and always brighten your working atmosphere; strive constantly for a harmonious flow of work; be ever mindful of the value of research and endeavor.
The "youthful" reference in the first principle suggests that employees should not become complacent. Instead, employees are expected to seek to understand why certain procedures are followed. By understanding these procedures, employees can understand and solve problems that result from deviations in these procedures.
Sound theory and fresh ideas, the second principle, keeps employees searching for better ways of doing their jobs. Honda implemented the "voluntary improvement program" (VIP) which gives employees the opportunity to participate in small group activities and safety training as well as in making suggestions. Employees are rewarded for their contributions on a cumulative basis. These rewards progress from small cash awards to larger cash awards and the use of a Honda Civic for one year to the use of a Honda Accord for one year.
The principle that employees should enjoy their work means that Honda takes steps to ensure that the work environment itself is appropriate for individuals. In one aluminum casting area, the air is cycled seven times per hour. In another case, the manual process of putting three bands around a driveshaft boot every 15 seconds was eliminated through the use of a laser welding operation. The point of increasing the level of technology was not to do so for technology's sake, but in order to improve the job, and thus the product.
The value of research and endeavor also refers to using accumulated knowledge and experience to continually
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