It bolsters the region's position as an important area for Japanese manufacturing in Britain.

Initially, the Americans were eager to see how Japanese manufacturing and management practices worked here.

Japanese manufacturing is very diversified, with a variety of advanced industries that are highly successful.

"American manufacturing in the old days closely resembles Japanese manufacturing today," he wrote.

Japanese business has made substantial advances and much Japanese manufacturing is carried on there.

The principle of supplier associations originated from Japanese manufacturing where they are widespread.

Plastics makers are among the many segments of Japanese manufacturing that have begun to move overseas to cut costs, notably to China.

As Chinese imports eat into Japanese manufacturing, factory job offers here are down by a third from last year's levels.

More and more low-cost Japanese manufacturing is being shipped over there.

He is regarded as having had more impact upon Japanese manufacturing and business than any other individual not of Japanese heritage.