Book 'Innnovating Out of Crisis' - Fujifilm

I saw 'Innovating Out of Crisis' (English translation) recommended on Twitter by a photographic dealer based here in the UK, written by Shigetaka Komori, then chairmain and CEO of Fujifilm Holdings Corporation. The first part of the book is given over to a history of Fujifilm's recent efforts to diversify their product range as sales from photographic film were falling off rapidly about 15 years ago. Part two is focused on Mr. Komori's ideas and experience of Japanese business and international trade.

This book is probably not the best resource if you want a plotted history of the development of 4th layer technology or Fujichrome films etc. but does give some helpful insight into the culture of the company and approach to markets, manufacturing, and R&D; although probably due to when the book was written, it doesn't cover the recent return of interest in film based photography.

Tom - How good is this book at outlining the collapse of film sales in the early 2000s? Does it give data like volume reductions over time and mothballing or scrapping specialist plant?

perkeleellinen said:

Tom - How good is this book at outlining the collapse of film sales in the early 2000s? Does it give data like volume reductions over time and mothballing or scrapping specialist plant?

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Yes, it does discuss mothballing plant and volume reductions in sales. However the whole book is only 221 pages and approximately half of that is given over to the "production" part of the equation so there isn't really a full 'company report'. There are however some interesting sections on how Fujifilm compared to Kodak and the varying fortunes of the two companies, including the importance of continuing research & development.

Very interesting. Just ordered it - thanks for sharing the info.

Tom Kershaw said:

....... some interesting sections on how Fujifilm compared to Kodak and the varying fortunes of the two companies, including the importance of continuing research & development.

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Seems very interesting to me.
You could damn near make a movie... or maybe a documentary... about this.

Not sure if "David and Goliath" is 100% accurate, i am not that versed on the subject. But i remember being Shocked/Surprised when we stared to see Fuji Film at............was it The Los Angeles Olympics... major Events-Stores-Facilities in the USA.!
The Olympics and Disneyland had been synonymous with Coca-Cola, MacDonald's and Kodak for my entire life.
Perhaps the fortunes of Kodak were starting to decline even as far back as circa 1985.?

CMoore said:

Perhaps the fortunes of Kodak were starting to decline even as far back as circa 1985.?

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One of the themes in the book is centred around how Kodak may have failed to properly invest in future product development, especially in terms of diversification as photographic film sales where so strong and profitable at the time. Disclaimer: I haven't done any further research / reading at this time and so I'm not claiming any expertise in the history of Fuji / Kodak competition etc..

Ron Mowrey has in the past commented that Fuji may have had a margin advantage over Kodak, in that the Japanese company was able to build on the intellectual property and processes designed and invented by Kodak; i.e. the American company needed to recoup the original development costs to a greater extent. However, Fuji would be subject to their own costs so perhaps the veracity of this line of argument varies over time.