Awards for Product Safety
The Twelfth (FY 2008) Awards for Excellence in Product Safety Measures.
Nitori receives the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for the second consecutive year.
Nitori Holdings has received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in the Large Enterprise Retailer Category for the second consecutive year, following 2016, in recognition of the following points in the 12th (FY 2008) Awards for Excellent Product Safety Measures.
Note:*This is the second consecutive year that we have received this award, following the 2016 award, because the system does not allow companies that have received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award to apply the following year.
1. Expansion of the scope of application of the quality assurance manual to prevent silent changes
We are expanding the application of the Quality Assurance Manual, which was previously required only for primary manufacturers, to secondary manufacturers and parts manufacturers. By doing so, we are preventing changes in the quality of the parts that make up our products during production and ensuring product safety.
2.Development of safety assessment through technical evaluation meetings at overseas bases
We have decided to hold technical evaluation meetings at our overseas bases (Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City), which have been conducted mainly in Japan, and provide direct guidance and support from Japan via the overseas TV system on past problems. By implementing the program at locations closer to the production site, we are able to efficiently evaluate the safety of the actual products, and we are also able to quickly and accurately convey to the production site the points that need to be addressed.
3. Expansion of technical guidance, management guidance, and quality improvement guidance to overseas business partners
We have been providing technical and management guidance to overseas contractors, even to companies that have business with other companies, overcoming the barriers between companies. In the training for managers, we aim to give them a sense of the working environment and social responsibility as well.
Tenth (FY 2008) Commendation for Excellence in Product Safety Measures
Awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize
Nitori Holdings has been awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize in the Large Enterprise Retail Sales Business category for the following points in the Tenth (FY 2008) Awards for Excellent Corporations for Product Safety. This is the fifth time we have received this award since the second award in 2008, and the first time we have received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award.
1. Efforts to ensure safety through integrated cooperation
As a challenge to the new business model of "product safety and quality improvement," we have established an "integrated cooperative system" with our suppliers based on the principle that the manufacturer's and seller's responsibility for product safety "cannot be divided, will not be divided, and will not be left to others. We have established a quality manual for the purchase of safe products, and provide guidance to suppliers on production technology and factory management aimed at the continuity of product safety.
2. Thorough technical evaluation and measures to prevent accidents
When selecting products to be sold, we not only conduct general strength tests, but also functional verification, structural verification, and durability tests at technical evaluation meetings, considering the user's environment and usage conditions. As a preventive measure against accidents, we clarify problems and take preventive measures by conducting evaluations based on hazard numerical values, structural technology evaluations by disassembling products, and durability evaluations using endurance testing equipment.
3. Efforts throughout the supply chain through management education and factory audits
We educate our business partners on the importance of manufacturing safe products as a management method. We are working to prevent product accidents by providing technical guidance to factories as well as factory management guidance aimed at ensuring the continuity of product safety. We also conduct audits of manufacturers and provide them with guidance for improvement.
Eighth (FY 2014) Awards for Excellence in Product Safety Measures
Award from the Council for Commerce, Distribution and Security
In recognition of the following points, Nitori Holdings was awarded the Councillor for Commerce, Distribution and Security Award in the 8th (FY 2014) Awards for Excellence in Product Safety Measures by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Following the 7th award in the retail sales business category, this time we received the award in the manufacturing and import business category. This is the first time for a manufacturer or distributor to win the award in both categories, and the second year in a row for our company.
1. Co-creation of a product safety culture with business partners
We are promoting initiatives to co-create a product safety culture through friendly competition among all suppliers, including global small-group activities, QC circle meetings, and training visits to excellent factories.
2. Implementation of multifaceted product safety verification
We conduct product safety verification, including product disassembly, structural analysis, and endurance/stress testing, and reflect and accumulate the obtained product safety characteristic data in our evaluation standards to improve product safety.
3. Improvement of organizational capabilities at each site through human resource development
In accordance with our own "Product Safety and Quality Engineer Certification System," we are developing human resources in Japan and overseas from a medium- to long-term perspective to enhance the organizational capabilities of each site in production, logistics, and stores.
Seventh (FY 2013) Commendation for Excellence in Product Safety Measures
Award from the Council for Commerce, Distribution and Security
Nitori Holdings was awarded the Councillor for Commerce, Distribution and Security Award at the 7th (FY 2013) Awards for Excellence in Product Safety Measures by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, in recognition of the following points.
1. Establishment of a vertically integrated product safety assurance system
The company has established a vertically integrated product safety assurance system from development to sales. In the product development stage, the company confirms specifications using FMEA methods and conducts destructive endurance tests using its own testing facilities, and in the production stage, the company provides on-site guidance to suppliers' factories.
2. Distribution of safety information to prevent accidents caused by product deterioration over time
In order to prevent accidents and problems caused by product deterioration over time, safety information is disseminated in a timely and appropriate manner, such as through direct mailings of maintenance information to product purchasers.
3. Establishment of a traceability system linking product manufacturing history and sales history
In order to be prepared to respond to emergencies, a system has been established to link the manufacturing history information of parts, materials, and manufacturing lots with the customer's purchase history information using membership cards, thereby ensuring traceability from the manufacturing stage to the usage stage.
Fifth (2011) Awards for Excellence in Product Safety Measures
Award from the Council for Commerce and Industry
Nitori Holdings received the Commerce and Industry Promotion Councilor's Award for the following points in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Fifth (FY 2011) Awards for Excellence in Product Safety Measures.
1. Thorough technical evaluation before adopting the products we handle
Before adopting a product, we conduct a technical evaluation of its safety and quality. If there is a problem with the product as a result of the evaluation, we do not adopt it and request for improvement. After improvements are made, we re-evaluate the product and thoroughly check in advance if there are any safety or quality issues with the product.
2. Strengthening the production and quality control systems of supplier factories
When selecting suppliers, we evaluate their production and quality control stance and legal compliance in advance. After the start of business, we conduct on-site inspections, seminars, lectures, and tests to strengthen the production and quality control systems of our suppliers.
3. Training of engineers who can evaluate quality
Since fiscal 2007, we have been operating a certification system for quality control engineers in order to improve their knowledge of quality technology. In addition, we are conducting various education and training programs on production and quality control in order to reform employees' awareness on safety and quality.
Second (FY 2008) Award for Excellent Company in Product Safety Measures
Nitori receives the Silver Award from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
Nitori has been awarded the Silver Prize in the Large Enterprise Retailer Category of the Second (FY 2008) Commendation for Excellence in Product Safety Measures by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
This award is given annually to manufacturers, importers, and retail dealers who are actively working on product safety, on a company-by-company basis. The company's proactive stance on accident prevention, post-accident response, and human resource development, which were implemented from 2005 to 2008, was highly evaluated and selected for the Silver Award.
The award ceremony was held on November 17 at the venue of the 3rd Product Safety General Inspection Seminar, and the award certificate and commemorative plaque were presented by the Vice Minister for Commercial Affairs and Distribution, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. All of our employees will continue to play an active role in product safety and strive to meet the expectations and demands of our customers.
