Hard to copy.

This article focuses on the growth and development of Canon Inc., the camera and office equipment firm in Japan. On October 29th, the company reported a 53% jump profits in the third quarter. It now expects to earn $1.43 billion for the full year. An 81% jump in digital-camera sales helped. But these account for less than 10% of total sales. Much of Canon's consistent profitability stems instead from two other factors. And it has boosted profits further by relying on more prosaic western business practices to cut costs. But Canon is hardly the only firm to shift from assembly-line to small production cells. Even in Japan, where it is admittedly a leader, it is not the first to try cutting costs. The rest of the Canon story hinges on technology and how it is used.