The factory has overcome its old image as a source of noise pollution and become an exhibition hall. The employees now take greater care to keep the shop in order, and they have also become more conscious of productivity. In addition, they now naturally exchange gestures of greeting with people on the street, and the relationship between the factory and the neighborhood has improved greatly. The fourth point is to keep an open mind toward new business opportunities. Out of the more than 2,100 factories that I have visited, the ones that really stood out were places where a third of the products being made had been developed or had their manufacturing processes radically altered within the previous five years.
New challenges can be a source of energy.
I want to see smaller companies continue to challenge themselves with innovations. Even if a particular project fails, the company gains experience and receives a boost to its image by working to innovate. Number five is to latch onto the information age. In particular this means taking advantage of the Internet. The birth of the Internet means that for the first time in history smaller businesses have access to a fast and inexpensive method of publicizing their products and services to a diverse audience.