GLOBAL SUZUKI

Corporate Philosophy

Mission Statement

In March 1962, Suzuki established the Mission Statement, which indicates the corporate policy of the Suzuki Group.

  • 1. Develop products of superior value by focusing on the customer
  • 2. Establish a refreshing and innovative company through teamwork
  • 3. Strive for individual excellence through continuous improvement

The Mission Statement sets three goals for all employees of the Suzuki Group to understand and strive for: a goal toward carrying out a company’s social missions (making products), a goal for the corporate organization that they belong to (building the Company), and a goal for themselves (developing human resources), respectively.
With the motto “products of superior value,” which is mentioned in the first paragraph of the Mission Statement, all employees of the Suzuki Group are making daily efforts as value creators.

(From “50 Years of Suzuki”)

Goal to strive for in making products

The highest goals of a company and its reason for existence are the continuous production of even better products and the development of products of superior value. We must always remember to “focus on the customer” during the process. This focus is the basis for research, and it must also be the basis for development, technology, manufacturing, and sales. This approach is founded on an awareness of factors such as quality, cost, and continuous improvement. Based on this foundation, we should consider how to incorporate these factors into our products (operations).

Goal to strive for in building the Company

The two major pillars of management are the emergence of scientific management and the democratization of management. This demonstrates the significance of human relationships in management. A company (worksite) is an organic body that has been organized into a whole from its parts. However magnificent an organization’s formalisms and systems, it cannot deliver optimal overall performance unless it is managed vigorously as a functional, unified body at all times.
It follows that all employees must put their maximum effort into their jobs, thoroughly comprehend cross-organizational relationships, and engage in teamwork. They must pour their energy into developing a continually evolving, refreshing* and attractive company (worksite).
Employees should also always maintain a Company-wide perspective so that operations do not become complacent and stagnant and are not hampered by self-righteous sectionalism. Employees should constantly strive to improve worksite morale.

* Refreshing: A state of being energetic and lively, or having such an appearance.

Goal to strive for in developing human resources

People have boundless potential. However, the development of their potential is entirely based on individual effort and responsibility. Continuous effort and self-improvement through training are the only ways to maximize your individual ability as a person and employee.
The Company’s development can only be improved when the abilities of all employees are improved, and progress is made enthusiastically.
However, it is also the duty of each supervisor to foster employees’ self-awareness as members of the organization and stimulate their motivation. It is important to keep in mind that exceptional human resources are produced through hard work and guidance.

Philosophy of Conduct

“Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Beauty)”

The phrase “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi” is an abbreviated phrase that means “smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter, beauty” in Japanese. Suzuki’s basic policy of conducting efficient, high-quality manufacturing that eliminates waste was first expressed at its production sites using this phrase.
Thereafter, “Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi” became widely known as a motto for the entire Suzuki Group, reaching far beyond production to all manner of departments and situations, as well as its overseas operations.
The concepts highlighted by this motto are fully implemented in the manufacturing of Suzuki’s products. Over the years, the motto has become well established within Suzuki as words that simply express Suzuki’s Philosophy of Conduct.

  • “Smaller” leads to enhanced efficiency by making things compact,
  • “Fewer” optimally distributes resources to what is most necessary by omitting waste
  • “Lighter” slims down for enhanced efficiency,
  • “Shorter” speeds up decision-making, action and reporting, communication, and consultation processes.
  • The meaning behind “beauty” is that all activities are for the best interest of our customers, and that our customers can only be satisfied for the first time once we meet all criteria of performance, quality, cost, reliability, safety and security, and compliance.

“Genba, Genbutsu, Genjitsu (Actual place, actual thing, actual situation)”

We will go directly to the actual place, see and touch the actual thing, and make realistic decisions grounded in facts.
We will thoroughly eliminate theoretical discussions, and instead observe the actual things at the actual places, recognize the actual situation and appropriately capture the essence of things. Having done so, we will work to solve problems in a realistic manner.

“YARAMAIKA (Entrepreneurial Spirit)”

The ability to always maintain quick decision-making, close inter-personal relationships, and the flexibility required to address change is often cited as an example of “Entrepreneurial Spirit.”
Even as the size of the Company grows, every employee will work hard to ensure that Suzuki does not succumb to big company syndrome. To fulfill our social missions, we will continue to boldly tackle challenges.

Mission

Continue to be an indispensable presence by
staying closely attuned to people’s lives and
providing a means of mobility for local communities

Suzuki Group Code of Conduct

In April 2016, Suzuki reviewed the conventional Suzuki Activity Charter, Standards of Behavior, etc. and established the Suzuki Group Code of Conduct, which is a new code of conduct for officers and employees of the Suzuki Group to healthily implement their operation.
The code of conduct is important in promoting the sustainability-related activities of the Suzuki Group, and to spread and adopt the code throughout each company of the Suzuki Group, we are distributing portable booklets, posting the code on our internal website, conducting employee training, etc.

Suzuki Group Code of Conduct (excerpt)

For our customers (1) Realization of products and services of superior value The Suzuki Group will provide customers with products and services exceeding their expectation, as in line with the spirit to “Develop products of superior value by focusing on the customer,” which is listed as the first item in our Mission Statement.
(2) Activities on quality The Suzuki Group will develop and produce high quality products that customers can use with peace of mind and will provide after-sales services, while giving first priority to customers’ safety and security.
If by any chance a quality-related problem occurs, the Suzuki Group will devote its sincere efforts to address customers’ feedback, grasp the problem at an early stage and take measures based on a thorough investigation into the causes, so that the customer can continue using Suzuki products with peace of mind.
For a better working environment (3) Respect for human rights The Suzuki Group will be aware of international norms pertaining to human rights and respect fundamental human rights with reference to laws and regulations in each country or region.
(4) Occupational safety and traffic safety The Suzuki Group will review the workplace environment to create a safe workplace.
The Suzuki Group will thoroughly carry out education on safety to prevent occurrence of occupational injury.
(5) Promoting Kaizen activities and observing basic business rules The Suzuki Group encourages employees to come up with inventive ideas to improve the workplace.
Suggestions from employees on Kaizen will be evaluated and effective measures will be adopted and spread widely among Suzuki Group companies to lay the groundwork for the growth of the entire Group.
The Suzuki Group will create basic rules on our work for the employees to follow.
For shareholders and all other stakeholders (6) Compliance While acknowledging the existence of differences in laws and regulations related to competition such as antitrust law, those related to fair trading, and societal norms in each country or region, the Suzuki Group will grasp the differences and provide training to employees to ensure that they observe laws and regulations and societal norms in their respective countries and regions.
(7) Environmental activities In order to hand over a beautiful earth and affluent society to the next generations in accordance with the Suzuki Global Environment Charter, we must all realize that the actions of each and every one of us have a large effect on our earth’s future. Based on this realization, the Suzuki Group will make every effort to preserve the global environment.
(8) Refusing relations with antisocial forces The Suzuki Group will thoroughly refuse any relationships with antisocial forces and organizations which are threatening the order and safety of civil society.

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