Cost reductions and expense cuts through production reform
First written in FY2016. 16 of 35 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2018-Q2. Latest entry: 2026-08-03.
89 other companies' latest entry also says "Advanced".
- FY2026AdvancedAnnual report
「In the ceramics business, market conditions in the electronic components industry, the company's main customer base, were showing signs of recovery, and company sales rose 10.9% year on year to ¥8,215.444 million. Segment profit increased 86.0% year on year to ¥834.469 million, as higher sales improved factory utilization and the cost of sales ratio improved by 3.6 percentage points year on year.」
Higher factory utilization accompanying the recovery in orders and sales improved the cost ratio and segment profit. - FY2026-H1AdvancedAnnual report
「By business, the ceramics business benefited from signs of recovery in market conditions in the electronic components industry, the company's main customer base, and recorded sales of ¥3,899.113 million, up 7.0% year on year. Although high raw material prices and other costs remained elevated, the increase in orders improved factory utilization, and the cost of sales ratio improved by 2.8 percentage points year on year. As a result, segment profit rose 41.4% to ¥401.411 million.」
Improved factory utilization resulting from higher orders improved the cost of sales ratio by 2.8 percentage points year on year, increasing segment profit in the ceramics business by 41.4%. - FY2025Higher work-in-process valuation losses and raw material and fuel prices worsened the cost ratio and reduced profitAnnual report
「The cost of sales ratio increased by 3.4 percentage points year on year due to valuation losses on work in process for certain products in response to market conditions and higher costs resulting from rising raw material and fuel prices. As a result, segment profit fell 37.8% year on year to ¥448.532 million.」
In the ceramics business, valuation losses on work in process and higher costs resulting from rising raw material and fuel prices worsened the cost ratio by 3.4 percentage points, causing segment profit to decline 37.8%. - FY2025-H1Raw material and energy prices worsen the cost ratio and reduce profitAnnual report
「In the ceramics business, the cost of sales ratio increased 4.2 percentage points year on year as raw material and energy prices surged and prices for logistics and other items rose. As a result, segment profit declined 33.6% year on year to ¥283.923 million.」
Higher raw material, energy and logistics costs caused the ceramics segment's cost of sales ratio to worsen by 4.2 percentage points year on year, while segment profit declined 33.6%. - FY2024Fewer orders and higher costs worsen the cost ratioAnnual report
「Higher costs resulting from rising raw material prices and lower plant utilization due to fewer orders caused the cost of sales ratio to increase by 2.1 percentage points. Segment profit declined 26.8% year on year to ¥721.101 million.」
Rising raw material prices and lower plant utilization due to fewer orders worsened the cost ratio in the ceramics business by 2.1 percentage points, while profit declined 26.8%. - FY2024-Q2Profit continues to decline despite an improved cost ratio as sales fallAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, the cost of sales ratio in the ceramics business improved by 0.2 percentage point year on year to 73.6%. However, segment profit declined 14.4% year on year to ¥427.847 million as sales decreased.」
Although the cost of sales ratio in the ceramics business improved by 0.2 percentage point, segment profit declined 14.4% year on year due to the impact of lower sales. - FY2024-Q1Lower energy prices improve the cost ratio, but lower sales reduce profitAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, the cost of sales ratio in the ceramics business improved by 1.0 percentage point year on year, partly because energy prices, which had continued to rise, declined to some extent. However, segment profit declined 14.3% year on year to ¥220.335 million as sales decreased.」
Although a partial decline in energy prices improved the cost of sales ratio by 1.0 percentage point, segment profit in the ceramics business declined 14.3% year on year due to the impact of lower sales. - FY2023RestatedAnnual report
「We will continue to work to improve production efficiency.」
The company has reaffirmed its commitment to improving production efficiency as an ongoing measure to improve profitability. - FY2023-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In the ceramics business, strong orders lifted plant utilization, while the business remained in a difficult environment due to surging energy and raw material prices. However, the pass-through of these costs into selling prices gradually took hold, and segment profit increased 7.6% year on year to ¥790.891 million.」
Higher plant utilization from strong orders and the increasing penetration of selling-price pass-throughs resulted in a 7.6% year-on-year increase in segment profit in the ceramics business to ¥790.891 million. The results indicate progress in improving profitability through higher production efficiency and pricing measures. - FY2022-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, strong orders drove higher plant utilization in the ceramics business, and segment profit increased 399.1% year on year to ¥734.716 million.」
