< List of Award-Winning Companies in FY2023 >
Click here for the list of FY2023 judges
Manufacturers and Importers Category
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Major Company Manufacturers and Importers Category
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Small and Medium-Sized Companies Manufacturers and Importers Category
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Retailer Category
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Small and Medium Retailers Category
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Manufacturers and Importers Category
Major CompanyMETI Minister's Award
Rinnai Corporation
| Established | 1950 |
|---|---|
| Representative | President and CEO: Hiroyasu Naito |
| Number of employees | 11,150 (consolidated), 3,587 (non-consolidated) (as of March 2023) |
| Location: | Nagoya, Aichi |
| Business | Development, manufacturing, and sales of thermal energy equipment (mainly gas appliances) |
| URL | https://www.rinnai.co.jp/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Improving product safety based on measures to prevent recurrence and incidents involving products from other industries
They have achieved product safety exceeding industry standards by establishing systems to go beyond gas equipment to broadly collect examples of product incidents and measures on home appliances and various products from different industries to prevent their recurrence through SAFE-Lite, NITE's product incident search tool, as well as by formulating Rinnai Original in-house standards, which include double safety measures, to reflect system findings.
●Specifying critical safety components and thorough production process management
Certain components have been identified as “critical safety components” linked to major hazards, such as fire, explosions, and electric shocks, due to human error in the manufacturing process, and processes in their manufacturing have been designated "critical processes" to establish a system that maintains the same level of safety and assurance in design, materials, personnel, equipment, jigs, methods, handling of abnormalities, and more, regardless of what business location or country it is produced in.
●Proactively raising awareness on product safety through industrial associations
Considering that the nature of the product makes it likely for serious incidents to occur due to improper installation methods or use of old products, efforts have been made to raise awareness among installers and consumers through posters and leaflets at industrial associations on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning incidents through re-iterating the prohibition on enclosing outdoor water heaters, re-iterating gas leak prevention by ensuring instant gas water heater installation by a qualified installer, and encouraging early repair and replacement of aged products.
Major CompanyExcellence Award (Judging Committee Award)
LIXIL Corporation
| Established | 1949 |
|---|---|
| Representative | Director, Representative Executive Officer, President, and CEO: Kinya Seto |
| Number of employees | 55,624 (consolidated basis)（As of March 2023） |
| Location | Shinagawa, Tokyo |
| Business | Manufacture and sale of construction materials and installation equipment for residential housing and buildings, other businesses incidental to housing, and related services |
| URL | https://www.lixil.co.jp/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Continuous operation and development of product safety assessment
In the processes for both new product development and design changes, an assessment of product safety that is independent of the overall design review is in place. Limiting the personnel in charge of assessment to only experts (“Meisters”) who have practical experience and expert knowledge has helped to improve the accuracy of the assessment as well as train product safety experts in-house.
●Safety measures and criteria for the elderly and infants
Considering that accidents caused by the misuse of products by the elderly and infants can easily lead to serious consequences, focused efforts have been made on measures against potential risks, such as getting stuck in product gaps and openings, and accidental ingestion of parts that have come off. To achieve a higher level of safety, efforts are also underway to establish safety evaluation criteria that target not only incidents causing obvious harm, such as accidents, but also broadly encompass events causing health hazards or anxiety.
●Raising awareness on product safety at elementary and middle schools
Efforts have been made to communicate tips for preventing accidents at home and in everyday life, particularly for elementary and middle school students, who need to be aware of the risks associated with product accidents, through free teaching tools (DVDs, textbooks for teachers, worksheets for students) and outreach classes taught by company employees. The efficacy of the program has been increased so that it not only teaches the dangers but encourages students to think of ways to prevent accidents on their own.
Manufacturers and Importers Category
Small and Medium-Sized CompaniesDirector-General for Technology Policy Coordination andIndustrial and Product Safety’s Award OGK KABUTO Co., Ltd.
| Established | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Representative | President: Hiroki Kimura |
| Number of employees | 116 (as of September 2023) |
| Location | Higashi-Osaka, Osaka |
| Business | Planning, manufacturing, and sale of motorcycle and bicycle helmets |
| URL | https://www.ogkkabuto.co.jp/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Initiatives to secure safety through in-house testing from development to post-mass production
In addition to housing a substantial in-house facility to test safety and implementing testing on all products before commercial launch, random inspections are conducted on all post-mass production models to ensure safety. Efforts are also made to ensure that users are protected in the event of traffic accidents by setting the criteria for passing to a higher standard than those used within the industry.
