Ensuring Product Safety Through Supplier Collaboration and Technical Evaluation

「In addition, we established a system under which products incorporating new materials or new functions cannot be commercialized without first undergoing this evaluation meeting. By conducting it in parallel with the “Development Technology Evaluation Meeting,” which verifies product-use safety, we are working to prevent quality problems before they occur.」

「Also, reflecting on the 2020 recall of diatomaceous earth-related products, we revised the list of restricted substances and are rigorously prohibiting the use of, and regulating the content of, covered substances in products. In addition, in February 2021 we established the “Planning and Design Evaluation Meeting,” conducted jointly with departments involved in product development to verify such matters as “confirmation of raw-material safety,” “compliance with regulations and standards,” and “monitoring and guidance of factory management systems.”」

「The Group has established an organization responsible for quality assurance and selects suppliers’ factories after conducting investigations based on its own stringent standards. We also actively hold study sessions for suppliers and provide training and technical guidance on product safety and quality control,」

「We decided to immediately suspend sales of the relevant products and conduct a voluntary recall. The products subject to the voluntary recall comprise 8 items, totaling approximately 3.55 million units, including products that failed inspection and products manufactured at the same factory that passed inspection.」

「The Group’s product-safety initiatives, including expanding the scope of its quality-assurance manual to prevent “silent changes,” in which specifications such as the materials used in parts are changed without notifying the ordering company; extending safety evaluations through technical evaluation meetings at overseas locations; and expanding technical, management and quality-improvement guidance for overseas suppliers, were recognized with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in the large retail sales operators category for the second consecutive time.」

「This recognition reflects the Group’s product-safety initiatives, including expanding the scope of its quality-assurance manual to prevent “silent changes,” in which specifications such as the materials used in parts are changed without notifying the ordering company; extending safety evaluations through technical evaluation meetings at overseas locations; and expanding technical, management and quality-improvement guidance for overseas suppliers.」

「This recognition reflects the Group’s efforts to ensure safety through integrated collaboration with suppliers, thorough technical evaluations and accident-prevention measures, as well as technical guidance for suppliers aimed at maintaining product safety on an ongoing basis.」