Strong orders drove higher plant utilization, and segment profit in the ceramics business increased 399.1% year on year to ¥734.716 million. Profitability improvements from higher production efficiency and utilization advanced further. - FY2022-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, segment profit in the ceramics business increased 291.2% year on year to ¥516.335 million as higher sales led to a substantial improvement in plant utilization.」
Higher sales substantially improved plant utilization in the ceramics business, resulting in a 291.2% year-on-year increase in segment profit to ¥516.335 million. Profitability improvements from higher production efficiency advanced further from the previous quarter. - FY2022-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, the ceramics business benefited from higher sales and a substantial increase in plant utilization, with segment profit rising sharply to ¥275.011 million from ¥33.380 million in the same period of the previous year. In the engineering business, segment profit improved to ¥9.603 million from a loss of ¥11.083 million in the same period of the previous year, helped not only by the benefit of higher sales but also by fixed-cost reductions resulting from organizational restructuring and other measures initiated in the previous fiscal year.」
Segment profit in the ceramics business increased from ¥33.380 million to ¥275.011 million as higher sales raised plant utilization. In the engineering business, the benefit of fixed-cost reductions from organizational restructuring and other measures helped improve results from a loss in the same period of the previous year to a profit of ¥9.603 million. - FY2021Sales and profit decline amid continued investment in production streamliningAnnual report
「Operating profit declined 50.1% year on year to ¥335.891 million due to lower sales, lower plant utilization following the declaration of a state of emergency, and higher depreciation expenses following the completion of a new building at the Higashiyama Plant.」
While continuing to invest in production efficiency improvements and streamlining, the ceramics business experienced a sharp profit decline due to lower sales, lower plant utilization, and higher depreciation expenses for the new building. - FY2021-Q3Plant shutdowns, lower utilization and depreciation expenses for a new building deepen the profit declineAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, segment profit in the ceramics business declined 73.8% year on year to ¥147.211 million due to lower plant utilization resulting from plant shutdowns and lower sales, as well as higher depreciation expenses following the completion of a new building at the Higashiyama Plant.」
In addition to lower plant utilization caused by plant shutdowns and lower sales, depreciation expenses increased following the completion of a new building at the Higashiyama Plant, causing segment profit in the ceramics business to decline 73.8% year on year to ¥147.211 million. - FY2021-Q2Plant shutdowns, lower utilization and depreciation expenses cause a sharp profit declineAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, segment profit in the ceramics business declined 75.0% year on year to ¥131.986 million due to lower plant utilization resulting from plant shutdowns and lower sales, as well as higher depreciation expenses from aggressive capital investment in recent years.」
While advancing production streamlining and capital investment, the ceramics business saw segment profit decline 75.0% year on year to ¥131.986 million due to lower plant utilization resulting from plant shutdowns and lower sales and higher depreciation expenses. - FY2021-Q1Plant shutdowns reduce utilization and cause a sharp profit declineAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, the ceramics business saw segment profit decline 88.6% year on year to ¥33.380 million due to lower plant utilization resulting from both lower sales and plant shutdowns.」
Plant utilization declined due to plant shutdowns associated with COVID-19, and segment profit in the ceramics business fell 88.6% year on year to ¥33.380 million. While efforts to improve production efficiency continued, lower utilization weighed heavily on profitability during the quarter. - FY2020Confirmed annual declines in sales and profit and higher depreciation expenses associated with capital investmentAnnual report
「In the ceramics business, the US-China trade friction and restrictions on business activities associated with the spread of COVID-19 had a significant impact on orders and sales in the second half of the fiscal year, resulting in sales of ¥7,081.369 million, down 12.2% year on year. Operating profit declined 42.7% year on year to ¥672.555 million, despite some improvement from efforts to improve production efficiency, due in part to higher depreciation expenses associated with capital investment aimed at future growth.」
Although production efficiency continued to show some improvement, the ceramics business experienced annual declines in sales and profit due to lower orders and sales and higher depreciation expenses associated with capital investment. - FY2020-Q3Low utilization and higher depreciation expenses amid continued investment to improve production efficiencyAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, plant utilization in the ceramics business remained low as sales and orders declined. In addition, depreciation expenses increased as the company has actively invested since the previous fiscal year in improving production efficiency and productivity and replacing aging equipment for the next generation. As a result, segment profit declined 41.0% year on year to ¥561.885 million.」
