Strengthening Cost Competitiveness Through Quality Improvements, Higher Productivity, and Energy-Saving and Labor-Saving Investment
First written in FY2016. 10 of 26 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2017-Q1. Latest entry: FY2026.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2026: 6 of 21 companies on the "Worse" side.
2 other companies' latest entry also says "Other".
- FY2026Earnings Pressure from Accident-Related Costs and Higher Fixed CostsAnnual report
「We prioritized maintaining product supplies to customers by procuring alternative iron sources. However, this resulted in costs of approximately ¥1.6 billion due to the cost of procuring external iron sources, equipment restoration expenses and deterioration in unit consumption, among other factors.」
Costs of approximately ¥1.6 billion were incurred due to the procurement of alternative iron-bearing materials, equipment restoration expenses and deterioration in material usage rates, making the burden associated with strengthening cost competitiveness tangible. - 2026-05-08OtherRevision of earnings forecasts
「We prioritized maintaining product supplies to customers by procuring alternative iron sources. However, this resulted in costs of approximately ¥1.6 billion due to the cost of procuring external iron sources, equipment restoration expenses and deterioration in unit consumption, among other factors.」
Approximately ¥1.6 billion in costs arose from procuring alternative iron sources during the shutdown, equipment restoration expenses and deterioration in unit consumption. - FY2026-H1Profit decline due to higher fixed costs and one-time expensesAnnual report
「Against a backdrop of falling market conditions that required price adjustments for steel products, we worked to secure the spread. However, earnings declined because sales volumes fell, fixed costs increased and temporary expenses, including environmental assessment-related costs, were incurred.」
Although efforts were made to secure the spread, the benefits of strengthened cost competitiveness were insufficient to prevent lower profit because of lower sales volumes, higher fixed costs and one-time expenses. - FY2025-H1AdvancedAnnual report
「The equipment trouble caused by aging during the previous corresponding period was resolved, enabling us to increase production and improve manufacturing costs.」
The resolution of equipment trouble caused by aging, higher production and improved manufacturing costs were cited as specific operating improvement results. - FY2024-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「The countermeasure work implemented in early October to address the equipment trouble has been completed, and stable operations have continued since then.」
The remedial construction work for the equipment trouble was completed in early October, followed by confirmation of stable operations. - FY2024-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「Against this backdrop, the Group worked to strengthen its processing operations as an integrated group, diversify its iron sources, and reduce manufacturing costs in line with the priority policies of the medium-term management plan for fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2024.」
Manufacturing cost reductions have continued as a measure aligned with the key policies of the medium-term management plan. Meanwhile, higher energy prices and cost increases caused by equipment trouble were also cited for the cumulative quarter. - FY2023RestatedAnnual report
「Under the initiative to strengthen efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality and a circular society, we focused on increasing electric arc furnace production and improving costs and quality at each plant. In line with the materiality identified under the Nakayama Steel Works Group 2030 Long-Term Vision and its implementation policies, we also further strengthened our sustainability initiatives.」
Increasing electric arc furnace production and improving costs and quality at each plant were cited as ongoing priority measures. - FY2023-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Under the initiative to strengthen efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality and a circular society, we worked to increase electric arc furnace production and promote yield improvements at each plant.」
In addition to increasing electric arc furnace production, yield improvements at each plant were cited as specific operating improvement measures. - FY2023-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「We increased electric arc furnace production by 12% year on year and promoted cost improvements for electric arc furnace materials, including improved material usage rates.」
Electric arc furnace production increased by 12% year on year, and cost improvements for electric arc furnace materials, including improved material usage rates, were advanced. - FY2022AdvancedAnnual report
「Although prices for main and secondary raw materials, including scrap, steel billets and ferroalloys, increased and energy costs rose, the profit contribution from higher sales volumes and selling prices and diversified sourcing of iron-bearing materials more than offset these factors, resulting in higher profit than in the previous consolidated fiscal year.」
Profit increased as improved sales volumes and prices and diversified sourcing of iron-bearing materials offset higher raw material and energy costs. - FY2022-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「However, the profit contribution from higher sales volumes and cost improvements through operating efforts resulted in higher revenue and profit year on year. As a result, revenue was ¥72,143 million (up ¥20,978 million year on year), while ordinary profit was ¥2,127 million (an increase of ¥1,232 million year on year).」
The company stated that higher sales volumes and cost improvements through operating efforts contributed to higher revenue and profit despite spread deterioration caused by higher main raw material prices. - FY2022-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Although the steel spread deteriorated, cost improvements through operating efforts and stronger efforts on processing projects resulted in higher revenue and profit year on year. As a result, revenue was ¥35,071 million (up ¥8,796 million year on year), while ordinary profit was ¥903 million (an increase of ¥85 million year on year).」
The company stated that cost improvements through operating efforts contributed to higher profit in the steel business even as the spread deteriorated due to higher raw material prices. - FY2021RestatedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, we worked to reduce costs through operating efforts. However, ordinary profit was ¥2,227 million, down ¥2,182 million from the previous fiscal year, as the steel spread deteriorated substantially due to soaring main raw material prices, particularly in the second half.」
