In the 1970s, a trend emerged in the United States that belittled manufacturing, with many people believing that manufacturing had become a declining industry. During this period, Japanese manufacturing companies represented by Toyota rose to prominence, delivering a significant impact on the U.S. Americans felt that they were not only losing to the Japanese in terms of products but also in management styles. As a result, they began contemplating how to reclaim their advantage in manufacturing.
Under the leadership of Lehigh University in the U.S., and with the support of the U.S. Department of Defense, a research project commenced, involving the participation of over a hundred companies. Ultimately, based on this research, in 1991, three professors from Lehigh University—Kenneth Preiss, Steven L. Goldman, and Roger N. Nagel—...