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Article Title:
Evaluation of the Nissan Plant Management System as a global improvement tool and the role of Hoshins
by A. Nicolaides and P. Harding

Abstract:
This paper examines the Nissan Plant Management System (NPMS) as a global improvement tool and examines the roles of Hoshin kanri (policy management) in middle and shop floor management in Nissan South Africa (NSA). How Nissan achieves synchronisation with its customers and how it identifies production problems and puts solutions in place are also aspects which are investigated. The great success of Japanese management techniques such as the NPMS and the role of hoshins in this success should generally serve as an example to companies who are serious about quality outputs. Such innovative techniques can and should be applied to many industries. In a continual modality of quality improvement, workers are given both the authority and responsibility to enhance their performance and this is important for management practitioners to note if success is to be achieved.

Keywords: quality, innovation, management systems, processes, performance.

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