1950∼60년대 일본 미싱 산업의 성장과 경쟁력 요인에 관한 재고찰

Rethinking the Growth and Competitiveness Factors of the Japanese Sewing Machine Industry in the 1950s and 1960s

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to reexamine the growth and competitiveness factors of the Japanese sewing machine industry in the 1950s and 1960s. Specifically, this study reexamines whether the assembly method, which previous studies have recognized as the most competitive production method, is actually the case. Research design, data, and methodology: The research design is to compare the competitiveness of each production method in the entire process of the sewing industry, from parts production to assembly. The research data required for this was obtained through materials from sewing industry-related associations, articles from sewing magazines at the time, and government reports. The analysis methodology employed was the historical analysis method, that is, the method of discovering facts and clarifying the causal relationship between them. Results: The analysis results revealed the following points. Namely, parts by the assembly method did not ensure interchangeability and had a high rate of quality defects. Therefore, sales in the United States were sold under the brand of local importers, and sales in the Japanese domestic market were also sluggish. In other words, the assembly method by small businesses was only widely used as a transitional period before large companies with a mass production system. Implications: The implications of this study are as follows. It is generally known that the industrial policy to foster industry in Japan in the 1950s and 1960s was successful. However, in the case of the sewing machine industry, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry failed to grasp the reality of the industry, but the industry grew. The industry did not succeed because of the industrial policy.