The SHIMA SEIKI Group strives to improve in order to continue being recognized as a trusted and "indispensable company," while valuing its relationships with stakeholders through business activities, carrying out appropriate information disclosure, and increasing corporate value.
Based on the corporate philosophy of "Ever Onward - Limitless Progress," SHIMA SEIKI is focusing on developing and providing attractive products and services that anticipate users' needs by demonstrating "creativity." We will strive to improve product quality and customer satisfaction based on the SHIMA SEIKI Spirit of "developing products with the most advanced technologies and offering them at the most affordable prices." In addition to promoting "people-friendly, earth-friendly product creation," we will contribute to environmental preservation through the development and provision of "environmentally conscious products" and fulfill our social responsibilities as a global company.
For this reason, all employees, under the president, always keep the "10 Product Development Concepts" in mind, actively addressing the planned and efficient operation of quality and the environmental management system, and the continuous improvement of its effectiveness.
SHIMA SEIKI strictly implements quality control in order to respond to customers' trust. We arrange the following system to deliver safe and secure products to everyone without a lack of quality.
* QMS: Quality Management System
Quality and Environmental Management Conference
Information sharing aimed at quality improvement
We appoint members from each division and regularly hold the "QMS (Quality Management System) Committee." In addition to reporting our efforts, we are working to develop and provide appealing products from the customer's point of view with the goals of improving quality by consulting/solving problems and sharing information.
Thorough quality control through system utilization
By establishing traceability and utilizing a system cooperated in-house, it is possible to grasp all the production processes on data and quickly respond to inquiries from customers after shipment. This is effective for improvement measures and maintenance management, which realizes quality improvement and product stabilization.
Guaranteeing the quality of our design system
In order to develop new technologies and further develop users' industries, we operate the quality management system for all products we design, manufacture, and sell. Among them, we have gained the "ISO 9001 Third-Party Certification by External Certification Authority" effective for product certification of overseas safety standards in the design and manufacturing business of the apparel design system. (Certification obtained: September 24, 2002)
Protecting our customers' products with intellectual property rights
As a leading company in the flat knitting machine industry, we have developed several world-first technologies and products, including a fully automatic glove knitting machine, and currently own over 1,100 patents both in Japan and overseas.
In the business of flat knitting machines, which constitutes our core business, we have worked on obtaining rights to a wide range of technologies, including WHOLEGARMENT technology, mechanisms and controls for flat knitting machines, and knitting technology. We have also worked hard to protect intellectual property rights in our design system, automatic cutting machines, and glove and sock knitting machines to ensure that our clients can use our products with peace of mind. At the same time, we accumulate as know-how the technologies that we feel should be kept under wraps rather than make any attempt to acquire the rights to these technologies.
The technologies we have developed constitute very important assets of our corporate group. We monitor activities, issue warnings, take legal action where necessary, and otherwise carry out appropriate measures when faced with infringements by counterfeit manufacturers. Moreover, we are always checking the products and services that we provide to ensure that we are not violating the intellectual property rights of third parties. We take a proper approach in using intellectual property rights owned by third parties, such as by using such rights after first concluding agreements with rights holders.
We are aware that the realization of a sustainable society is the most important issue for future generations. The apparel and fashion industry from which our clients hail faces all sorts of issues, such as in terms of their load on the global environment. We have thus contributed to the realization of a sustainable society through the provision and development of environmentally friendly products and services, including WHOLEGARMENT flat knitting machines and design systems (SDS-ONE APEX and APEXFiz). By participating in joint research projects with domestic and overseas companies and universities, we continue to engage in research with a view to commercializing products that support sustainable manufacturing. We are also working to acquire intellectual property rights for unique technologies designed for not just the apparel and fashion industry but also the field of industrial materials and the healthcare sector.
＜Guidelines for Our Intellectual Property Rights＞
Guideline for intellectual property rights owned by SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD.
Guidelines for Trademarks Owned by SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD.
We believe that investments in intellectual property are indispensable for promoting the following four important measures set forth in Ever Onward 2023, our medium-term management plan: (i) strengthening WHOLEGARMENT business, (ii) conversion to solutions-based business, (iii) advancing diversification with distinction, and (iv) restructuring management infrastructure in response to societal changes.
We will continue to invest in development at a high level in order to promote the development of new products that offer enhanced functions in our WHOLEGARMENT business, which consists of environmentally friendly products. In addition, we will identify business domains and determine investment resources in order to quickly launch new businesses for the promotion of business diversification imbued with originality. We are working to protect original technologies that emerge from these research and development activities with the use of intellectual property rights and differentiate ourselves from our competitors through their effective utilization.
Participation in Skill Grand Prix
In-House Skills Examination System
Through an in-house skills examination system, we train engineers with advanced skills, such as a "WHOLEGARMENT 1st Grade Engineer." In addition, by supporting participation in Skill Grand Prix and acquiring skills tests, we aim to further improve quality by motivating employees, raising their skills, and challenging their spirit.
