text: The second of our ‘never-ending’ quests at Nissan is 
  
  greater synchronization, or*douki*. With the Nissan 
  
  Production Way, we are aiming to shorten production 
  
  pipelines. The process begins with the customer’s order, 
  
  which includes items such as colors and specifications. 
  
  Based on this, we make the production plan, establish 
  
  the sequence and determine the shipping time. We 
  
  broadcast this information to all players at the same time, 
  
  within Nissan and our suppliers, and not just in the order 
  
  of need. If there is any problem, everyone immediately 
  
  recognizes it. This makes quick action possible. The same 
  
  can be said of what we call the “fishbone system.” Instead 
  
  of a strictly linear production line, this system features 
  
  a constant, parallel introduction of supplies to the operation 
  
  similar in construction to skeleton of a fish. We also 
  
  utilize the ‘strike zone,’ where supplies must be delivered 
  
  within the reach of the factory workers, which improves 
  
  quality and productivity. This is related to logistics, so we 
  
  involve our production partners from the early stages 
  
  of planning. 