TOKYO (Oct. 12, 2006) In commemoration of its 25th anniversary, the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies at Oxford University will be hosting a series of annual lectures by Nissan Motor Co.s top executives on the companys manufacturing and revolutionary management methodologies. This years lectures, which will be held on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13, will be given by Tadao Takahashi, executive vice president of manufacturing, and Colin Dodge, senior vice president of Nissan Europe.
As a successful global automotive company, Nissans corporate citizenship extends towards promoting education and community development. The Nissan lecture series is an opportunity to share some of the secrets of Nissans corporate success with faculty and students beyond the traditional boundaries of the institutes Japanese studies, by providing examples and case studies encountered in the real-world competitive business environment.
Lecturing on the topic The Nissan Production Way (NPW) in Japan and UK, Takahashi will expand on how the NPW and the principle of dokiseisan - meaning synchronization with the customer allow Nissan to maintain flexible and integrated manufacturing, and keep lead times short. The NPW incorporates integration at supplier, global and logistics levels, contributing to Nissans distinction as the most productive manufacturer in the world. In addition, Takahashi will highlight the application of Nissans unique Cross Functional Team (CFT) as an effective management tool.
Dodge will explain how the NPW has become the international standard for manufacturing in the world, and has been adopted in all of Nissans global manufacturing facilities worldwide. The Sunderland plant in the UK is a great success story for Nissan as it is well recognized as the most productive automotive plant in the Western world today.
As part of its ongoing collaboration, Nissan will continue to explore other exchange opportunities with the Institute particularly in the areas of social contribution, guest lecturers and visiting scholars.
The Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies was established in 1981 at St. Antony's College, University of Oxford following an endowment from Nissan and has since become one of the top European centers for the study of modern Japan. By 2008, Nissans total benefaction to the Institute is expected to reach £5.6 million.
The Institutes core academic posts covers social anthropology, economics, politics and modern Japanese history, and it currently offer various degree programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels under the Social Science and Humanities studies.
For more information, please go to the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies website at
www.nissan.ox.ac.uk/.
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