Quality Initiatives
Quality Improvement Initiatives
Shareholders and Investors, Suppliers and Other Trade Partners, Employees, Global Environment
Quality Assurance System
Acquisition and Utilization of Quality Management System Certification
The Sumitomo Riko Group has established its quality assurance system based on the ISO9001/IATF16949 International Quality Management Standards, and is committed to continuous improvement of product and market quality through the reliable operation of the PDCA cycle. We are also actively building quality assurance systems at our overseas bases, and all of our production bases have obtained and are utilizing IATF16949 or ISO9001 certification.
Quality Assurance System by SRK-GQS
The Sumitomo Riko Group has established and is operating the SRK-GQS (Sumitomo Riko Global Quality Standards) as the Group's basic unified rules in the midst of accelerating globalization. Based on ISO9001 and IATF16949, we have incorporated the best practices of the Sumitomo Riko Group and formulated the basic rules for the Group.
The SRK-GQS consists of three levels: Level 1, which presents the general rules that form the axis of the Sumitomo Riko Group's quality assurance activities; Level 2, which defines detailed rules to be observed globally; and Level 3, which defines detailed rules for each business division on a global basis.
Since FY2024, we have been promoting inspection and improvement activities to ensure that lessons learned from past critical quality issues are reflected in the QMS at each of our bases, with a focus on the Americas and Europe. In fiscal 2025, we will further expand the scope of activities in fiscal 2024 and promote maintenance and improvement of the quality assurance system worldwide.
The SRK-GQS consists of three levels: Level 1, which presents the general rules that form the axis of the Sumitomo Riko Group's quality assurance activities; Level 2, which defines detailed rules to be observed globally; and Level 3, which defines detailed rules for each business division on a global basis.
Since FY2024, we have been promoting inspection and improvement activities to ensure that lessons learned from past critical quality issues are reflected in the QMS at each of our bases, with a focus on the Americas and Europe. In fiscal 2025, we will further expand the scope of activities in fiscal 2024 and promote maintenance and improvement of the quality assurance system worldwide.
Quality Governance
Customer contract performance audits
The Sumitomo Riko Group has been conducting “quality control audits” since fiscal 2016 and expanding them globally for the purpose of monitoring for inappropriate actions and encouraging self-purification by each division.
From FY2020 onward, in addition to the content of the previous audits, we have been additionally conducting contract fulfillment audits to ensure that the contents of contracts with customers are correctly fulfilled, in an effort to raise the level of audits. In FY2024, we were able to close most of the issues pointed out in quality control audits by regularly following up on improvements. In FY2025, we will continue quality control audits at overseas bases and follow up on improvement items as appropriate to reduce the risk of misconduct.
From FY2020 onward, in addition to the content of the previous audits, we have been additionally conducting contract fulfillment audits to ensure that the contents of contracts with customers are correctly fulfilled, in an effort to raise the level of audits. In FY2024, we were able to close most of the issues pointed out in quality control audits by regularly following up on improvements. In FY2025, we will continue quality control audits at overseas bases and follow up on improvement items as appropriate to reduce the risk of misconduct.
Creation of Quality Culture
The day of Q
Aiming to “foster a corporate culture of quality first,” we have designated a day with a ‘9’ on the calendar as a “Q Day,” a day for prioritizing quality-related work, starting in fiscal 2019. We position Q days as the foundation for quality assurance efforts at each workplace, and aim to have each workplace use Q days to engage in quality improvement activities, such as Re-do Zero activities and quality compliance education, as described below.
In FY2024, we took up “strengthening quality awareness,” “improving operational quality,” and “improving product quality” as our activities, and each workplace decided and implemented what was necessary, including process improvement, promotion of information sharing, and education within the workplace. Activities are being implemented at all workplaces, including 14 domestic group companies, and are expected to further improve quality awareness.
By continuing the Q day in FY2025, we will aim to realize "fostering a corporate culture of quality first.”
In FY2024, we took up “strengthening quality awareness,” “improving operational quality,” and “improving product quality” as our activities, and each workplace decided and implemented what was necessary, including process improvement, promotion of information sharing, and education within the workplace. Activities are being implemented at all workplaces, including 14 domestic group companies, and are expected to further improve quality awareness.
By continuing the Q day in FY2025, we will aim to realize "fostering a corporate culture of quality first.”
