We deliver high quality products and aim to continuously improve delivery times, costs, and customer satisfaction as well.

Initiatives to Quality Assurance

NHK Spring will provide products of appropriate quality to customers, by fostering a quality culture based on the customer’s perspective. We also aim to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction globally, in terms of keeping delivery schedule and responding to cost targets.

Acquired certification from the international organization for standardization

NHK Spring firstly acquired the ISO 9001 international standardization certificate for the Atsugi Plant in 1996, and since then, all of our plants have acquired the ISO 9000 series certifications. In addition, we have switched to and acquired certifications for the IATF 16949 standards, which are also required by our customers, at our plants that produce automotive products. In addition to actively encouraging our domestic Group companies to acquire certifications, we are also taking on initiatives to acquire other international quality management systems certifications to overseas Group companies, such as the ISO 9000 series and ISO/TS 16949, according to the requirements of our customers and regions.

IATF 16949: 2016 certification acquired for 41 plants 　(As of November 2020)

Awards received from customers (fiscal 2020)

　[Some examples of awards received from customers]

QC Circle Activities

Since 1965, we have been moving forward with problem-solving activities using a small-group structure (QC Circle Activities) as a means of improving the workplace through employees’ ingenuity and mutual education. In 1966, we held our first QC Circle Conference, titled the “First All-NHK Spring QC Effectiveness Case Presentation Conference.” The title was changed in 1978 to the “All-NHK Spring Circle Convention,” and has continued under that title since then.

1966 First QC Circle Convention

2019 Participants in domestic group convention

2020 Examination of video presentation

Since it was difficult to hold gathering convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we tried to examine video presentations for the time in the 47th convention last year (FY2020). As in previous years, daily improvements were presented by 12 circles, including circles from domestic and overseas group companies. QC circle activities are also actively carried out by Group companies. In Japan, regional competitions are held in East and West, and a national congress is held among the top eight circles.

In overseas, NHK Thailand, and group companies in China keep high level activities, and champions of those countries will be granted the chance to attend NHK Spring congress in Japan. They have received the top award in All-NHK Spring Convention in the past.

2019 QC Congress in China

2020 NHK Spring Thailand QC Congress in first half of the fiscal year

Fostering a corporate culture focused on quality

Although quality control tends to be associated with its technology, we believe that people create quality. Therefore, in addition to providing QC technologies training, we also focus on training to raise consciousness to the importance of fostering a corporate culture focused on quality. In education system to the new employee level, mid-career employees, and managers/ supervisors, the main focus is on problem solving and improving work methods according to their experience. Also, activities of QC circle and business process improvement are to be these training put into and rooted in practices.

Online-based education by employees’ job level

Strengthening Group Governance

NHK Spring Group has established a quality assurance (QA) system at each of its production bases and is vigorously promoting quality control, audits, and improvement activities. In addition, QC Department in the Headquarters regularly conducts its own audits at all production site in Japan. It conducts audits auditing operations, verifies the QA systems and related activities are being properly implemented, and instructs responsible parties to take prompt corrective action if the systems and activities are inadequate.

In addition, QC and CSR Department which are in charge of compliance, collaborate to educate employees on quality and compliance, and are continuously working to foster a qualityfocused corporate culture throughout the entire group. The NHK Spring Group has formed a strong group governance system by implementing a number of such initiatives that lead to appropriate quality products manufacturing at all production bases.

Quality compliance training