In accordance with the “RC Basic Philosophy” and the “RC Basic Policy,” the Hodogaya Chemical Group practices quality assurance activities with a commitment to “customer-oriented quality.”
Across all products and services, we practice quality control based on the quality management system (QMS) with a high level of expertise and responsibility to meet customer expectations. The Hodogaya Chemical Group in Japan and HODOGAYA CHEMICAL KOREA have obtained certification to ISO 9001, the international standard for quality management systems, while SFC has obtained certification independently.
We will continue to promote continuous improvement and enhance customer satisfaction, thereby strengthening reliability and brand value and increasing corporate value.
We will continue to promote company-wide quality assurance activities with a 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 lessons learned from quality-related incidents at other sites and conducting quality near-miss activities, 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 “customer-oriented quality,” we will continue to provide high-performance, high-valueadded products and services that earn our customers’ trust and satisfaction.
The Hodogaya Chemical Group conducts initiatives to raise awareness of quality management in November, which is designated as Quality Month. Since 2020, we have designated the third Friday of November as Quality Day, when all officers and employees gather at each site and a representative from each site recites the Quality Pledge. In addition, through a company-wide QC circle presentation meeting, employees work with colleagues to develop and implement measures to resolve issues in their workplaces. These initiatives provide an opportunity to share our commitment to maintaining and enhancing quality, as well as to reinforce the importance of compliance. They also raise each employee’s awareness of preventing quality complaints, thereby contributing to greater customer 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 |
With the cooperation of our suppliers, the Hodogaya Chemical Group conducts regular surveys and audits, helping us provide high-performance, high-value-added products that earn our customers’ trust and satisfaction.
When issues are identified through document reviews or on-site audits, we propose improvement measures tailored to actual operating conditions and provide technical follow-up as necessary. We believe that building relationships in which we work with suppliers as partners to improve quality together, rather than simply managing them, is essential to improving quality throughout the supply chain, including ensuring stable supply. In recent years, we have also established a shared understanding with suppliers of the need to meet social expectations, including reducing environmental impacts and respecting human rights, in addition to ensuring quality. Going forward, based on strong partnerships with our suppliers, we will continue to improve quality, ensure the stable delivery of safe and reliable products, and contribute to the development of a sustainable society.
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.