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From electronics to motor vehicles, Japanese industrial products are renowned for their high performance. And they wouldn't be possible without the "small factories" that make the parts. About 90% of all factories in Japan today have no more than 30 employees. These small factories are treasure troves of technical know-how. A single steel bar is all a machinist needs to shape parts for a rocket . Other experts use their sense of touch to machine metal to within hundredths of a millimeter. In 2009, many small factories worked together to launch a small satellite called Maido-1. In the midst of a tough recession, it was built to be a beacon of hope. Now, a separate group of small factories has pooled its technical know-how to develop an underwater survey device that can dive to 8,000 meters . On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is small factories. By exploring them, we will gain insights into Japanese manufacturing expertise.