Abstract

Strategic international standardization is a marketing force that opens up new markets!

International standardization is emerging as a major theme in the business world. This is because the importance of international rule-making is increasing in promoting innovation, business creation, and market creation.

In fact, if a company's technology is recognized internationally, it can expand its business on a large scale, reduce costs, and improve the company's international competitiveness. However, in this area, Japan lags behind Europe and other major countries. As a result, Japan has accumulated bitter experiences in various fields of "winning in technology but losing in business."

One of the reasons cited for this is that Japan's efforts in international standardization rely heavily on the activities of a few researchers and other individuals. In Japan, there is a lack of understanding of international standards among management, and there is a severe shortage of personnel to promote international standards.

In response to these challenges, the author, who took the lead in international standardization activities at IDEC, which was selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a "company whose efforts in multifaceted rule-making activities were highly evaluated," has written this book to share his experiences.

The author points out that "international standardization can be an extremely powerful tool for improving industrial competitiveness, but how to carry it out is largely unknown." Therefore, this book reveals, in full detail, the methods and know-how for conducting international standardization activities, based on the author's own five successful experiences.

Distinguishing itself from a "commentary" on international standards, this book is a "practical guide" to international standardization activities, and will be useful for many business people, from startups and small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporations and academia.

Author’s Information

Special Advisor and Chief Safety, Health and Well-being Officer at IDEC / Chairman and Representative Director of Japan Certification Co., Ltd. / Visiting Professor at the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University. Graduated from the Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka University, with a PhD in Engineering. Joined Panasonic in 1980, and in 1992 joined IDEC, one of the founders of his father, where he promoted various technological developments and commercializations as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Technology Manager. He served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Control Safety Committee of the Japan Electrical Control Technology Manufacturers Association (until 2024), Director and Executive Committee Chairman of the Global Safety Promotion Organization (IGSAP) (until 2026), Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Fine Bubble Industry Association (FBIA), and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Global Initiative for Safety, Health and Well-being for All (GISHW). He has consistently pursued business creation through the utilization of international standardization and certification as his policy. Through the GISHW event at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, he established a platform connecting with 68 countries. He advocates the Open & Closed Strategy 2.0 and is currently practicing and promoting its activities at Osaka University. The company has received numerous awards, including the Prime Minister's Award at the 2022 "Industrial Standardization Business Awards" presented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.