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Researcher information
Takefumi MOKUDAI
Professor
Department of Business and Technology Management
Faculty of Economics
Last modified date:2024.04.26
Graduate SchoolProfessor
Department of Business and Technology Management
Faculty of Economics
Last modified date:2024.04.26
Homepage |
https://kyushu-u.elsevierpure.com/en/persons/takefumi-mokudai
Reseacher Profiling Tool Kyushu University Pure
Reseacher Profiling Tool Kyushu University Pure
Phone |
092-802-5468
Academic Degree |
Ph.D
Country of degree conferring institution (Overseas) |
No
Field of Specialization |
Management of Technology, Corporate Strategy
ORCID(Open Researcher and Contributor ID) |
0000-0002-8851-1483
Total Priod of education and research career in the foreign country |
00years03months
Outline Activities |
I resarch strategic management on technology in automotive industry. Current research topics are 1) architectural analysis on module strategy of automakers; 2) evolution of suppler systems; and 3) development of automotive parts clusters in Kyushu, Tohoku and Chugoku region in Japan.
I teach Strategic Management and Production Operations Management at Kyushu University Business School (QBS) and seminar for doctoral students at AMS.
Social activities: 1)Lecturer of corporate education for engineers and managers; 2) Member of advisory committees on industrial policies for automotive industry in Kyushu and Chugoku region.
I teach Strategic Management and Production Operations Management at Kyushu University Business School (QBS) and seminar for doctoral students at AMS.
Social activities: 1)Lecturer of corporate education for engineers and managers; 2) Member of advisory committees on industrial policies for automotive industry in Kyushu and Chugoku region.
Research |
Research Interests
Membership in Academic Society
- Analysis on strategies for vehicle electrification from real option reasoning approach
keyword : electric vehicle, uncertainty, real option, strategy
2016.04~2019.03. - Module strategy in automotive industry
keyword : automotive industry, modularity, architecture, production strategy
2002.04. - Development of cluster of automotive suppliers
keyword : automotive industry, suppliers, industrial cluster
2001.04.
- Lean Production System (LPS) has been introduced not only by manufacturing but also service sectors across the world.
However, not all firms have succeeded in introducing and running the LPS. As noted later, we consider that one of major causes of the failure can be attributed to insufficient visualization of the lean transformation process and its consequences.
For this reason, this project aims at (1) developing mapping tools, which visually represent value creating processes in a production line; (2) defining metrics to measure consequences of the lean transformation. With these analytical tools, the project empirically assesses interlinkages of the introduction of LPS practices, lean transformation, and economic consequences. - This study focuses on the meanings and impacts of modular strategies, e.g. Volkswagen’s Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB), Nissan’s Common Module Family (CMF), Mazda’s Common Architecture, and Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). We collectively call these vehicle development initiatives “Mega-platforms,” and analyze influences of mega-platforms to production systems and supply chain.
Papers
1. | Martin Schröder, Takefumi Mokudai, Marvin Müller, Joachim Metternich, Varieties of digitalisation? Theoretical explanations of German and Japanese digitalisation approaches in the automotive industry, Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies, https://doi.org/10.30965/25217038-01501002, 15, 1, 3-31, 2024.04, [URL], It has been observed that automotive firms in Japan follow a distinct approach of using digitalisation, especially in comparison to the German approach towards “Industry 4.0.” Theoretical explanations for the distinct way in which Japanese automotive firms deploy digital technologies in Japan will be explored and contrasted with the case of Germany. As firm strategy appears to differ between different locations, the Varieties of Capitalism (VoC) approach is one analytical lens that may help to understand different firm behaviour and different skill formation approaches towards the use of digital technologies in both countries. While VoC provides some insights, it is nevertheless concluded that more empirical research is needed to link theoretical constructs and actual use cases.. |
2. | Takefumi Mokudai, Innovation dynamics in car production technology: Network analysis of structural adhesives, Paper presented at 30th International Colloquium of Gerpisa, 2022.06. |
3. | Takefumi Mokudai, Martin Schröder, Marvin Müller, Carsten Schaede, Hajo Holst, Robert Sinopoli, Ulrich Jürgens, Gary Herrigel, and Katsuki Aoki, Digital technologies as lean augmentation: A preliminary study of Japanese automotive manufacturers, International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 10.1504/IJATM.2021.116607, 21, 3, 228-249, 2021.07, [URL], characterised by the lean principle, address digital transformation. We conducted case studies of seven Japanese car makers and suppliers to investigate the interplay between lean production and digitalisation. We found that the firms selectively adopted digital technologies to enhance the existing lean production system. We labelled this type of digitalisation ‘lean augmentation’. Further, we developed theoretical hypotheses regarding the potential of digitalisation to limit kaizen, the roles of human involvement and organisational coordination in digitalised manufacturing, and the potential risk of lean augmentation being caught by what we term the ‘lean trap’.. |
4. | MOKUDAI Takefumi, Strategic flexibility in shifting to electrification: A real options reasoning perspective on Toyota and Nissan, International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 10.1504/IJATM.2020.108583, 20, 2, 137-155, 2020.07, [URL], This paper addresses commitment versus flexibility in the face of uncertainties about the electrification of vehicle powertrain technologies. A real options reasoning perspective is employed to analyse the potential option structures and underlying logic behind the strategies of Toyota and Nissan. The case analyses indicate that the Japanese carmakers have (compound) options to expand their electrified powertrain portfolios and switch battery sources. The findings also suggest that the stability of powertrain design rules serves as a foundation of real options and that carmakers' approaches to balancing the commitment to, and flexibility for, particular strategic actions are influenced by the nature of the uncertainties. Further, firms' perceptional and behavioural biases over uncertainties will affect the execution or abandonment of the options.. |
