Based on its quality policy, the Hodogaya Chemical Group is committed to delivering “customer-oriented quality.” Through continuous improvement and efforts to enhance customer satisfaction, we strive to strengthen reliability and brand value, thereby increasing corporate value.
In accordance with the “RC Basic Philosophy” and the “RC Basic Policy,” the Hodogaya Chemical Group continues to practice quality assurance activities.
We will further promote companywide quality assurance activities and focus on preventing complaints and defective products.
To ensure that all employees involved in our products and services maintain a high awareness of quality, we foster an environment where both experienced and younger staff can learn from daily operations and drive improvement.
This is achieved through sharing quality-related incidents that occurred at other sites, implementing near-miss/close call activities pertaining to quality, and exchanging information in the Quality Management Committee and QM representative meetings.
At the same time, challenges remain in our efforts to eliminate customer complaints. By returning to the fundamentals, reinforcing feedback loops with each workplace, and providing education to raise quality awareness, we aim to identify quality issues at an early stage and establish effective countermeasures. Guided by our commitment to “customeroriented quality,” we will continue to provide high-performance, high-value-added products and services that earn our customers’ trust and satisfaction.
November has traditionally been Quality Improvement Month at Hodogaya Chemical, and the Company has designated, in principle, the third Friday of November as Quality Day since 2020 so as to further improve quality management.
This was prompted by the organizational restructuring in October 2018, where the Quality Assurance Department was separated from the Environment and Safety & Quality Assurance Department to establish a new department responsible for quality assurance activities, based on the Hodogaya Chemical Group’s belief that “quality is the source of trust” and to improve quality management functions and clarify their roles and responsibilities.
On Quality Day, all officers and personnel of the Hodogaya Chemical Group gather, with representatives from each site reciting the Quality Pledge. This event provides an opportunity to share our commitment to maintaining and enhancing quality, as well as to reinforce the importance of compliance. It also serves to raise each employee’s awareness of preventing the occurrence of quality complaints, thereby contributing to greater customer trust and satisfaction.
Corporate quality management in business activities is now recognized as a standard in accordance with international standards.
The Hodogaya Chemical Group in Japan and HODOGAYA CHEMICAL KOREA have obtained integrated certification for ISO 9001, the international standard for quality management systems (QMS), while our group company, SFC in South Korea, has acquired certification independently.
Under a unified group-wide quality management framework, we practice QMS-based quality control across all products and services to meet customer expectations, and we are committed to continuous improvement with a high level of expertise and responsibility.
Furthermore, as part of our activities to effectively operate the QMS, we are focusing on training ISO internal auditors and continuing to provide not only in-house training but also practical education by external lecturers. The Hodogaya Chemical Group will continue to work together as a unified group to improve quality.”
| Certification body | Japan Chemical Quality Assurance |
| Registration no. | JCQA‑0184 |
| Compatible standards | JIS Q 9001:2015 ISO 9001:2015 |
| Date of acquisition | December 25, 1996 |
Manufacturing Department
Yokohama Plant
S.T.
What I felt from participating in the QC circle presentation meeting was that the concept of valuing quality is deeply ingrained in each and every employee. Observing participants who identified workplace issues on their own, collaborated with colleagues to develop and implement improvement measures, I was able to sense a strong culture of pursuing quality enhancement in daily operations. I was also impressed by the fact that the results of these activities were clearly reflected in numerical results, and that they were directly linked to improving customer satisfaction and ensuring reliability. I strongly felt that such steady, continuous efforts ultimately strengthen the overall competitiveness of the Company and contribute directly to enhancing corporate value. Moving forward, I hope to continue spreading a high level of quality awareness throughout the Company through these activities, thereby contributing to further growth.
Nanyo Plant
M.Y.
Quality inspection work covers a wide range of tasks, including inspections of raw materials and products based on prescribed test methods, the issuance of test reports, the maintenance and management of inspection equipment as well as the storage of records.
Of all these tasks, the one that I am particularly mindful of in my eighth year with the Company is always to conduct product inspections from the customer’s point of view, so that they are able to purchase Hodogaya Chemical products with peace of mind. So that I am able to quickly notice any minor differences and changes in inspection values, I carefully check the product status and inspection values on a regular basis. Also, when a question comes up with regard to the maintenance and how to handle the inspection equipment, I always try to find the answer by doing my own research or by seeking advice from someone with a lot more experience.
To continue to protect the quality of the Hodogaya brand in the years to come, I would like to fulfill my role as the last bastion of quality management in a responsible manner.
Quality Assurance Department
M.K.
The Quality Assurance Department strengthens the quality control and assurance system of the Hodogaya Chemical Group, focuses on “quality from the customer’s perspective”, and aims to establish the “true Hodogaya brand.” We will strive to “eliminate quality complaints” by always maintaining close cooperation with plants and business divisions and strengthening activities with a focus on prevention.
As part of these initiatives, every year, the company observes a day called “Quality Day” to maintain and improve awareness on quality compliance. All personnel gather together to read aloud the “Quality Pledge” and demonstrate the Hodogaya Chemical Group’s commitment to maintaining quality. By doing so, we will continue to make efforts to establish the “true Hodobrand” in the future.
Accounting Department
M.S.
The role of the plant is to produce high-quality products and provide such products after making sure that they meet the required quality, thereby meeting the trust and satisfaction of customers.
The main job of the Quality Assurance Group is to check the quality of incoming raw materials and products being shipped. We also check the description of items on the test results that accompany the products in everyday shipments. I get nervous every time, but I want to keep in mind the original mindset so as not to ship out any products that have the wrong quality.
We conduct quality assurance-related education throughout the year. I am hoping to focus on the importance of the standard operating procedures which stipulate the procedures of human movement and machine operation as best practice under the current situation so as to ensure the same results regardless of who handles the task.
Group Leader of Quality Assurance Group of Nanyo Plant
A.M.
The role of the plant is to produce high-quality products and provide such products after making sure that they meet the required quality, thereby meeting the trust and satisfaction of customers.
The main job of the Quality Assurance Group is to check the quality of incoming raw materials and products being shipped. We also check the description of items on the test results that accompany the products in everyday shipments. I get nervous every time, but I want to keep in mind the original mindset so as not to ship out any products that have the wrong quality.
We conduct quality assurance-related education throughout the year. I am hoping to focus on the importance of the standard operating procedures which stipulate the procedures of human movement and machine operation as best practice under the current situation so as to ensure the same results regardless of who handles the task.