In 2021, amid the turmoil caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, the world took a major step toward carbon neutrality as a measure to address the risks of global warming and climate change. However, in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Combined with soaring prices and resource shortages, the world has entered a period of simultaneous restructuring of economic blocs and industrial structures.
In light of this situation, I have decided to shift our company’s strategic focus for the next few years away from expansion and toward “improving the quality of management.” In our latest mid-term management plan, IT-25 (Innovation TANABE-25),
- a) Implementation of a “redefinition of the corporate philosophy” in light of changes in the social environment
- b) Outline “Tanabe’s Vision” and establish the corporate structure necessary to achieve it
We have defined this “desired state” and established management indicators—such as production volume and profit—required to achieve it as our three-year management goals. Our three core management strategies are as follows:
- ① Retaining and expanding our customer base and enhancing value through our core strengths in solution proposals and technological development
- ② Quality Improvement and Cost Reduction Centered on Systematization and Kaizen Activities
- ③ Improving employee satisfaction by focusing on the introduction of diverse work styles and updates to employee benefits
As a result, our corporate philosophy is “NEXT HEAT: Bringing New Warmth to the Future Through Heat" has been reborn.
In addition to traditional management methods based on indicators such as production volume, we utilize management tools such as the Balanced Scorecard (Financial, Customer, Learning and Growth, Process) and strategy maps, while also integrating environmental management (ISO 14001), quality assurance (ISO 9001), the SDGs, diversity, and digital transformation (DX) in a comprehensive manner. By doing so, we aim to anticipate future social trends and are implementing a holistic management strategy that coordinates the entire company and all departments.
In the market, while maintaining and strengthening our core technologies for melting furnaces, industrial furnaces, and factory automation (FA) equipment, we are developing technologies for the environmental market—including carbon neutrality and, to some extent, nuclear power. At the same time, we are working with a strong sense of urgency on manufacturing equipment for high-demand battery materials to ensure that we meet both the stringent performance requirements and high quality standards.
In 2022, we celebrated our 100th anniversary, and we are confident that the “vision” outlined in IT-25 will serve as a guiding light for us as we move forward alongside our stakeholders amid the current challenging global situation.
Tanabe Co., Ltd. will continue to move forward toward the next 100 years.
President and CEO, Tanabe Co., Ltd.
Ikuo Tanabe
COMPANY
