TOKYO -- Corporate Japan's focus on low costs and lean inventories has won kudos worldwide for its efficiency, but what was once seen as a great asset has now turned into a big liability amid the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the easing of the pandemic, demand for a wide range of products has begun to rebound, but Japanese automakers and other manufacturers have been unable to boost production due to a lack of components and raw materials.
