Our Founder: Akira koudate

Born in 1925, he is a man who has seen and experienced all the vicissitudes of reconstruction, of the economic and demographic boom, of political and industrial crises since the Second World War, not to mention the strong involvement in the internationalization and relocation trend of the latest years. The uniqueness of his contribution to the definition of intervention areas, methodological approaches and applications in projects is largely the result of a deep passion for human thought and capabilities, enriched by his experience in a large number of companies in several sectors with different characteristics in many countries and in contact with plenty of cultures.

The fortune that he was the founder of the French and Italian branches of JMAC, which he gave a remarkable imprint of success and value to, is at least as much as the fortune to have him with us in Italy. His presence has honored us and gives us a chance to an ever open comparison and "without bias". We like to recognize in him the rare virtue of not labeling opinions depending on their source (more or less known, more or less appreciated), but try to consider the merits and value regardless. In his eighties, he still has the emotion and humility of a young hopeful graduate thirsty for knowledge and growth. Often present as a speaker at conferences and lectures, Mr. Koudate has produced many technical papers used as a reference on management methodologies especially related to business and product innovation. His enjoyable conversation skill is esteemed for clarity as well as for the ability to stimulate the discussion on vanguard thoughts and ideas.

The biography of Mr. Akira Koudate is available in the web on the Wikipedia pages. See the biography.

Watch videos on speeches by Akira Koudate

Lean Society Summit

> Speech held at the 2009 Lean Society Summit

Speech for the master course on Lean Management

> RD&E: Research, Development and Engineering
> Kaizen and innovation
> Sekkei Kanri: design management
> Operations Management VS Innovation Management

Among the works of Mr. Koudate are the following available in Italian:

Books

• Koudate A., Samaritani G., Eco-Eco Management, sinergia tra ecologia ed economia nell'impresa, Franco Angeli Editore, Milano, 2004, pp.368, ISBN: 8846453859
• Koudate Akira, Il management della Progettazione, ISEDI, Torino, 2003, pp. 234, Nuova edizione ISBN: 8880080903
• Koudate A., Bianchi F., Shimizu T., Dall'idea al cliente. Come sviluppare nuovi prodotti in minor tempo con le tecniche dell'high speed management, Il Sole 24Ore (L'impresa), Milano, 1996, pp.312, ISBN: 8871877365
• Koudate A.,Suzue T.,Variety reduction program. Una strategia di gestione della differenziazione di prodotto per la riduzione dei costi legati alla varietà,ISEDI, Torino, 1992,pp.178, ISBN: 8880082108

Articles

• Lupi C., Intervista ad Akira Koudate: imparare ad osservare per vincere le sfide, in “Sistemi &Impresa” Nr8, Settembre 2008, pp. 6-10
• Intervista ad Akira Koudate su Shigeo Shingo e la nascita del TPS, in “Sistemi e Impresa” nr10, dicembre 2006, pp. 11-15
• Koudate Akira, Lettera dal Giappone, in “L'Impresa, rivista italiana di management”(In primo piano), Il Sole24Ore, maggio 2011, p.21

Look up the page about management team of JMAC Europe.