[JPC] The Service Productivity & Innovation for Growth (SPRING)

On 7 July 2007, the ruling party's Committee for Integrated Reform of Budget and Economy drafted the Strategy for Economic Growth and made the decision to establish SPRING. Based on this decision, the Study Group on Innovation and Productivity of Service Industry was established within the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The Group decided on the basic structure of SPRING in April 2008, which was then included in the Growth Acceleration Program of the government. In May 2008, SPRING was established within the Japan Productivity Center with the participation from service industry, manufacturing industry, academia and government officials.

SPRING functions as the common platform for all of industry, academia and government to collaborate to improve productivity of service industry. Service industry is diverse and includes lot of sectors. As the result, its issues are also diverse. SPRING aims to support dynamic growth and innovation in the service industry by providing management innovation tools for productivity improvement, providing opportunities to share effective knowledge, and to assist proactive effort of industry associations and companies. Simultaneous improvement of "input" and "output" is required to improve productivity in service industry.

Efficiency through better "input"

We must focus on business process to improve "input." For example, we should introduce know-how from other companies in the same industry and from other sectors and even from manufacturing. We must also establish a system in which industry, academia and government would work together on new technologies and ideas that will lead to innovative process.

Customer satisfaction and hospitality through better "output"

We have to set up infrastructure to minimize the information gap between service providers and consumers and to increase the mutual trust and improve "output.". We also need to establish a system to supply capable human resources that would operate the service industry.

Based on above background, SPRING is working on following initiatives:

From service based on "experience and hunch" to service based on "scientific and engineering" methodologies.
Better service supply process based on practices in manufacturing industry.
Improving educational system for people in service industry.
Addressing difficulties experienced by service companies trying to expand abroad.
Establish a system to provide information to consumers and increase their trust.
Select and publicize Best Practices.
Improve statistics to monitor the situation of service industry.
Public relations activities.