Strengthening the Quality Assurance Framework and Reducing the In-Process Defect Rate
First written in FY2019. 4 of 6 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2020-Q2. Latest entry: FY2026.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2026: 5 of 46 companies on the "Worse" side.
30 other companies' latest entry also says "Advanced".
- FY2026AdvancedAnnual report
「To improve productivity, as part of its digital transformation initiatives under the theme of “AI and automation,” the company is developing defect-detection algorithms, product inspection technologies and automation for design operations, including joint work with partners. Some of these technologies have been introduced on production lines and are beginning to show results.」
Quality and productivity improvement measures progressed from the development stage to implementation on some production lines and the emergence of results. - FY2021AdvancedAnnual report
「The Company recovered, achieving a return to operating profitability in all regions, partly through the effects of fixed-cost reductions from the rationalization of unprofitable sites and structural reforms, as well as company-wide fixed-cost reduction initiatives.」
The company stated that measures to strengthen profitability, including reductions in quality losses and fixed costs, led to a turnaround to full-year operating profitability in all regions. - FY2021-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「Although the company worked to reduce fixed costs through rationalization, including workforce controls and productivity improvements, this was insufficient to offset the impact of lower operating rates accompanying reduced sales due to the infectious disease and other factors.」
Although the company continued rationalization through fixed-cost reductions and productivity improvements, it was unable to absorb the impact of lower operating rates caused by the infectious disease, resulting in an operating loss overall. - FY2020-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Efforts to reduce quality losses and fixed costs, mainly in Japan and Europe, resulted in higher revenue and profit overall.」
Efforts to reduce quality losses and fixed costs were identified as factors behind higher revenue and profit overall. - FY2020-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In addition to generally solid orders from customers, mainly in Japan and China, the launch of new mass-produced products in the United States and elsewhere contributed to results. Efforts to strengthen profitability, including reducing quality losses and fixed costs, also resulted in higher revenue and profit overall.」
The company reduced quality losses related to in-process defects and other issues, as well as fixed costs, and identified efforts to strengthen profitability as a factor in performance. - FY2019First statedAnnual report
「For the fiscal year ending March 2020, we will reduce in-process defects, the main source of abnormal costs, and related expenses, while also considering withdrawal from unprofitable businesses and the consolidation and closure of production sites.」We will work with the participation of all employees to improve value-added productivity and quality under the following global business policies established in fiscal 2019, with the aim of reducing in-process defect rates through thorough implementation of built-in quality and concurrent engineering.」
For the fiscal year ending March 2020, the company first gave concrete form to measures to reduce in-process defects and related costs and to improve quality and value-added productivity through built-in quality and concurrent engineering.