Human Factors Which Have Helped Japanese Industrialization

Abstract

Human factors research in Japan dates from the 1920s. Japanese human factors research has followed labor science approaches and systems approaches for improving man-machine systems. European influences are recognized in the former approaches, while American influences are noticeable in the latter. Since its foundation in 1964, the Japan Ergonomics Research Society has been working as the base for human factors studies and activities. The professional fields of the society's members are greatly different from those of the American counterparts. Activities related to the automobile and steel industries and to the Shinkansen Line are described as characteristic examples in the Japanese human factors field. The system capabilities and lifetime employment institution peculiar to Japan have made great contributions to these research activities. One of the major problems which faces Japanese human factors specialists is how to assign to humans and machines the jobs which call for intellectual and sensory functions.