●Developing new products based on social responsibility and the reality of traffic accidents
Helmets are products designed to protect the life and body of the user, and so the company has developed a new product called the “walking helmet” in order to fulfill its social responsibility as a helmet manufacturer, especially considering that more traffic accident deaths occur among elementary school children when they are walking rather than riding a bicycle. Since this is not a conventional product, its required performance, evaluation methods, and even the methods for simulating falls in the event of an accident have all been developed in-house.
●Maintenance and usage of documents on handling recalls based on lessons from the past
Based on reflections on previous malfunctions and analyses of their causes, a "Corporate Governance Manual" that details what to do if safety issues occur has been established. Not only does this define the response flow, division of roles between departments, and accountability if issues occur, this manual has also been devised to make sure that an understanding and awareness in-house is shared by including actual previous case studies and points to keep in mind to prevent recurrence.
Small and Medium-Sized CompanyDirector-General for Technology Policy Coordination and Industrial and Product Safety’s Award
Combi Corporation
| Established | 1957 |
|---|---|
| Representative | President & Chief Executive Officer: Eiji Kobori |
| Number of employees | 1,089 (consolidated), 303 (non-consolidated) (as of December 2022) |
| Location | Taito, Tokyo |
| Business | Development, manufacture, sale, export, and technical licensing of juvenile products, toys, Management of nursery schools, etc.. |
| URL | https://www.combi.co.jp/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Development and implementation of proprietary testing and criteria to prevent accidents due to misuse
Considering the risk of product accidents due to various misuses inherent in products for infants and toddlers, feedback from consumer product monitors and reports of defects at the customer service desk have been used to understand the real-world use of the products, and in-house tests replicating potential misuse scenarios have been developed and implemented. Regarding testing based on laws and standards, more stringent in-house standards have been established to ensure safety even when products are used beyond their intended scope.
●Initiatives to prevent accidents involving misuse when taking products in for repairs
When products are taken in for repairs, not only are the defects checked and repaired as requested by the customer, but the overall usage of the product is verified. If areas of suspected incorrect usage are discovered, a note indicating correct usage is enclosed with the product when it is returned to the customer in an effort to prevent accidents due to misuse.
●An industry leader in raising safety awareness, verification efforts, and helping to formulate standards in Japan and overseas
Leading various industry groups for products for infants and toddlers, the company conducts consumer awareness and education campaigns on the usage of strollers and other products and verifies safety in actual usage environments, such as trains and buses. Within Japan, they are actively involved in the formulation of SG and ST standards and, as the domestic representative for ISO standards on infant and toddler products, they attend international conferences, aiming to improve safety across the industry.
Small and Medium-Sized CompanyExcellence Award (Judging Committee Award)
KOTOBUKI SEIHAN PRINTING CO.,LTD.
| Established | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Representative | President and CEO: Kazuhiko WashiyaKazuhiko Washitani |
| Number of employees | 497 (as of May 2023) |
| Location | Osaka, Osaka |
| Business | Manufacture and sale as a general printing business, design, development and manufacture of promotional novelties |
| URL | https://www.rex.co.jp/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Adoption and operation of systems tailored to novelty products that require short lead times
Even with novelty products that require short lead times from design and development to mass production, emphasis is placed on consumer safety, and the company has introduced a system to systematically run risk assessments, evaluation tests, internal monitoring, and design reviews including clients who ordered the novelty product, all within a short timeframe. To prevent oversights and to foolproof the work process, all knowledge accumulated from developing novelty products up to now has been documented, and ways to save labor by using these appropriately have been devised.
●Monitoring actual usage status in the market and improving warning labels
Even after a product enters the market, ongoing information gathering from consumers, clients who ordered the novelty product, and manufacturing contractors is conducted to understand the actual use of products and grasp defect and incident information, and a system has been established to ensure that the information gathered is shared appropriately within the company. Efforts have been made to ensure that necessary information is more accurately conveyed to consumers by adding warning labels not only to the instruction manuals but also to the product itself in cases where product defects caused by misuse have been identified.
●Ensuring traceability and establishing response measures in the event of a defect.
Preparations for a defect have been devised, such as securing traceability to specify defective lots from the design stage as well as adding markings to products in positions to make them easy to identify. A system to respond to recalls aimed at minimizing consumer harm has been documented, and this information is shared not only within the company but also with clients who order novelty products and manufacturing contractors, aiming to facilitate timely and appropriate recall decisions for novelty products.
