Role of Skilled Workers in a Successful Supply Chain: The Case of the Japanese Seafood Processing Company

This paper describes the skilled workers in a local seafood processing company in Japan as best practice for producing successful innovations. The analysis shows the workers contributed to innovating production and supporting supply chain management. The breakthroughs they created were examined in this study, and the key factor of success (KFS) was analyzed using the participant observation method. One aspect is workers’ skills (fast work, accuracy, quality, etc.) being useful for cost efficiency and product quality. The company trains workers to develop skills and expertise in all process lines to ensure high production output. The observation of the production process and examination of the business history indicates a mutual influence between innovative strategy and skilled workers. The company has a strong collaborative relationship with production and marketing that can respond to customer needs by optimizing production, processing, distribution, and sales as a value chain that creates added value and has successfully innovated in production and distribution. The skilled workers supported building a business model that responds to customer needs. This study shows the positive circulation of social capital between skilled workers and successful supply chain management.