English
Upon the invitation from the leadership of the Japan Association for Small Business Studies (JASBS), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh, Founding Chairman of the GKM Finest Management Institute, participated and delivered a keynote speech at the plenary session of the Association’s 45th national conference, held in Nagoya, Japan.
On October 3, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh shared GKM’s latest research findings on the topic: “From TPS to GKM, A Journey from Theoretical Innovation to Practical Implementation, a New Vision for Japan*Vietnam Business Collaboration 2.0”.
This national conference was hosted by Chukyo University, commemorating the 45th anniversary of JASBS. The event attracted numerous professors, researchers, practitioners, and entrepreneurs from universities and businesses across Japan.
The plenary session of the conference featured two main speakers: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh, Chairman of GKM Group (GKM Finest), and Mr. Kazunori Osada, CEO of Nissin Corporation Japan (日進工業株式会社).
Photo: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh, representative of GKM Finest Management Institute, delivering a keynote speech at the plenary session of the conference under the support of Prof. Dr. Hironaka, head of the conference organizing committee.
Prof. Dr. Chika Hironaka chaired the plenary session with two speakers (1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh, Chairman of GKM Group from Vietnam; 2. Mr. Kazunori Osada, CEO of Nissin Corporation Japan).
Analysis of TPS and its Challenges
At the conference, based on many years of observation and research on the Toyota Production System (TPS), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh provided profound analyses. Besides acknowledging the outstanding advantages of TPS, he also pointed out several areas that Japanese scientists could continue to research and improve.
Specifically, these include inconsistencies in effectiveness when applying TPS in countries outside Japan compared to Toyota Japan itself, as well as lack of synchronization during implementation across different departments within the same enterprise.
Global Management Context and the “Glass Ceiling”
Expanding on the issue, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh also presented the current ruptures and difficulties in global corporate management. He argued that most technocratic solutions have reached their limits, or a “glass ceiling,” making it very difficult for businesses to achieve breakthroughs.
GKM and the Solution from Vietnam
To address these complex management problems, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh created and introduced the GKM Finest Management Theory & Technology (Gene Kick on Made in Vietnam). This is seen as a solution for the sustainable development of businesses in Vietnam, Japan, and globally. At the same time, it serves as a foundation for strong collaboration and cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese businesses in particular, and enterprises worldwide in general.
Relationship between GKM and TPS
The transition point from TPS to GKM stems from GKM Institute’s empirical research over many years. Accordingly, when businesses effectively apply GKM’s management “Gene” system as a foundation, TPS will be naturally implemented as the most optimal management tools and methods.
Delegates attending the keynote session at the 45th conference of the Association (GKM Photo)
Participation of Vietnamese Enterprises
Accompanying the GKM delegation was Mr. Nguyen The Hung, Chairman of Me Tran Binh Xuyen Company and SSP Moulding. Mr. Hung’s presence aimed to demonstrate and share the practicality and effectiveness of the “Made in Vietnam” Finest Management technology when successfully applied in Vietnamese enterprises.
Photo: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh and CEO Nguyen The Hung together providing support for Japanese practitioners and scientists to better understand Made-in-Vietnam Finest Management Technology.
Networking and Collaborative Exchange
On the sidelines of the conference, many networking and collaborative exchange activities took place. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh engaged in deeper discussions with numerous scholars and practical experts.
Here, he shared detailed insights into the superiority of “Made in Vietnam” Finest Management technology, especially its potential for implementation in Japan and internationally, to foster more effective global bilateral cooperation models.
At the conference, many delegates expressed their emotion and appreciation for the ideas and solutions shared. Many believed that Gene Finest MIV opens a new path for development, inspiring a humane, sustainable cooperation model for the common future of businesses globally
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh, along with scholars and practitioners, discussed the current state of the “New International Business Collaboration 2.0” Model.
Conference Conclusion and Prospects for Cooperation
The conference concluded in a respectful atmosphere, leaving many positive impressions. Participating entrepreneurs, experts, and researchers all expressed their desire for the Vietnam-Japan business cooperation model to be effectively implemented not only in both countries but also to expand globally.
Acknowledgements and Recognition
On behalf of the GKM Finest Management Institute and GKM Vietnam Company, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh extended sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Chika Hironaka and the leadership of the Japan Association for Small Business Studies (JASBS) for graciously inviting the leadership of GKM Group and GKM Japan to attend and collaborate at this event.
Notably, the “Made in Vietnam” Finest Management technology was highly praised and recognized by Japanese scientists as one of the fundamental and effective solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan in particular, and worldwide in general.
GKM October 2025
| About the Japan Association for Small Business Studies (JASBS)
Established in 1980, the Japan Association for Small Business Studies (JASBS) is a leading academic research organization in Japan, dedicated to conducting in-depth research on small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan and worldwide. This mission arose in the context of Japan having nearly six million small and medium-sized enterprises, which contribute greatly to economic development but also face increasingly complex challenges. Along with growing global interest in this business sector, JASBS was founded as a forum to bring together scholars, continuing a nearly 100-year tradition of research on small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan. Currently, the Association has about 600 members, including many reputable researchers from diverse interdisciplinary fields such as economics, commerce, business administration, accounting, engineering, sociology, geography, law, politics, and public administration. JASBS is also an academic organization officially registered and recognized by the Science Council of Japan. The Association actively conducts research activities through its annual national conference and regional committees, with results published in the Association’s official annual report, “Journal of the Japan Association for Small Business Studies” (published by Doyukan). |