Safety / Quality
Management Approach
Basic Policy
Placing the top priority for management on safety, we have established the Basic Policy on Safety, under which all employees as well as all persons working at the Kaneka Group and our partner companies work to create safe and healthy workplaces and share the importance of safety with the goal of no accidents and no disasters. As for product quality, aiming to benefit society and satisfy customers through a stable supply of safe and reliable products, the Kaneka Group has set Quality Management Regulations to ensure thorough day-to-day quality control and product safety at all stages, from product design and development to delivery to customers.
Policy
Basic Policies for Responsible Care
- Protect the natural ecosystem and reduce environmental impact
Focusing on the impact of corporate activities on the global environment and the ecosystem, we endeavor to reduce environmental impact and promote resource conservation and energy saving throughout the lifecycle of products. - Offer safe products and information
We endeavor to offer products that are safe to distribute and use, and to provide adequate information on the products such as instructions on how to use and handle products correctly. - Develop products and technologies in consideration of the environment and safety
Upon the development of new products, we give consideration to the environment and safety throughout the lifecycle of the products to the greatest extent possible, and endeavor to develop products and technologies with low environmental impact. - Reduce waste and promote the recycling of plastics
We reduce waste associated with manufacturing and its processes. We actively develop technologies for the adequate disposal or recycling of plastic waste concerning our products in cooperation with relevant industries, and endeavor to dispose of and recycle waste in a proper manner. - Enhance process safety, disaster‒prevention, and occupational safety and health
Safety and disaster prevention constitute the foundations of the local community’s trust, and occupational health and safety are issues that need to be fulfilled by chemical companies. We persistently strive to make improvements in these areas. - Win public confidence
From the management to every employee, all our members shall act in compliance with laws, regulations, standards, etc. relating to environment and safety both at home and abroad. Our approach to Responsible Care as such shall be publicized accurately to the public, in hope of rightfully gaining public recognition and confidence.
Promotion System
As for safety, the Safety & Human Health Subcommittee, with the director in charge of process safety as the chair, which was established in the ESG Committee, sets policies and goals related to occupational safety, process safety, and disaster prevention and checks the progress of goals. In his greetings at New Year and on the yearly anniversary of our foundation, the president delivers a related message directly to employees.
As set out in our Basic Safety Policies, our Zero Accident Principles, and the Kaneka Group Code of Conduct, we prioritize safety above all else, observe the principles of safety, and work to ensure that safe practice is taken on board and strictly adhered to. In this way we seek to guarantee safety and peace of mind through stable day-to-day manufacturing operations.
Message from the President
On my frequent visits to our plants, I sense a growing safety awareness at each site and feel keenly that this commitment to safety has been taken fully on board by frontline staff.
However, we must never imagine that we have perfected our safety system. Instead of relying on the fact that safety measures have been put in place, we must all take individual responsibility for ensuring the safety of our team.
We in management will continue to work tirelessly to protect the lives of our employees and to ensure their safety and peace of mind.
As for product quality, the Product Safety Subcommittee sets policies and goals related to product safety and quality assurance and checks the progress of the goals. We have also established the Quality Management Conference and the Product Safety Review Conference as bodies that implement measures, including product safety assurance, at all stages from product design and development to raw material procurement, manufacturing, storage, and transportation.
Each of our businesses undergoes regular third-party auditing and inspection based on ISO 9001 and other established standards and regulations. We also take steps in-house to enhance our quality management system and thereby raise product quality standards through ESG safety and quality inspections and internal audits.
We also conduct ESG safety and quality inspections targeting all Group companies in Japan and overseas to check the progress of activities from the standpoints of occupational safety, product safety and quality assurance, and environmental protection. In fiscal 2021, we conducted surveys at all parent manufacturing sites and at eight sites of six Group companies in Japan, focusing on the key areas of operations and improvements based on risk assessment standards, initiatives to prevent human error, and the management of irregular work and crisis response.
Diagram of Promotion System (through Fiscal 2021)
We reorganized our ESG-related organization with the establishment of the Engine of Sustainability Management on April 1, 2022. It is tasked with overseeing and enhancing ESG management.
As for safety, established under the Engine of Sustainability Management, the Safety Committee sets policies and goals related to occupational safety, process safety, and disaster prevention and to check their implementation and progress.
As for product quality, the Global CSV (Quality Environment) Center operates the Quality Management Conference and the Product Safety Review Conference. Through these bodies, we coordinate quality assurance activities throughout the Kaneka Group and drive quality management, including product safety assurance, at all stages from product design and development to raw material procurement, manufacturing, storage, and transportation.
Diagram of Promotion System (as of April 1, 2022)
Safety
Quality
Target and Performance
| Target | Fiscal 2021 performance | |
|---|---|---|
|
Strengthen process safety and disaster prevention Ensure occupational health and safety |
|
|
|
Process accidents Occupational accidents |
Zero accidents |
|
