Strategic Cost Reduction Through Mutual Relationships Between Companies, Industry Groups and Government

The following sections are included:

• The Structure of Strategic Cost Reduction in Japan Today

  • Cost reduction strategies by industry groups and company groups

    • Cost reduction led by the industry groups

    • Cost reduction in company groups

  • Cost reduction in industry as a whole by government participation

  • Functions of Industrial Structure Council

• Case Study of the Automobile Industry

• Cost Reduction in the Iron and Steel Industry

  • Plans for rationalization

  • The limits of co-operation and the MITI's change of function

  • Merger of the Yahata Iron Manufacture and the Fuji Iron Manufacture

• Mutual Relationships between Government and the Industry Group

  • The chronological continuation of behaviour patterns of the companies, the industry groups and government

  • Relationships between companies during industrial rationalization

  • Techniques in cost reduction of the industrial group

• Conclusion

• References