Small and Medium-Sized CompanyExcellence Award (Judging Committee Award)
Island land Co., Ltd.
| Established | 1963 |
|---|---|
| Representative | President and CEO: Naomasa Shima |
| Number of employees | 47 (as of July 2023) |
| Location | Kanonji, Kagawa |
| Business | Research, development, manufacture, and sale of home appliances for general households |
| URL | https://www.parisparis.jp/en/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Product design to prevent accidents due to misuse
Features to stop operation in the event that the product tips over and prevent the heating section from reaching temperatures that could cause ignition have been achieved by focusing on controlling thermal energy, which can be a harm factor, in product design to ensure that products can be safely used in homes with children and pets, where there is the potential for product accidents caused by misuse.
●Collecting information on product incidents and safety standards to incorporate into in-house criteria
Information on product accidents, including similar products, is collected and reviews of internal standards based on the actual situation are conducted. Considering that there are currently no specific regulations or corresponding testing standards for their products under the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act, the company clearly states in internal documents that obtaining certification from relevant domestic and international public institutions is the minimum standard, which is made known to employees and is complied with strictly.
●Clear instructions to subcontractors to minimize defect risks during manufacturing
Focus has been given to potential harm from burrs and protrusions, and efforts have been made to minimize their occurrence by giving clear instructions in design drawings, specifications for manufacturing contractors, and quality assurance standards. Focus has been placed on mold designs that prevent the formation of burrs in the first place, rather than relying on burr removal or other manual fixes.
Small and Medium-Sized CompanyExcellence Award (Judging Committee Award)
Maruei Towel Co., Ltd.
| Established | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Representative | President and CEO: Seiji Murakami |
| Number of employees | 79 (as of September 2023) |
| Location | Imabari, Ehime |
| Business | Manufacturing, wholesaling and retail of towel products |
| URL | https://www.maruei-towel.com/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Manufacturing that takes into full consideration user characteristics
To minimize the harm from allergies due to fluorescent dyes and rashes due to skin friction especially in infants, who have delicate skin, long-fiber cotton is used as raw materials to achieve softer, less abrasive fibers, and a manufacturing process that avoids the use of fluorescent dyes and all chemical substances has been established, contributing to product safety with maximum consideration for the user.
●Thorough and painstaking initiative to minimize the risk of contamination
Aware that cotton lint and broken needles contaminating the manufacturing process can be hazardous for product safety, the company has made thorough efforts to minimize the risk of such contamination. To remove cotton dust from the air, full-air conditioner units have been installed in all work areas, such as the preparation floor, textile mill, and finishing floor. For broken needles, not only are inspections using needle detectors and device calibration conducted, but if foreign object contamination is suspected, identifying the cause and resolving the issue is given top priority.
●Contributing to the formulation of stricter industry criteria
The top management has taken the lead at the local industrial association and, through discussions with other industrial organizations, it contributed to the creation of the "Imabari Towel Certification Standards," which were even more stringent than the national industry standards at the time and included test items and passing criteria for harm factors like formaldehyde content.
Retailer Category
Small and Medium-Sized CompanyDirector-General for Technology Policy Coordination andIndustrial and Product Safety’s AwardTechnohouse Co. Ltd.
| Established | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Representative | Representative Director: Shinya Makino |
| Number of employees | 30 (as of October 2023) |
| Location | Uji, Kyoto |
| Business | Sale of electrical appliances and housing equipment, sales and rental of nursing care products |
| URL | https://www.technohouse.kyoto/ [external link] |
Reason for Winning
●Raising awareness among clients and local residents through social media and leaflets
The company delivers product recall information quickly and reliably through their official LINE account, which is connected to 3,000 customers, as well as flyers distributed monthly for over ten years to 20,000 households in the surrounding area. During the changing of the seasons as well, they communicate correct usage and maintenance methods for seasonal home appliances like fans and heated tables through videos and articles, helping prevent product incidents not only among their own customers but also broadly throughout the region.
●Feedback on product improvement using trainees accepted from manufacturers
By continuously accepting trainees from major home appliance manufacturers every year, the company provides manufacturer employees with the opportunity to understand how their products are installed and used during the training period and helps manufacturers improve product safety by directly and actively communicating points for improvement through this program.
●Procuring safe products with an emphasis on after-sale services
When selecting a product for procurement, attention is paid not only to whether product safety is ensured at the product level, but also to whether the manufacturer provides adequate after-sales service, such as repairs or product exchanges in case of a defect, and whether it is possible to prevent product incidents, and sources only products deemed appropriate to ensure the safety of their customers.
