Topic:
Factory Tour to ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd.
Kazuo Yamafuji
University of Electro-Communications
The ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd., predecessor, Kawanishi Aircraft Ltd., was famed for its high-performance World War II planes, including the Type II Flying Boat, codenamed “Emily” by the Allied Forces, and the Interceptor Siden-Kai, codenamed “George.” Following defeat, Kawanishi Aircraft Ltd. was renamed ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd., founded officially in 1949. The new company, which started out producing dump trucks, but resumed aircraft manufacture in 1960.
ShinMaywa now holds a high market share among Special Purpose Trucks such as dump trucks and in aircraft business exemplified by the STOL (Short Take Off Landing) Amphibian. It also manufactures Automatic Wire Terminating Machines, Thin Film Coating System, Aircraft Passenger Boarding Bridges, Car Parking System, and Water Treatment Equipment.
In fiscal 2008 business, industrial machinery accounted for 37%, special purpose truck 35%, aircraft 19%, and others 9% in the company’s ¥127.7 billion sales (US$1.277 billion). Current employees based on consolidated accounts number 3,883.
The enterprise philosophy is “contributing to society through outstanding technology and service.” Concretely, harmonization with society should be achieved in daily activities of an enterprise, and enterprise value should be raised by management taking stake holders into account.
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