Creating ideas from daily work
With an in-house system called the "Improvement Proposal System," each employee constantly creates ingenuity while continuously improving daily work from various perspectives including quality improvement, cost reduction, occupational accident prevention, customer satisfaction improvement, skill development, and ecology. Through the "Improvement Proposal System," improvement of business is linked to fostering innovation awareness.
We aim to provide after-sales services according to customers in Japan and overseas.
We provide lecture facilities at headquarters so that all customers can fully utilize the functions of our products. Our experienced professional staff supports our customers.
For overseas, we work to enhance our support system through local subsidiaries and service bases.
Evacuation drills
For the health and safety of employees
Corporate activities focused on employee health support, safety, and disaster prevention help to ensure the health and safety of our employees.
Listening to the voices of our employees
We have established a "Corporate Ethics Helpline (Compliance Consultation Counter)" within and outside the company as a point of contact for consultation and notification when we discover fraud or unfair practices such as violation of laws and duties within the SHIMA SEIKI Group.
Employees can feel refreshed in a green space
Facilities for employees to enjoy
There is a swimming pool (limited to summer months), a tennis court, and external affiliated facilities inside the company as welfare facilities. The company swimming pool is open to local residents as well as employees, and it also plays a role in protecting against fires in the area. A vast garden provides a space for employees to relax during breaks.
Providing and sharing information by employees
Based on an in-house magazine issued since June 1972, we are providing and sharing company information. Article submission from employees is one of its features, and it is used as a communication tool for employee participation.
In-house nursery school called "Shima Kids Land"
Promoting active roles of women in the workplace
In April 2017, we opened an in-house nursery school called "Shima Kids' Land" with the goal of improving the work environment where female employees can play an active role. In addition, we have expanded the opportunities for women to participate in activities such as setting up opportunities for awareness of further challenges, such as training and participation in outside seminars.
Aiming for the globalization of human resources
We hire overseas human resources, accept various values, respond to diverse needs, and aim to cultivate human resources that will become the backbone of overseas business.
Keep working lively and vividly
Employees that wish to continue working after retirement age and who do not fall under dismissal reasons or reasons for retirement have adopted a reemployment system that works as a temporary treatment for a period of up to 65 years of age. We are developing an environment where these employees can continue to work with a purpose, such as transferring skills and knowledge to younger employees. As a result, the reemployment system is making full use of the rich experiences of our senior workers.
New employee training
Aiming for career up
In order to ensure that each employee can fulfill his/her respective role, we conduct training for each level, in order for employees to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. We also encourage self-development and offer a wide variety of educational correspondence courses and foreign language training.
Efforts towards ET Robocon
In addition, in order to cultivate technical skills, we have also established initiatives to participate in contests competing for technology and an in-house skills verification system.
While keeping a fair and equitable perspective with our business partners, we will conduct sound and transparent transactions at all times based on the following basic policy, while observing the law concerning the optimization of transactions with subcontracting companies.
Aiming for efficiency on both sides
By utilizing "Web EDI" of electronic data in the order receiving work with business partners, it leads to the reduction of workload and improvement of efficiency on both sides. In addition, environmental burdens have been reduced by making it paperless.
Exchanging information at a meeting place
We hold exhibitions and workshops sponsored by business partners at our company, leading to information sharing and technology improvement not only in the material procurement division but also in related departments. In addition, employees from related departments visit business partners and hold technical exchange meetings in order to solve mutual issues and problems and to continue to supply with consistent quality.
In order to obtain correct understanding and trust from shareholders, investors, business partners, and local communities, etc., we strive to provide fair, timely, appropriate, and continuous disclosure of information on the company's business situation and overall corporate activities.
For details, please refer to "Disclosure Policy."
Factory tour
Proper information disclosure
A general meeting of shareholders is held annually every June. As the company's highest decision-making body, we discuss important matters and receive reports of annual business results and consolidated financial statements. After the general meeting, we also hold a factory tour at headquarters.
Results briefing
Sharing information in briefing sessions
We hold financial briefing sessions for securities analysts and institutional investors twice a year in Tokyo. We explain the results of operations and the medium to long term management vision, and we receive many opinions and suggestions through question and answer. In addition, the SHIMA SEIKI Group has extensive business overseas and has increased opportunities for dialogue with overseas institutional investors.
We consider the return of profits to shareholders as one of our highest management policies. Our fundamental policy is to continue to provide stable returns over the long term in line with sustainable business expansion. On this basis, we strive to allocate profit in a balanced manner, while maintaining the internal reserves for investment in growth from a long-term perspective and future business expansion. Regarding the policy of returning profits included in the medium-term management plan "Ever Onward 2023," we will create a stronger link to profit growth than in the past and increase consolidated dividend payout ratio to 30% for shareholder returns. At the same time, we will consider important factors including our share price level, cash situation, market environment, as well as purchase treasury stock in a timely and expeditious manner while striving to increase capital efficiency in other ways.
In order to help shareholders and investors understand the business contents and the management strategy of SHIMA SEIKI, an investor information page is provided on the official homepage to post important information including summaries of accounts, results briefing materials, shareholder newsletters, and annual reports. Furthermore, we are enriching the contents so that we can communicate our future efforts in an easy-to-understand manner.
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