Skillful means: Ancient process control as exemplified by the manufacture of Japanese swords, Nihonto.

摘要

One of the most revered manufactured objects in history is the Japanese sword. To create it, ancient processes met seemingly disparate functional properties by controlling intricate combinations of steels, forging, and differential heat treatment.;This investigation was undertaken to discover what served as process controls during the performance of these operations, in a time where no instrumentation existed.;It is concluded that the only means of measuring and adjusting these processes were the swordsmiths' finely honed senses, a result of training and experience. The implications of the ability to produce such unparalleled weapons, as yet to be duplicated using modern technology, favor craftsmanship over mass-production.;Today's challenge is to be able to integrate the finely-honed skills of artisans into manufacturing systems. This necessity is recognized as an essential component in the concept of "Monozukuri" in Japan, which espouses a synthesis of both traditional craftsmanship and modern methods of production.