Relationship with Business Partners

The Purchasing Headquarters exercises overall control and adjustment over the purchase in general of the prescribed raw materials, fuel, machines, and equipment installed in the buildings of the Company's plants and domestic and overseas affiliates.

When executing business operations, we endeavor to comply with the laws, regulations, and social norms at home and abroad, while asking our suppliers to do likewise. Specifically, we ask suppliers to enter into basic agreements on transactions under which both parties agree to respect human rights, assure safety and health, and protect the environment.

The Company selects new suppliers to purchase from in accordance with our own internal criteria. We decide to transact business according to the required procedures after making an equitable and fair determination in light of all criteria. In addition, we think it is important to constantly build mutual ties that build confidence in our suppliers, which results brings mutual benefits to both parties.

When starting transactions, we check to see whether our procedures fall under the Act against Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds, etc., to Subcontractors. If we find that the Act applies to our procedures, we respond by bringing our procedures into compliance with the Act and the internal rules of the Company. By the same token, if the existing transactions are subject to the Act, we promptly take action to comply.

The Company has internal rules to verify whether any given raw materials are in compliance with the internal and external regulations related to chemical substances. Such substances are not adopted unless they are in compliance. If compliance is ascertained, purchase specifications including such items are drawn up. Then, the raw materials to be used will comply with the chemical substance regulations because the in-house rules do not allow them to be registered without the purchase specifications. Meanwhile, looking into the newly established rules is being worked on together with the other relevant departments inside the Company.

The Purchasing Headquarters audit all raw materials suppliers. In many cases, an audit is conducted at the same time as the Production and/or Quality departments conduct their audits. The items for audit and the criteria for determination are developed at Headquarters' option with their research focused on a stable supply. Checking on the suppliers' situations, including their companies as a whole, the applicable business, raw material procurement, equipment location, production worksites, workers, relationship with the Company, and other factors, the Purchasing Headquarters makes a comprehensive decision. If any improvements are necessary, the Company draws suppliers' attention in writing to the items requiring improvement, while requesting that they respond with a due date for the action indicated.