufacturers. JPMA also organizes
the Japan International Packaging Machinery Show, called JAPAN
PACK, held every other year at Tokyo Big Sight.The next JAPAN PACK
While in Tokyo, I also had the opportunity to visit JETRO’s new
headquarters, and to tour its state-of-the-art business library and
IBSC (Invest Japan Business Support Center). I encourage any of you
with plans to visit Tokyo on business in the future to please take
advantage of the fine offices and facilities available to use for free.
I recommend anyone interested in the Japanese food industry to
consider MOBAC Show a valuable experience.As a vertically integrated
show, it is an excellent opportunity to observe the various business
relationships in that market. It is also a great venue for test marketing
to the Japanese buying public.The next show will be in Osaka in 2009.
complete supply chain, from Tier 1 through
“n.” To assist executives from member
companies in this complex value chain,
OESA operates 12 peer group councils and
conducts 24 events per year. These council
meetings and events deliver value to the
membership, because OESA achieves its
mission by providing a forum for members
to address issues of common concern.
From the original equipment supplier
perspective,the automotive industry is
undergoing fundamental restructuring.This
is not just an economic cycle where everyone
is affected the same way. Many of the issues
facing the industry are common,where many
constituencies can work together to find
resolution.As an example,vehicle warranty
costs the industry $12 - 13 billion annually,
equivalent to approximately 2 percent of
sales. As the industry continues to globalize
its vehicle production and component
sourcing footprint,vehicles become more
complex and warranty terms become more
comprehensive and long term. It also
becomes increasingly important to have the
ability to prevent – or quickly and effectively
resolve – warranty issues so there is no
recurrence in same or future models.
Suppliers and vehicle manufacturers must
focus on consumer satisfaction,because an
emphasis on warranty cost reduction alone
will not achieve the objective. This different
focus or change in mindset will inevitably
address the issues of vehicle manufacturers,
dealers and suppliers,while at the same
time yielding consumer satisfaction – the
key to mutual success. A joint effort of the
Original Equipment SuppliersAssociation
and the Automotive Industry Action
Group is,in fact,addressing this important
quality issue. Leading the way are team
members fromToyota Motor Engineering &
Manufacturing NorthAmerica,Inc.,General
Motors Corporation,Ford Motor Company
and 15 OESA member companies.
At the seminar in April,JETRO Chicago
helped all participants to learn more about
monozukuri,including how NorthAmerican
and Japanese enterprises can better enhance
collaboration and sustain a culture of
manufacturing talent. Also in the mindset
of monozukuri,OESA is initiating two
new activities. First,OESA is planning an
event where NorthAmerican suppliers can
develop closer collaboration with Japanese
companies. This OESA event on July 24,
2007 will address how NorthAmerican
suppliers of excellence can work more
effectively to sell their innovative products
to new domestic vehicle manufacturers
via theTier 1 supplier. In addition,OESA is
launching a Product Development Council
where members will meet quarterly to share
their insights and experiences associated
with effective innovation and product
development.
Activities such as these are critically
important to sustain the competitiveness
of the global automotive industry, because
collaboration – a core principle of OESA
– cannot be realized without an active,
collaborative environment. That is why
OESA is so pleased to have opportunities
to work with JETRO Chicago to bring North
American and Japanese firms together.
For collaboration to be effective, it must
occur throughout the entire supply chain.
OESA, through its own activities and in
support of organizations such as JETRO
Chicago, is positioned to help members
in the automotive industry. This thinking,
truly, is in the mindset of monozukuri.
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