The lean Japanese production systems that brought success to that country's manufacturing industries have reached their limits. Now even major Japanese companies are struggling in the fiercely competitive global market.

This book examines the question of how to restructure robust technology bases to enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing industries. The author suggests alternatives such as developing flexible and robust technologies and accumulating all associated technological information to restructure robust technology bases. The newly developed technologies can then be applied to develop new products. The author presents stategies to popularize robust engineering and ways to develop them within any manufacturing company. He emphasizes thinking and project formulating processes behind the development of robust technologies.