Providing Support for Group Companies
In the interests of strengthening group management, we are providing active support for the RC initiatives of our Group companies.
Support for Environment and Safety Activities
RC discussions
The RC Division holds RC discussions to promote and improve RC initiatives for Group companies both inside and outside Japan.
In FY2022, discussions were held in-person with six Group companies inside Japan for the first time in three years, and online with one Group company outside Japan.
In these discussions, the companies in Japan reported on the planning and achievements of their RC initiatives. And the company outside Japan reported on the planning and achievements of its RC initiatives, as well as the status of operation of its management systems. We provided them with advice and support.
Environmental and safety audits
We conduct environmental and safety audits at our Group companies in Japan every year to strengthen our environmental safety management structure and promote continuous system improvements.
In FY2022, the audits were conducted in-person for the first time in three years. We were able to confirm compliance with legal requirements as well as the status of the establishment and operation of necessary standards related to safety and the environment. We also confirmed that their environment and safety management systems are properly implemented.
Environment and safety exchange meeting
Every year, environment and safety personnel of our Group companies inside Japan gather at one of the companies to hold an environment and safety exchange meeting. At the meeting, the participating companies introduce their RC initiatives and share information with each other to improve the level of their initiatives. In FY2022, the meeting was held online to share information and exchange views on the implementation status of task risk assessment and relevant measures as well as safety measures for new employees.
An exchange meeting for Group companies outside Japan is held as appropriate, to allow the participants to share favorable initiatives and implement them in their own companies. In FY2022, the meeting was held online, with the participants sharing good practice and exchanging views.
Support for Quality Activities
Support for quality assurance initiatives
For Group companies inside Japan, in FY2022, we continued to provide advice and support on their quality activities and quality issues through quality roundtable meetings.
For SAP manufacturing sites of Group companies outside Japan, to ensure high quality at the same level at our all sites for our core businesses, we have a quality meeting every year with the members in charge of quality of each site.
In FY2022, the meeting was held in person at the Himeji Plant of Nippon Shokubai for the first time in three years, although some sites participated online. As usual, we also held a periodic meeting with each site, including Sino-Japan Chemical Co., Ltd. We continue to provide even closer support to the Group companies, including the enhancement of the quality-related database for work sites outside Japan.
Quality audits
Quality audits for the Group companies inside Japan for FY2022 were conducted focusing on products that had caused issues in the past. Through a Lot traceability exercise, the auditors checked whether day-to-day operations had been conducted in accordance with established procedures, and whether countermeasures against the recurrence of the issues had been taken on an ongoing basis. The audit findings were shared within the Group companies to raise the level of their initiatives.
For Group companies outside Japan, internal audits of SAP manufacturing sites were conducted in-person in FY2022 for the first time in three years, although at some sites, on-site audits were postponed due to the impact of COVID-19. For sites manufacturing products other than SAP and the SAP manufacturing sites for which on-site audits were not performed in FY2022, auditors will visit these sites for auditing in FY2023.
Quality exchange meeting
Every year, quality personnel from us and the Group companies inside Japan hold a quality exchange meeting, taking turns to lead it. In FY2022, the meeting was conducted face to face for the first time in three years. Based on the theme of “delivery specifications,” participants shared their current status and challenges to be tackled, the information thereof having been collected through a prior questionnaire survey. Lately, unavailability of materials and raw materials sometimes forces abrupt changes in schedule. The participants exchanged views and ideas about how their companies coped with the situation.
