Improving operating efficiency by 15% through operational reform
First written in FY2016. 17 of 24 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2017. Latest entry: FY2026.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2025: 3 of 31 companies on the "Worse" side.
14 other companies' latest entry also says "Restated".
- FY2026RestatedAnnual report
「To further improve the profitability of existing stores and enhance customer convenience, we renovated 7 stores.」
The policy of improving productivity through store renovations and operational efficiency measures continues. At renovated stores, the company is also focusing on improving in-store operations. - 2026-04-09AdvancedEarnings
「By advancing operational efficiency measures such as introducing self-checkout registers, the Company restrained the increase in working hours and minimized the increase in labor costs.」
The achievement of a 15% improvement in operational efficiency was not stated, but the full-year results described the restraint of increases in working hours through measures including the introduction of self-checkout registers. - FY2026-H1AdvancedAnnual report
「By advancing operational efficiency measures such as introducing self-checkout registers, the Company restrained the increase in working hours and minimized the increase in labor costs.」
Although the achieved value for the 15% work-efficiency improvement target is not stated, the company advanced operational efficiency measures, including the introduction of self-checkout registers, and limited the increase in working hours amid rising wages. - FY2025AdvancedAnnual report
「By improving operational efficiency, we reduced working hours from the previous year and were able to keep the increase to a minimum.」
Specific progress is indicated through reduced working hours from the previous year as a result of improved operational efficiency, limiting the increase in personnel expenses amid rising wages. - FY2025-H1RestatedAnnual report
「We have continued to focus on Everyday Low Cost (EDLC), which supports EDLP.」
The company continues to focus on EDLC to support EDLP. The achieved value for the 15% work-efficiency improvement target is not stated. - FY2025-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「We have focused on EDLC (everyday low costs) to support EDLP.」
The company continues to focus on EDLC to support EDLP. - FY2024-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「At the same time, as a result of focusing on improving operational efficiency in stores, we were able to keep personnel expenses broadly in line with the previous year.」
The company worked to improve operational efficiency in stores and kept personnel expenses broadly in line with the previous year despite increases in wage levels. - FY2024-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「As a result of efforts to improve work efficiency at stores, personnel expenses were broadly in line with the previous year.」
The company worked to improve the efficiency of store operations and kept personnel expenses broadly in line with the previous year. The achieved value for the 15% work-efficiency improvement target is not specified. - FY2024-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「As a result of continuous efforts to reduce labor hours by improving work systems at stores, personnel expenses declined.」
Specific progress is indicated by the continued improvement of work systems and reductions in labor hours, resulting in lower personnel expenses. - FY2023AdvancedAnnual report
「Through renovations, we are improving customer convenience and increasing sales, while further streamlining in-store operations to improve the operating profit margin on sales.」
Measures are indicated to streamline in-store operations and improve the operating profit margin on sales through store renovations. - FY2023-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「While personnel expenses declined as a result of reductions in labor hours at stores,」
A decline in personnel expenses resulting from reduced labor hours at stores is indicated, representing specific progress in operational reform. - FY2022AdvancedAnnual report
「We will work to further improve productivity by reducing head-office operations and reviewing delivery schedules and work procedures at stores. In addition to reviewing work processes, we will promote the introduction of IT tools and work to improve profitability. To advance more extensive operational improvements, we will also use IT technology to optimize work procedures through analysis of employees' movements.」
Specific measures are indicated, including reductions in head-office operations, the introduction of IT tools and optimization of work procedures through analysis of employees' movements, in addition to reviewing existing work procedures. - FY2022-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「On the expense side, lower distribution expenses and cashless payment fees, together with the control of labour hours in line with sales, resulted in SG&A expenses of ¥20,378 million, or 98.8% of the previous year, below the previous year’s level.」
By controlling labor hours in line with sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were kept at 98.8% of the previous year's level. - FY2022-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「On the expense side, lower sales than in the previous fiscal year reduced variable costs such as distribution expenses and cashless payment fees. In addition, the review of sales programmes and control of labour hours contributed to SG&A expenses of ¥13,626 million, down 1.1% year on year and below the previous year.」