Re-do Zero Activity
Aiming to improve the quality of our operations, we have been promoting the “Re-do Zero Activity” as an activity in which each and every staff member practices daily operations based on the concept of “Own Process Completion”. This activity started with the corporate division in 2016, and was expanded to the business divisions in 2017, becoming an established company-wide activity.
This activity addresses the problems and troubles in each workplace in the course of daily work and contributes to the improvement of staff productivity by improving the quality of work from the viewpoint of “Stop, Reduce, and Replace”, as well as creating job satisfaction and vitality for the members of the workplace.
In FY2024, the practices of 20 divisions were disclosed to the entire company, and the President presented awards for good practices. In addition, the concept of Own Process Completion is becoming more prevalent in our operations, as evidenced by the inclusion of the “Current Operations Survey Form” used in this activity in the work of the Information System Department's computerization promotion project.
In FY2025, we will promote efforts to further disseminate this activity with the aim of improving the quality of operations of the Sumitomo Riko Group, including a survey on the concept of operational quality at overseas bases.
This activity addresses the problems and troubles in each workplace in the course of daily work and contributes to the improvement of staff productivity by improving the quality of work from the viewpoint of “Stop, Reduce, and Replace”, as well as creating job satisfaction and vitality for the members of the workplace.
In FY2024, the practices of 20 divisions were disclosed to the entire company, and the President presented awards for good practices. In addition, the concept of Own Process Completion is becoming more prevalent in our operations, as evidenced by the inclusion of the “Current Operations Survey Form” used in this activity in the work of the Information System Department's computerization promotion project.
In FY2025, we will promote efforts to further disseminate this activity with the aim of improving the quality of operations of the Sumitomo Riko Group, including a survey on the concept of operational quality at overseas bases.
Quality Compliance Education
In an effort to reduce quality compliance risks, we began quality compliance education in FY2024.
For department and section managers, we conducted in-house training and invited outside lecturers to give lectures. We invited Professor Emeritus Suzuki of the University of Electro-Communications to give a lecture on the theme of "Tackling Quality Scandals and Safety Issues.”
Participants gave high marks to the lecture, saying that it was helpful for them to change their behavior toward prevention.
In addition, in order to identify risks that could lead to quality compliance violations, group discussions are held at each workplace with the participation of all employees. Many participants commented that the discussions were meaningful, saying, for example, “We were able to share risks that our leaders were unaware of.” In fiscal 2025, we will expand this activity to the entire Sumitomo Riko Group, aiming to raise awareness of quality compliance throughout the Group.
For department and section managers, we conducted in-house training and invited outside lecturers to give lectures. We invited Professor Emeritus Suzuki of the University of Electro-Communications to give a lecture on the theme of "Tackling Quality Scandals and Safety Issues.”
Participants gave high marks to the lecture, saying that it was helpful for them to change their behavior toward prevention.
In addition, in order to identify risks that could lead to quality compliance violations, group discussions are held at each workplace with the participation of all employees. Many participants commented that the discussions were meaningful, saying, for example, “We were able to share risks that our leaders were unaware of.” In fiscal 2025, we will expand this activity to the entire Sumitomo Riko Group, aiming to raise awareness of quality compliance throughout the Group.
Evaluations from Customers
The Sumitomo Riko Group has received high evaluations from customers every fiscal year for its improvement activities for "Quality," "Cost," and "Delivery time" not only in Japan but also at each of its global bases.
In FY2024, 18 bases (3 domestic and 15 overseas) received 57 awards (6 domestic and 51 overseas).
In FY2024, 18 bases (3 domestic and 15 overseas) received 57 awards (6 domestic and 51 overseas).