While continuing to invest in improving production efficiency and productivity and replacing aging equipment, the ceramics business saw segment profit decline 41.0% year on year to ¥561.885 million due to lower plant utilization resulting from lower sales and orders and higher depreciation expenses. - FY2020-Q2Profit declines due to lower utilization and higher depreciation despite ongoing streamlining effortsAnnual report
「Cash flows from operating activities reflected company-wide efforts to reduce expenses and streamline production, but pretax quarterly profit decreased by ¥100.303 million, or 15.4%, year on year to ¥551.330 million.」
While continuing to reduce expenses and streamline production, the ceramics business saw profit decline 17.2% year on year due to lower plant utilization resulting from fewer orders and higher depreciation expenses associated with capital investment. - FY2020-Q1Profit declines as higher expenses could not be absorbed despite high utilizationAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, although plant utilization in the ceramics business remained high, it was not sufficient to absorb higher expenses, including equipment repair costs. Segment profit declined 2.0% year on year to ¥292.959 million.」
Although the ceramics business maintained high plant utilization, it could not absorb higher expenses such as equipment repair costs, and segment profit declined 2.0% year on year. - FY2019RestatedAnnual report
「Operating profit also showed some improvement as a result of efforts to improve production efficiency, but these efforts had not yet contributed to a significant improvement in the gross profit margin. Operating profit increased 13.4% year on year to ¥1,174.654 million.」
The company explains that it continues to work to improve production efficiency, but has not yet achieved a significant improvement in the gross profit margin. - FY2019-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, in addition to strong orders in the ceramics business, we worked to improve productivity. As a result, segment profit increased 16.8% to ¥951.938 million.」
In addition to strong orders, the company worked to improve productivity, resulting in segment profit in the ceramics business increasing 16.8% year on year to ¥951.938 million. - FY2019-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, in addition to high plant utilization in the ceramics business, we worked to improve streamlining and productivity. As a result, segment profit increased 29.1% year on year to ¥636.240 million.」
In addition to high plant utilization, the company advanced streamlining and productivity improvement initiatives, resulting in segment profit in the ceramics business rising 29.1% year on year to ¥636.240 million. - FY2019-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, plant utilization in the ceramics business remained high, and segment profit increased 48.5% year on year to ¥299.004 million.」
Plant utilization remained high in the ceramics business, resulting in a 48.5% year-on-year increase in segment profit. This reaffirms that improved production efficiency is translating into better profitability. - FY2018AdvancedAnnual report
「Higher sales improved plant utilization, and operating profit increased substantially, by 65.0% year on year, to ¥1,035.993 million.」
Plant utilization improved in the ceramics business, and operating profit increased 65.0% year on year. Annual results demonstrate improved profitability from production reform and higher utilization rates. - FY2018-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, the ceramics business benefited from higher plant utilization associated with increased sales, which reduced the cost of sales ratio. Profit increased 71.1% year on year to ¥815.150 million.」
The cost of sales ratio declined as plant utilization rates increased, and profit in the ceramics business rose 71.1% year on year. - FY2018-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, higher sales in the ceramics business lifted plant utilization rates across all divisions, and profit increased 59.0% year on year to ¥492.895 million.」
The company states that plant utilization rates increased across all divisions on the back of higher sales, indicating tangible progress in production efficiency. - FY2018-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, the ceramics business benefited from continued strong plant operations, with profit increasing 63.9% year on year to ¥201.403 million.」
The company explains that continued strong plant operations contributed to improved profitability in the ceramics business. - FY2017-Q2Confirmed that lower prices were offset by a higher utilization rate.Annual report
「In the ceramics business, lower selling prices were offset by a higher utilization rate in the manufacturing division, and operating profit increased 0.2% year on year to ¥309.997 million.」
The company reports that lower selling prices were offset by a higher utilization rate in the manufacturing division. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「First, regarding streamlining, in addition to efforts to reduce all types of expenses, we will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from production and promote cost reductions through production reform.」
The company has identified expense cuts and production reform as specific streamlining measures.