Wife & Japanese Management


Wife and Japanese Management

Fresh out of engineering college, I landed a job in a big company. Like most young engineers, I believed I was now “someone important” and knew everything. The workers quickly corrected that illusion. They ragged me mercilessly, reminded me to stay in my limits, and later—ironically—taught me lessons no textbook ever could.


Among the many “opportunities” the company offered, one stood out: trainings. In reality, anyone with less critical work—or those considered troublesome—was “spared” for training. I too was once spared.

The topic? “Learn Management from Your Wife.”

The speaker? Sharu Rangnekar, the legendary management guru.


At that time, I wasn’t married and thought: What is there to  “learn” about management? So, I dismissed it. Only years later did I read his book of the same title, fall in love with his ideas, and regret missing that session.


A Lockdown Revelation during Corona


The recent lockdown brought Rangnekar’s words back to me.

Like everyone, I first enjoyed it as a holiday. Then came the quarrels over housework. We divided chores, and I took charge of breakfast. For two days, it went smoothly. My wife was pleased.

But soon, her patience ran out.

“Don’t help me like this! You double my work—I spend more time cleaning up your mess than cooking myself.”

I tried to bargain: I’ll clean before and after. I followed through. Yet, complaints from    HQ piled up:

“You used the same  milk pot again for heating milk. 

“Why don't You replace the gas   lighter back to its place?”

“You use the ghee   and oil too abundantly and consume so quickly "

“You wiped the  gas stove with the  napkin which is supposed to be used for hand drying ” 

Clearly, my “management style” wasn’t working.

The Kitchen as an Institution

Then I remembered Rangnekar’s insight:

The kitchen is an autonomous institution. Its ownership rests with the woman of the house. And like an industry, it runs on a system. In companies, the system is documented. In kitchens, it is unwritten—yet enforced with near-perfect efficiency.

And I had been barging in without understanding the system. Chaos was inevitable.

So, I decided to undergo “training.” I surrendered to my wife and carefully observed her work. That’s when Rangnekar’s philosophy came alive.

Lean Management in Action

The famous Lean Management system—developed in Japan and adopted worldwide—has been in use in Indian kitchens for generations.

Raw material: ogroceries and vegetable

Finished product: meals, tea, snacks.

Machinery: stove, oven, pressure cooker.

Tools: pots, pans, spoons.stove

Lean identifies 8 wastes: defects, excess processing, overproduction, waiting, inventory, transportation, motion, and unused talent.

Our kitchens tackle all eight effortlessly:

Rarely does food burn or spoil.

Hardly any leftovers.

No waiting for meals.

Cooking never stops because salt is missing.

Inventory control: two-bin system—big jar for storage, small jar for daily use.

5S system: every item has a defined place, and every item is in its place.

And of course, wives never let their talent go unused.

In  the factories, production worth thousands halts because a ₹2 bolt is missing!And this is discovered in some review meeting !

The Ownership Factor

A wife’s bond with her kitchen is deep. She has a sense of ownership. That’s why interference isn’t tolerated. Even many mother-in-law/daughter-in-law quarrels come from this sense of ownership.

If workers in factories had the same sense of ownership toward their workplace, quality would rise instantly.

And when daughters casually help their mothers with cooking, they are unknowingly doing an apprenticeship.

The Real Takeaway

After observing all this, I relaxed. I began following the kitchen’s system. Slowly, my wife even began transferring some “authority” to me. Compliments came: “These days you really do things properly.”

But truly, the credit goes to Rangnekar—for his sharp eye and his ability to draw deep lessons from ordinary life.

Because married life teaches us this: there’s always something to learn from your wife. All it takes is the vision to observe—and the humility to give her the credit.

And Yes., don't forget just two things 

1 wife is always right.

2 In case you have any doubt read '1' again. 😂

__________________

Above is translated by 

' AI '  from original Marathi article.


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