FY2024 Supplier Awards
Japan
| Customer | Award | Awardee | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda Motor Corporation | CN (Carbon Neutral) Kaizen Award | Sumitomo Riko Company Limited | Japan |
| Toyota Boshoku Corporation | Quality Excellent Award | ||
| Toyota Boshoku Kyushu Corporation | Best Quality Award |
Tokai Chemical Industries/ |
|
| Caterpillar Japan LLC | SER Certification Excellent Award |
Sumitomo Riko Hosetex |
|
| Kubota Corporation | Best Supplier Award | ||
| Procurement Division General Manager Award Bronze Prize |
Overseas
| Customer | Customer | Awardee | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Motor North America, Inc. | Excellent Quality Award | S-Riko de Querétaro, S.A.P.I. de C.V. | North America |
| TOYOTA BOSHOKU AMERICA, INC. | Delivery Award | ||
| Toyota Motor Europe | Project management（Bronze） | SumiRiko Poland Sp. z o.o. | Europe |
| Value analysis（Bronze） | |||
| Dongfeng Honda Motor | Quality Control Excellence Supplier Award | SumiRiko Automotive (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | China |
| Toyota Motor Technical Center (China) | FY2024 TTCC Supplier Best Kaizen Case Award | ||
| GAC Toyota Engine Co., | Quality Cooperation Award | ||
| GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. | Quality Cooperation Award | ||
| Model Item Award～Kaizen to reduce failures in coating system equipment | |||
| Model Item Award~Personnel Efficiency Kaizen | |||
| Model Item Award ～Assembly jig integration Kaizen | |||
| Sundiro Honda Motorcycle (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2024 Excellent Supplier Award | ||
| Dongfeng Honda Motor | NHC Activities (QC Activities) Silver Award | SumiRiko Automotive (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd. | |
| Toyota Motor Technical Center (China) | Supplier Excellent Kaizen Case Award, Environment Gold Award | ||
| Supplier Excellent Kaizen Case Award, Safety Silver Award | |||
| GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. | Model Item Award~ Intermediate Inventory & Transport Duplication Kaizen | ||
| Model Item Award〜 Welding 1 # Staffing Kaizen | |||
| GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. | Quality Collaboration Award | SumiRiko Automotive (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. | |
| GAC Toyota Engine Co., Ltd. | Quality Collaboration Award | ||
| VA Collaboration Award | |||
| Toyota Motor Technical Center (China) | Environment Silver Award | ||
| Disaster Prevention Gold Award | |||
| Safety Silver Award | |||
| GAC Toyota Engine Co., Ltd. | Quality Cooperation Award | Tokai Chemical (Tianjin) Auto Parts Co., Ltd. | |
| Mitsubishi Logisnext Forklift (Dalian) Co., Ltd. | Quality Contribution Award | SumiRiko Hydraulic Hose (Hefei) Co., Ltd. | |
| Supplier Excellence Recognition Coordinator Caterpillar Inc. | Excellent Level | ||
| Sany Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. | Excellent Supplier Award | ||
| Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. (China) | Best Delivery Award | ||
| Toyota Industry (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. | General Excellence Award | ||
| Honda Cars India Ltd. | Environment | SumiRiko Imperial Rubber India Pvt. Ltd. | India |
| Maruti Suzuki India Limited | Zero Defect | ||
| Value Analysis | |||
| Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Private Limited | Most Domestic Vendor Partner | SumiRiko Imperial Hydraulics India Pvt. Ltd. | |
| Komatsu India Pvt. Ltd. | Best Performance in Quality For Dump Truck | ||
| Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. | Quality Award | Inoac Tokai (Thailand) Co., Ltd. | Thailand |
| Isuzu Motors Co., (Thailand) Ltd. | Delivery Gold Award (3rd Place) | ||
| Isuzu Engine Manufacturing Co., (Thailand) Ltd. | Cost Gold Award (3rd Place) | ||
| Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. | Quality Award | ||
| FTS AUTOMOTIVE (THAILAND) CO.,LTD. | Quality Award | SumiRiko Eastern Rubber (Thailand) Ltd. | |
| Hino Motors Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd. | Quality Award | ||
| NTN MENUFACTURING (THAILAND) CO.,LTD. | Quality Award | ||
| RICOH MANUFACTURING (THAILAND) LTD. | FY2024 BEST QUALITY AWARD | SumiRiko Chemical and Plastic Products (Thailand) Ltd. | |
| P.T. Honda Prospect Motor | Aftersales excellent quality & delivery performance award | PT. Tokai Rubber Indonesia | Indonesia |
| P.T. Astra Honda Motor | QCC Award | PT. Tokai Rubber Auto Hose Indonesia | |
| Industrial Relation Management Control Award | |||
| P.T. Honda Prospect Motor | QCC Award | ||
| PT. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia | Quality Award | ||
| Delivery Award | |||
| P.T. SUZUKI INDOMOBIL MOTOR | Delivery Award | ||
| Toyota Motor Vietnam Co., Ltd. | Quality Award | SumiRiko Hose Vietnam Co., Ltd. | Vietnam |
| Safety Award |