Quality-Related Initiatives
With a fundamental philosophy of putting customers first, the NGK Group considers the provision of products that contribute to better social environments to be one of its most important missions.
Where quality is concerned, each year we set quality targets for the business term and promote related activities. These efforts are based on a Corporate Quality Policy that reads: “NGK is dedicated to quality and committed to providing valuable products and services that are trusted by our customers and respected by society.”
NGK has ISO-based quality assurance systems optimized at the business division level, where it promotes quality assurance, management and improvement activities. From the product development and design stage to production launch, relevant departments review and confirm that sufficient levels of quality have been secured in terms of product safety, functionality and durability. After production begins, quality is maintained or improved through quality meetings, quality committees and other mechanisms. We also respond in detail to customers through a system in which Quality Assurance departments work in coordination with other relevant divisions.
Furthermore, a Company-wide Promotion Committee of Quality Improvement Activity develops inter-divisional qualityrelated initiatives, which include establishing policies and goals that apply to the entire Company, as well as providing support and follow-up for activities conducted by each division. The committee also regularly reports on these activities to upper management. At the same time, the committee is addressing quality improvement through “QuiC (Quality up innovation Challenge)” activities in which all employees take part.
In addition to the pursuit of quality that satisfies customers (in terms of product quality, cost and delivery), NGK carries out activities aimed at improving a comprehensive conception of corporate quality that includes the creation of products that appeal to customers, recognizing this as one of its social responsibilities as a corporation.
In fiscal 2008, our drive to eliminate customer complaints in particular yielded tangible benefits, resulting in a substantial reduction in product defects. Having declared a new Company-wide target for fiscal 2009 of realizing dramatic improvements in quality levels through fundamental reforms, we will continue to strengthen activities designed to prevent defective products. Similarly for defects that emerge from manufacturing processes, we will work as a rule to develop efforts to identify and target causes of defects more aggressively than ever before, as we promote activities aimed at creating resilient and efficient manufacturing sites.
Given the demand for quality assurance activities in step with the Company’s global business development, Group companies in and outside Japan will work in unison to maintain and improve quality further, with the goal of becoming an excellent corporate group in terms of quality as well. In fiscal 2008, we embarked on quality assurance activities on a consolidated basis by extending quality evaluation activities to Group companies outside Japan.
These activities will be enhanced further in fiscal 2009.
