East Meets West: IOMI® Goes to Japan!

| Japan |

We often hear about the differences between American and Japanese work cultures. For example, Japanese business people tend to be very subtle when expressing opinions, often relying on non-verbal communication, assuming that others will understand their meaning. And unlike individualistic thinking Americans, Japanese workers typically conform to group consensus, seeking to create harmony rather than call attention to one’s self.

Ed Katz, “Preacher Ed” of the International Office Moving Institute (IOMI®) experienced these differences firsthand as he introduced IOMI® to Japan at the request of one of that country’s most successful office movers.

From May 15-19, 2017, the self-proclaimed, self-ordained “minister of office moving” delivered several speeches in Tokyo, Hamamatsu, and Shin Osaka, and presented at the world headquarters of Kaneka, a $5+ billion diversified company with global locations.

Ed showed the Japanese movers how IOMI® teaches the moving industry to estimate office moves accurately by using a scientifically based man-hour formula instead of the traditional household goods’ “cube and pounds” method, which amounts to little more than a coin toss guesstimate.

And while the Japanese are obsessed with providing excellent customer service and delivering exceptional results, it was clear from the question-and-answer sessions after each presentation that there are certain realities that must be considered when doing business in Japan. Here are a few examples:

Land & Square Foot Costs – Slightly smaller in area than California, Japan squeezes 100 million people into a country that’s 5% (1/20th) the size of the US, which means that undeveloped land doesn’t exist and the price per square foot is outrageously expensive. IOMI®’s floating method calls for leaving furniture on dollies on the floor of the truck until ready to be moved. Unfortunately, with land and warehouse space so expensive in Japan, office movers there say they can’t afford to store the hundreds of extra dollies required to implement the floating method. Therefore, they end up placing furniture on dollies to load them into the truck, then removing the dollies and re-placing furniture on dollies at the destination. This ‘double handling’ approach takes more time and increases the risk of damage as well as worker injuries.

Use of Part-Time Employees – Japanese movers always use full-time employees with high skill and experience levels. So even when business is slow, these workers are still on the payroll.

No Bucket Brigades – Unlike American movers, who pass furniture down (or up) the line in the placement of their moving crews, in Japan, whoever places the furniture on the dolly pushes it all the way onto the truck and sets it in place. Without criticizing their methods, Ed gently pointed out that the IOMI® bucket brigade method enables supervisors to measure productivity so they can better manage and supervise crews. For example, with the IOMI® bucket brigade, if a crew member is not working as fast and efficiently as the rest of the crew, it becomes readily apparent because the furniture stalls or backs up. Without the bucket brigade, each employee works at his own pace, which could interfere with group productivity. Ed pointed out that “slackers” pull the rest of the crew down to their level and that if everyone is being paid the same wage regardless of level of effort, where is the motivation to work at maximum productivity. Of course this is where cultural differences really come to the surface: Japanese workers are dedicated to the success of the group vs. the individual, so many would probably find it inconceivable to think about a co-worker as a ‘slacker.’

Carpet & Floor Protection – No movers in Japan use Masonite® or carpet mask, preferring Polynite® for floor protection. Unlike the competition that has a similar product, only Polynite® is guaranteed not to curl, bow, or bend after it’s installed. Such bending or curling could cause a mover or the client’s employee to trip and fall over the raised section causing a worker’s comp claim.

Processing Times – Japanese workers spend more time processing their work than do American workers and often that’s simply because Japanese companies and their leaders are reluctant to change. Such attitudes can make it difficult to introduce new methods, even if they will bring about greater efficiency.

Sense of Humor – Last but not least, nobody in Japan thought that Ed Katz was funny. No one laughed at his silly jokes and humor. The Japanese are very focused and serious people. It’s a good thing that he’s 72-years-old because their lack of appreciation for his antics sailed right over his head.

Despite these obvious cultural differences, Ed’s trip was a success on many levels. And while adopting IOMI®’s methods may take time in Japan, in the end the goals are the same: provide clients with the best possible service and customer experience, minimize risk to furniture, and decrease worker injury. Those are goals that translate well into ANY language!

Here are some fun photos from Ed’s Asian tour!

Henry Masuda, Polynite® sales executive and Ed’s interpreter.

Ed presented at Kaneka, a $5 billion diversified company, at their world headquarters in Osaka, Japan.

Japan has 100 million people in a country that’s smaller than California. When the crosswalk light turned from red to green, this is what we experienced!

(L-R) Henry Motohisa Masuda, Sanvic, Inc., Sales Executive and interpreter; Ed Katz, IOMI®; Motokazu Miwa, President, Sanvic, Inc.; Etsuo Yoshiike, Division Manager, Kaneka.

While in Japan, Ed toured the plant where Polynite® is manufactured.

So many pallets of Polynite® were being prepared for shipping that they had to temporarily stage many outside.

In the short time that Ed was touring the Polynite® plant, trucks were backed up loading Polynite® to be distributed all over the US, Japan, and now Europe.

During the “Q & A” session, Ed learned that his Japanese students were surprised American movers use Masonite® or carpet mask. They prefer Polynite® to protect floors during a move.

In Japan, every square inch of space is used for productive means. Right next to the Polynite® factory was a newly seeded rice paddy.

There is a least one shrine or temple in every Japanese city. Ed tried to “recruit” students for his office moving seminar at this famous Buddhist temple.

With road space at a premium, public transportation takes many forms.