Japanese satisfied with UK suppliers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.(First Edition)
RELATIONS between Japanese companies and their suppliers in the UK have improved over the past five years to the point where some British suppliers underestimate their high standing, according to a survey published yesterday by Touche Ross, the accountants and management consultants.
The suppliers also took 'a much dimmer view of the state of the British business environment' than the Japanese companies they were serving. This was because they failed to realise how competitive the UK was in terms of quality, cost and availability of labour.
The suppliers recognise the overriding importance the Japanese attach to quality in the products they purchase and that price is secondary, the report, entitled A Happy Marriage, says.
However, they sometimes underestimate the role of what the Japanese call 'partnership', which involves commitment by a supplier to providing total satisfaction to the manufacturer. The concept also implies a long-term, family-type relationship. 'After- work socialising is a feature of business life in Japan which has been transferred to their Western operations,' Egmont Kock, a partner with Touche Ross and author of the report, said.
In addition, while the Japanese companies surveyed were generally satisfied with their UK-based suppliers (both British and Japanese), UK suppliers were rated lower than Japanese counterparts on most counts.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments