Provide Highly Safe and Quality Products and Services
Create products and services and continue to make improvement for securing quality and safety, based on information obtained from diverse points of contact with sites, thus increasing social confidence.
The Kurita Group Approach
In order for the Kurita Group to continue its business and grow as a company, we must maintain its status as a trusted supplier for its customers. Therefore, the Kurita Group is working continuously to create products and services and make improvements for securing quality and safety based on information obtained from diverse points of contact with sites, thus increasing social confidence.
The Kurita Group revised the “Kurita Group Product Quality Policy” in fiscal 2024. Based on this policy, we are committed to enhance the trust of society through promoting quality improvement activities and improve the quality of the products and services to customers.
Contribution to Achieving the SDGs
Promotion and Governance System
The Kurita Group has defined “Provide highly safe and quality products and service” as one of its materialities, and the Sustainability Committee chaired by the Executive General Manager of the Sustainability Division, a Corporate Officer of the Company, oversees and promotes the Group’s initiatives. The Sustainability Committee discusses or reports on the status of the initiatives to the Executive Committee, and the Executive Committee deliberates and decides on necessary measures. Additionally, the Executive Committee reports on the status of initiatives to the Board of Directors, which oversees initiatives related to materialities.
Operation of Quality Management System
The Kurita Group is committed to the establishment and operation of a quality management system in accordance with ISO9001 at the Companies that have production processes such as procurement, manufacturing, and construction to provide products and services. The operational status, including audit results, is shared with our Quality Assurance Department, and Quality Assurance Department is commited to solving identified issues.
Please click here for the acquisition rate of the entire group as of March 2024 and a list of the Group Companies that have acquired certification.
Quality Management System
Targets and Results
The Kurita Group is committed to providing highly safe and quality products and service by setting targets related to reduction rate in the recurrence rate of accidents that affect customers and society. Targets and results for this materiality are shown as below.
| Metrics | Targets（Upper row） and Results（Lower row） | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | FY2025 *1 | FY2026 | FY2028 | |
| Reduction rate in the recurrence rate of accidents that affect customers and society *2 |
30% | 30% | 20% | 20% |
| Achieved （33%） |
||||
- The targets for fiscal 2025 were reviewed by the Sustainability Committee, and decided by the Executive Committee.
- The company will be the target in fiscal 2024. The targets will be expanded to group companies in Japan in fiscal 2026 and to the Kurita Group in fiscal 2027.
Evaluation of Results and Outline of Activities
Reduction Rate in the Recurrence Rate of Accidents that Affect Customers and Society
The Kurita Group is working to reduce the rate of the recurrence of accidents that affect customers and society.
In fiscal 2024, we achieved our target of reducing the recurrence rate by 33%.
In addition, we analyzed the causes of accidents that occurred and began registering safety-related cases in the Kurita-Safety Approach Tool (K-SAT), a model for preventing the recurrence and occurrence of industrial accidents, and quality-related cases in the Stress-Strength Model (SSM)* .
In order to further reduce the recurrence rate in the future, we continuously proceed the registration of information to K-SAT and SSM and will work to utilize the knowledge and information obtained through risk assessments.
- A mechanism for structurally identifying and rendering the mechanisms of defects into shareable knowledge, to be used to prevent defects and stop issues from reoccurring. A quality management approach mainly used in the manufacturing sector, developed by Yasuhiko Tamura of the Institute of Structured Knowledge Yielding Co., Ltd.
For more information about K-SAT, please click here.
Loss Cost Recurrence Prevention Cycle with SSM
Other Related Initiatives
Safety Evaluation of Products
The Company has a rule that, when it uses a new chemical substance in product development, it assesses the risk the chemical substance poses to the environment and health based on internal rules. In addition, when we manufacture a product, we submit mandatory notifications and reports following laws and regulations, including the Industrial Safety and Health Act, the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc., and the Fire Service Act.
Sharing Information Related to Product Safety
To ensure the appropriate provision of information to customers, the Company uses GHS *1- compliant SDS*2 and labels to inform them of applicable laws and hazards of the product and provide other information. We also issue Yellow Cards *3 and affix Yellow Card-compliant labels to containers *4 to ensure transportation safety.
- GHS stands for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Under this system, physical hazards and health/environmental hazards of chemicals are classified based on international standards, and products classified as hazardous ones are stated on SDSs and indicated on the containers. GHS has been introduced in many countries in accordance with a recommendation by the United Nations. In Japan, compliance with GHS is required by the Industrial Safety and Health Act.
- SDS (Safety Data Sheet), is a sheet on which a product’s hazards, applicable laws, how to handle and transport the product, emergency measures, and other information are presented in a specific format. The Company creates SDSs for all of its products, commodities, and developed articles and provides them to its customers.
- A yellow card containing information on accident measures as a safety measure when transporting chemical substances. This card is taken along by the transport operator when a chemical is transported on a tanker truck or the similar vehicle.
- A Yellow Card cannot be used in the case of consolidated transport or transport of small lot products. Therefore, in such a case, the Company affixes a label indicating safety information (United Nations Number and Emergency Response Guide Number of the chemical name) on each container.
Clarifying Customer Evaluations with NPS® Surveys
The Kurita Group conducts an NPS® * survey and utilizes the findings for creating sales and marketing strategy and transforming business processes. In fiscal 2024, the survey was conducted on customers globally, and responses were obtained from 1,547 individuals.
- NPS℠ is the registered trademark or service mark of Bain & Company, Fred Reichheld, and Satmetrix Systems.
Providing Training to Improve Knowledge and Skills
In order to raise the quality of services provided to customers, the Company runs training courses to improve the expertise and skills of Kurita Group employees. The courses comprise units on a range of topics, including basic knowledge about water treatment chemicals, technical training about water and wastewater, safety and legal affairs training, communication skills and problem-solving.
Number of Participants in Training
| FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Participants | 1,906 | 3,042 | 2,382 | 3,353 |
Internal Audit
The Company reviewed our existing internal audit system for quality and education and training programs in fiscal 2023 so that each organization can improve its quality management system autonomously. We will continuously conduct internal audits by the Quality Committee of each organization to identify issues and make improvements to enhance quality.
Quality Survey Conducted by External Institution
Since fiscal 2021, the Company has engaged an external institution to conduct quality surveys, covering Group companies in Japan involved in production. The surveys cover the quality control systems and operation status of each company. Based on the survey’s findings, quality-related issues were identified, and improvement measures were formulated as we continue to raise quality levels at Group companies in Japan.
Using Change Point Management to Prevent Abnormalities
The Company focused on Change Point Management as a quality improvement initiative in fiscal 2024. The Company has examined the problem in advance and formulated me to tasks such as those that fall under “first time, change, or after long time,” which have high probabilities of causing abnormalities or defects. We will continuously be committed to this effort to prevent mistakes and to quickly address changes when they arise.
Response to Defects/Prevention of Recurrence and Simple Prevention
Defects that arise prior to installation at customers and complaints received from customers are entered to internal “problem information” database and shared widely throughout the Company.
Additionally, we will curb the occurrence of defects by conducting investigations and audits of the causes of nonconformities, and by establishing and utilizing a Stress-Strength Model (SSM), a system to prevent defects and stop issues from reoccurring.
Number of Serious Accidents in the Kurita Group Involving Products and Services
| FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of serious accidents | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Requests for Business Partners
For details on requests for business partners, please click on the link below.