I am Yoshida, president of Yamada Shusei Ltd., a professional apparel clothing repair company in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.
At work, we are told, "Give me the numbers! " and "Be more efficient!
For me, too, "improving productivity" is one of the challenges I face.
However, "efficiency" can also have the risk of losing opportunities and creativity if it is taken too far.
Peter Drucker said, "Productivity is more about quality than quantity”.
Focusing only on speed and quantity does not lead to added value.In the case of "repair," deviating from the regular manufacturing process is inefficient in itself.
There are also times when we have to deal with the shortcomings that arise with new materials and processes through trial and error. In addition, from a sales perspective, communication is also necessary to confirm the client's state of distress behind the visible request.
This movement, which is different from the flow of efficiently processing what has been decided in the shortest time, is also an important element of "added value in repair”.
Efficiency is an important aspect of business, but if we pursue only efficiency, we may lose our long-term perspective and creativity. The reality is that things are not always as they seem, but we should keep in mind that "efficiency" is a means, not an end, and that we should enjoy our work and not miss out on business opportunities.