5. | Zuhara Chavez, Takefumi Mokudai, Divergence between Value Stream Mapping Western Understanding and Material and Information Flow Chart Principles: A Japanese Automotive Supplier’s Perspective, Journal of Service Science and Management, 10.4236/jssm.2018.112016, 11, 2, 219-241, 2018.04, Through visualization, mapping techniques help manufacturing organizations prioritize and guide improvement strategies. For this reason, mapping of the value chain is applied as a method of progress toward lean manufacturing. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the essence of the material and information flow chart (MIFC) approach, known as value stream mapping (VSM) in the West, to provide a different perspective and understanding and to identify its manner of integration with measurement systems. Metrics complement mapping tools allow the tracking of various stages of an organization’s lean journey and continuous improvement (CI). While the time dimension is predominant in performance metrics in lean environments, these metrics do not link the economic factor directly to improvements. The research comprises a case study in which lessons are learned from tool placing and metric determination. Empirical research included critical case sampling and semi-structured interviews, and data were analyzed to compare the conventional Western understanding of VSM with that of a Japanese supplier that learned the principles directly from the source and applied their own version of MIFC. An understanding of the tool based on core knowledge will enable organizations to reevaluate their current measurement systems and choose more suitable ones.. |
6. | Selection of Electrification Technologies of Automotive Powertrains and Uncertainty Management Strategy. |
7. | Design Principles of Renault-Nissan’s Common Module Family and Mazda’s Common Architecture. |
8. | 目代 武史, Will Cars Be Modularized? New Vehicle Development Approaches of Renault-Nissan and Mazda, Proceedings of Scientific Forum for Mobility 2015, 2015.06, This study illustrates Renault-Nissan’s Common Module Family (CMF) and Mazda’s Common Architecture (CA), and discusses their differences and implications for modular product development. Global carmakers face a dilemma of emergent markets. Growing demands in emergent markets have put pressures to develop wider variety of models at lower costs, while tightening requirements on vehicle safety and fuel economy have increased complexity of vehicle engineering. Realization of modularity is one of solutions for the dilemma between cost reduction via commonality and enhancement of vehicle performance and variety. Renault-Nissan’s CMF is an approach that creates various models by changing combinations of four physical modules and a set of electric/electronic units. The four modules include engine compartment, cockpit, front and rear under bodies. Each has two to three variations, e.g. light, middle, and heavy under bodies. Majority of engineering works will complete by selecting modules from the matrix of the modules and their pre-developed variants. Mazda takes a different approach. Although it retains traditional platform structure, CA creates various models flexibly by copying the common design rules, e.g. engineering principles and standard structures, to successive models in the same shape but in different size. The study discusses why the two Japanese carmakers take different approaches to meet the same challenge. With larger product variety, sales volume and more production plants Renault-Nissan can justify heavier investments in its advanced development to build finer matrix of the technological platform, i.e. CMF, while Mazda, with annual sales of only 1.3 million units, prefers a less modularized approach. . |
9. | Localization of parts supply toward strengthening competitiveness of Automotive industry in Kyushu. |
10. | Achievements and challengs of module strategy in automotive industry: A comparative study of European and Japanese automakers. |
11. | Transformation in product architecture and dynamics of product development organizations: A case study on product development of an automotive center panel module. |
Presentations
- Academy of Management
- Gerpisa
- The International Association of Engineers
- The Academic Association for Organizational Science
- Japan Society of Business Administration
- Japan Academy of International Business Studies
- Japan Academy of Small Business Studies
Educational |
Educational Activities
I teach Strategic Management and Production Operations Management at Kyushu University Business School (QBS) as well as Advanced Study on Automotive Science E at Department of Automotive Science (AMS), Graduate School of Integrated Sciences.
Since QBS is a professional school, the majority of students have around 10 years working experiences. To take full advantage of the working profiles of the students, I use interactive teaching methods, such as class discussion, group works, and case teaching methods in addition to ordinary lectures.
At AMS I am in charge only of doctoral programs. We address research questions inspired from actual problems in the industry from an academic perspective.
Currently seminars are taken place for master's and doctoral students. Students survey and discuss intensively academic literatures on strategic management on technology and innovations. Field research such as plant tour to local automakers and suppliers are also implemented.
Since QBS is a professional school, the majority of students have around 10 years working experiences. To take full advantage of the working profiles of the students, I use interactive teaching methods, such as class discussion, group works, and case teaching methods in addition to ordinary lectures.
At AMS I am in charge only of doctoral programs. We address research questions inspired from actual problems in the industry from an academic perspective.
Currently seminars are taken place for master's and doctoral students. Students survey and discuss intensively academic literatures on strategic management on technology and innovations. Field research such as plant tour to local automakers and suppliers are also implemented.
Social |
Professional and Outreach Activities
Instructor in training program, "Tourism development and environmental protection" at JICA Chugoku from 2002 to 2005. .
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