{
  "id": 6152492,
  "title": "Before you add, learn to subtract",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/before-you-add-learn-to-subtract",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-07T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Philippine Star Business",
    "slug": "philippine-star-business",
    "url": "https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/09/08/2554671/you-add-learn-subtract"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a story from ancient Japan, a childless couple prayed for a child at a shrine. Miraculously, they were blessed with a tiny boy no larger than a thumb, known as the Issun-boshi or the one-inch boy, akin to Tom Thumb. Small in stature, Issun-boshi possessed intelligence that surpassed that of larger children. After maturing, he journeyed to the city to earn his fortune, armed only with a needle, soup bowl, and chopsticks. Along his path, he worked as a servant for a wealthy landowner. One day, while attending to the lord's daughter, a demon wielding a magical hammer suddenly attacked them. Employing his size and simple tools, Issun-boshi climbed into the demon's body through its mouth and ear, stabbing it inside with the needle. This forced the devil to release its hammer. The prince then entered the demon's body, transforming into a handsome, human-sized individual upon touching the magical hammer. Eventually, he married the princess and lived happily thereafter. The moral of this tale resonates deeply: success is not solely contingent upon size, appearance, or expensive resources. Often, resourcefulness and simplicity can achieve outcomes that more complex methods cannot. This narrative encapsulates the essence of Tomoo Sugiyama's \"less engineering\" concept. Sugiyama, a former Yamaha executive, inspired Masaaki Imai in his 1997 book \"GembaKaizen.\" \"Less engineering\" advocates for eliminating rather than adding when addressing issues. Instead of immediately considering what can be added to solve a problem, it urges us to ask what can be eliminated. Sugiyama employed this principle to help individuals identify waste and prevent unnecessary complexity. Imai, who was my former boss at Kaizen Institute, compiled a list of Sugiyama's \"less engineering\" examples in his book. Here are four fundamental aspects of production and my interpretation: 1. Manpower: Reduce the need for constant monitoring by designing equipment and processes that avoid it. Optimize workstations to minimize unnecessary movement. Ensure tools and materials are easily accessible, preventing searching. 2. Machine: Arrange equipment to minimize space between processes and reduce the need for conveyors. Create a more compact flow, reducing wasted space, unnecessary movement, and excessive utility consumption. Apply this principle to deliveries by efficiently using packaging and vehicles, avoiding paying to transport empty space. 3. Material: Minimize the use of clamps or bolts by designing modular fixtures or jigs. Ensure parts leave a machine and move directly to the next process or packaging without undergoing cleanup or staging. Create material trolleys that protect edges during transfer, making the situation wait and stop-free. 4. Method: Eliminate bottlenecks by developing flexible work methods and training multi-skilled operators who can adapt to changing needs. Implement a stock-less system where the container itself serves as both transport and storage, eliminating the need for unpacking, restocking, and intermediate storage. The core principle of \"less engineering\" is subtraction. When confronted with a problem, our initial instinct is often to add something, such as a machine, software, additional staff, or more space, leading to increased expenses. Sugiyama challenges this mindset by asking, \"What can we remove?\" Unnecessary movement, waiting, excess inventory, wasted space? Even removing the need to transport air. Yamaha discovered that 93% of packaging volume for motorcycle mufflers and exhaust pipes was merely air. Recognizing this waste, Sugiyama redesigned the packaging, resulting in substantial savings. This approach led to a broader \"air-less engineering\" campaign. As I frequently emphasize, Sugiyama's philosophy aligns remarkably well with my favorite economic concept— \"Problem-solving is not progress if it will cost money.\" In essence, the most effective engineering solution is sometimes the one you don't have to engineer. Rey Elbo is a quality and productivity advocate. For any comments, questions, or stories, please reach out to [email protected] or connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or visit my website at https://reyelbo.com.",
  "summary": "A long time ago, a Japanese childless couple, who despite their advanced age, continued praying at a shrine for a child.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}