Departments
Intermediate Japanese - Free Online Course
Shigeo Shingo
新江滋生
Shigeo Shingo
(1909-1990)
Shigeo Shingo is not as well known as Edwards Deming or Taiichi Ohno, but he deserves considerable credit for his contributions to the development of Japan’s postwar development as an industrial power. Shingo is author of more than a dozen books about plant management and quality control. He is credited with the concept of poka-yoke (ポカヨケ), among other innovations.
Born in Saga City, Japan in 1909, Shingo received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yamanashi Technical College in 1930. Following his graduation, Shingo worked at the Taipei Railway Factory in Taiwan. During his time at Taipei Railway, he implemented the Scientific Management practices of Frederick Winslow Taylor.
After WWII, Shingo worked as a management consultant with the Japan Management Association. He subsequently trained employees at Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company. He emphasized improving processes rather than simply exhorting employees to “work harder” or “produce fewer defects.” Shingo’s work at these major corporations was a force behind the “process orientation” which is common in Japanese companies of all sizes.
In the 1970s he began traveling overseas to speak about process improvement and to train workers. Outside Japan, he trained workers at Federal Mogul, Daimler-Benz, and Citroen. He also lectured at numerous universities.
Shingo died in November 1990 at the age of 81.