The company stated that, although cost reductions through operating efforts continued, they were insufficient to offset the deterioration in the spread caused by soaring main raw material prices. - FY2021-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In line with the policies of the Group's medium-term management plan for fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2021, we promoted collaborative initiatives across the Group and worked on thorough cost reductions through operating efforts.」
Collaborative initiatives and thorough cost reductions through operating efforts have continued despite the challenging business environment. - FY2021-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「We promoted collaborative initiatives across the Group and worked on thorough cost reductions through operating efforts.」
Cost reductions through operating efforts have continued despite the challenging business environment. - FY2021-Q1Profit declined despite improved spread and lower volumesAnnual report
「Although steel selling prices fell year on year, scrap prices, the main raw material, also fell, improving the steel spread. However, worsening profitability associated with lower steel sales volumes resulted in lower profit year on year.」
The steel spread improved as scrap prices fell, but this did not offset the deterioration in profitability caused by lower sales volumes, resulting in lower profit in the steel business. - FY2020-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, scrap prices, the main raw material, fell and the steel spread improved substantially. However, lower steel sales volumes and higher costs including materials and transportation costs left results broadly in line with the previous year.」
Although the steel spread improved, lower sales volumes and higher costs including materials and transportation costs left profitability in the steel business broadly in line with the previous year. - FY2020-Q2Profit flat despite improved spread and higher costsAnnual report
「In terms of profitability, steel selling prices rose year on year and scrap prices, the main raw material, fell, resulting in a substantial improvement in the steel spread. However, higher prices for supplies such as electrodes and refractories, together with increased energy costs including electricity and gas and higher logistics costs, left results broadly in line with the previous year.」
Despite an improved steel spread, profitability in the steel business remained broadly in line with the previous year due to higher materials, energy and logistics costs. - FY2020-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「We worked on collaborative initiatives across the Group and cost reductions.」
Collaborative initiatives and cost reduction efforts have continued as means of implementing the new medium-term management plan. - FY2018AdvancedAnnual report
「Costs increased as prices for the main raw materials, including scrap and steel billets, and for secondary raw materials and supplies, including ferroalloys and electrodes, rose, while energy prices also increased. However, higher steel sales volumes and selling prices, together with cost reductions from plant operating efforts, contributed to higher profit.」
Higher prices for main and secondary raw materials and energy were absorbed through increased sales volumes and prices and cost reductions from plant operating efforts, resulting in higher operating profit. - FY2018-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Although profitability was affected by higher costs resulting from significant year-on-year increases in the prices of scrap and purchased steel billets, the main raw materials, as well as higher fuel costs such as electricity and gas, the effects of higher steel sales volumes, higher selling prices and operating improvements more than offset them, resulting in higher profit. As a result, revenue was ¥108,585 million (up ¥20,227 million year on year), while ordinary profit was ¥4,818 million (an increase of ¥719 million year on year).」
Higher steel sales volumes and selling prices, together with operating improvements, absorbed rising costs, increasing ordinary profit in the steel business by ¥719 million year on year. - FY2017RestatedAnnual report
「We will strengthen our cost competitiveness through further quality improvements, higher plant productivity, and investment in energy-saving and labor-saving measures.」
Strengthening cost competitiveness through quality improvements, higher productivity, and investment in energy and labor savings continued to be cited as a basic policy. The company also reported higher profit from improved yield and lower plant costs. - FY2017-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the steel segment, revenue declined due to lower selling prices for steel products. However, ordinary profit increased as the price of purchased steel billets, the main raw material, fell year on year, energy costs such as electricity and gas declined due to lower fuel adjustment prices, and plant costs were reduced through operating improvements including higher yield. As a result, revenue was ¥88,357 million (down ¥13,975 million year on year), while ordinary profit was ¥4,098 million (an increase of ¥214 million year on year).」
Lower prices for purchased steel billets and energy costs, together with plant cost reductions from operating improvements including higher yield, were also cited as factors behind the increase in profit for the cumulative third quarter. - FY2017-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the steel segment, revenue declined due mainly to lower selling prices for steel products. However, ordinary profit increased as prices for scrap and purchased steel billets, the main raw materials, fell year on year, energy costs such as electricity and gas declined, and plant costs were reduced through operating improvements including higher yield. As a result, revenue was ¥56,529 million (down ¥8,856 million year on year), while ordinary profit was ¥2,629 million (an increase of ¥565 million year on year).」
Lower raw material and energy costs and plant cost reductions from operating improvements including higher yield were also cited as factors behind the increase in profit for the cumulative second quarter. - FY2017-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「In the steel segment, revenue declined due mainly to lower selling prices for steel products. However, ordinary profit increased as prices for scrap and purchased steel billets, the main raw materials, fell year on year, energy costs such as electricity and gas declined, and plant costs were reduced through operating improvements including higher yield. As a result, revenue was ¥27,474 million (down ¥4,628 million year on year), while ordinary profit was ¥1,378 million (an increase of ¥590 million year on year).」
Plant cost reductions from operating improvements, including higher yield, came through in the results, and ordinary profit in the steel business increased by ¥590 million year on year despite lower revenue. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「We will strengthen our cost competitiveness through further quality improvements, higher plant productivity, and investment in energy-saving and labor-saving measures.」
The disclosure describes measures intended to improve quality, productivity, energy efficiency and labor efficiency simultaneously.