Enhances the accuracy of quality measurement by pursuing the automation of measurement processes to eliminate variations due to quality measurement personnel, sample preparation, and measurement procedures. In addition, converts measurement results into data and uses the data to prevent to prevent typing errors when creating inspection tables and labels.

Holds quality assurance department meetings three times a year, bringing together the quality assurance department managers of each plant to organize the issues at each plant, determine quality targets for each term, and check progress. Similarly, holds quality analysis technical meetings where the details of each plant’s initiatives are reported in order to promote DX in quality assurance and share new inspection and analysis technologies.

Almost all of the Group’s manufacturing bases, both domestic and overseas, have obtained certifications for their quality control systems, such as ISO 9001. Even at those bases that have not obtained ISO 9001 certification, we control the quality of our products by conducting inspections at the time of receiving raw materials, maintenance of inspection equipment, and quality audits based on ISO 9001. In addition, some Shin-Etsu Chemical plants and group companies have acquired quality management system certifications such as IATF16949^*.

The Shin-Etsu Group has also established a strict rule to respond to all inquiries of product quality from customers within two business days.

Since 2000, we have conducted quality audits annually to improve quality and customer service at each plant, and we confirm the status of quality and report on the efforts to meet quality targets. We also confirm measures to deal with important customer complaints and work to improve quality levels.

Quality audits evaluate quality from two different viewpoints: customer and quality cost. Through this, we work to identify the root cause of quality issues to prevent re-occurrence. We have also designated November as Quality Month, and work to strengthen our quality management throughout the Group.