Special-sale programs were reviewed and labor hours were controlled, resulting in selling, general and administrative expenses declining 1.1% year on year. - FY2022-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Gross margin improved significantly to 23.0%, up 1.0 percentage point year on year, as a result of reviewing special-sale programs and strong performance by high-margin products such as outdoor goods.」
Specific progress is indicated through the review of special-sale programs and strong performance by high-margin products, which lifted gross margin to 23.0%, an improvement of 1.0 percentage point year on year. - FY2021-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「By reviewing promotions to avoid customer concentration, using web meetings and implementing various cost reductions, including reductions in consumables, we were able to control selling, general and administrative expenses at ¥20,621 million, broadly in line with the previous year, up 0.4% year on year.」
Specific progress is indicated through promotional review, the use of web meetings and reductions in consumables, which kept selling, general and administrative expenses to ¥20,621 million, up 0.4% year on year. - FY2021-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「By reviewing promotional activities to avoid customer concentration, and implementing various cost reductions, including the use of web conferences and reductions in consumables, we were able to control selling, general and administrative expenses at ¥6,815 million, broadly in line with the previous year and 2.4% above the same period of the previous year.」
Specific progress is indicated through promotional review, the use of web meetings and reductions in consumables, which kept selling, general and administrative expenses to ¥6,815 million. - FY2020RestatedAnnual report
「In particular, we will focus on further improving operational efficiency by enhancing the quality of work at stores and reviewing work frequencies, as well as strengthening the store management structure and eliminating disparities in earning power among stores.」
Reviewing work frequencies, strengthening the store management structure and eliminating disparities in earning power among stores continue to be presented as ongoing measures. - FY2019RestatedAnnual report
「We will further improve operational efficiency by enhancing the quality of work at each business location and reviewing work frequencies. We will also strengthen the store management structure and work to eliminate disparities in earning power among stores.」
Reviewing work frequencies, strengthening the store management structure and eliminating disparities in earning power among stores are presented as measures under operational reform. - FY2019-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Although selling expenses increased due in part to the higher proportion of card sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were ¥13,558 million, or 0.2% above the same period of the previous fiscal year, due to lower labor costs from improved efficiency in store operations and declines in rent, repair expenses and other costs.」
Although the achievement of the 15% work-efficiency improvement target itself is not shown, the company reports concrete progress in the form of lower labor costs from improved store operations during the cumulative second-quarter consolidated period. - FY2019-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Selling, general and administrative expenses were ¥6,513 million, or 1.7% below the same period of the previous fiscal year, due to lower labor costs from improved efficiency in store operations, as well as declines in rent, consumables expenses and other costs.」
Although the achievement of the 15% work-efficiency improvement target itself is not shown, the company reports concrete progress in the form of lower labor costs from improved store operations in the first quarter. - FY2018RestatedAnnual report
「② With respect to operational reform, we will improve productivity by advancing reductions in store work and improving efficiency through narrowing the range of products.」
The policy of improving productivity through reducing store work and improving efficiency by narrowing the product range has been reiterated. - FY2017AdvancedAnnual report
「In the current fiscal year, we are reducing the frequency of deliveries to stores and instructions to change sales-floor layouts, while providing store management training to improve operational efficiency.」
Against the target of improving work efficiency by 15% compared with fiscal 2014, the company has reduced the frequency of deliveries and sales-floor change instructions and provided store management training. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「Through on-site work studies and analysis, we identified issues including multiple stores where the workload involved in replenishing products had increased and work efficiency had declined. We believe that resolving these issues could improve work efficiency by 15% compared with fiscal 2014.」
The company specifies a 15% improvement target compared with fiscal 2014, with work studies and analysis and improved inventory efficiency as the means.