May Lunch Seminar : Quality improvement, cost-reduction, and the environment

IUJ Research Institute (IRI) held the May Lunch Seminar on May 27, 2026, featuring a presentation by Prof. Robert F. Kane (GSIR) on the theme “Quality improvement, cost-reduction, and the environment.”

Drawing on Kane and Pertetto (JET, 2020), the seminar explored how transportation, quality improvement, and cost-reducing R&D interact with energy use and environmental sustainability. Prof. Kane explained how quality improvement can contribute to greener growth by increasing the services embodied within goods without requiring additional transportation of products.

The seminar was conducted in a warm and engaging atmosphere, with active discussion throughout the session. The Q&A session attracted many thoughtful questions from both students and faculty members and had to be concluded due to time limitations.

Despite overlapping with another student event on campus, approximately 15 participants attended the seminar.

IRI would like to express its sincere appreciation to Prof. Kane and all participants for making the seminar a success.