HOME > Corporate Social Responsibility > Archive by year > 2019 > Stakeholder Dialog

CSR activities in FY2019

Stakeholder Dialog

To incorporate stakeholders'input into our sustainable corporate activities, we have annually held our Stakeholder Dialog since 2015 with academics and experts representing a number of CSR-related fields. For this fiscal year, the 6th dialog was held in July 2020.
One of the "Prepare for future growth" measures in our Business Operating Policy for fiscal year 2020 is "Responding to SDGs." "SDG Compass," a guide for business action on the SDGs emphasizes periodic reporting and communicating with stakeholders about SDGs. Through this Stakeholder Dialog, we receive suggestions from experts on our initiatives, and based on these, we are working to determine specific details of our "Responding to SDGs" measures and to promote company-wide initiatives aimed at resolving social issues through our business activities.

6th 5th 4th
3th 2th 1th

6th

Date

July 2020

Participants

Experts

Katsuhiko Kokubu
Katsuhiko Kokubu

Vice President of Kobe University

Masaru Kaizaki
Masaru Kaizaki

General Manager of Planning Department, Sustainability Office OMRON Corporation

Hideki Matsuoka
Hideki Matsuoka

Special Project Manager, Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center(HURIGHTS OSAKA)

Eriko Nashioka
Eriko Nashioka
(Facilitator)

Representative Director of Institute for Environmental Management Accounting, CPA

NTN

Toshinori Shiratori

Managing Executive Officer in charge of Human Resources, CSR, Information Technology, General Affairs, and EHS(Environment, Health & Safety) Integrated Management

Masaaki Yamamoto

Executive Officer and Corporate General Manager of Corporate Strategy Headquarters

Kenji Nono

Operating Officer in charge of Human Resources, General Affairs and EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) Integrated Management

Takanobu Ozawa

Deputy Corporate General Manager of Corporate Strategy Headquarters and Manager of Corporate Planning Department

Youichirou Mochida

Manager of Corporate Communications Department, Corporate Strategy Headquarters

Masayuki Yamazaki

Manager of EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) Integrated Management Department

Toshiyuki Kawaguchi

Manager of Personnel Department

Masaaki Masumoto

Corporate General Manager of CSR Headquarters

Kouhei Iguchi

Manager of Corporate Value Promotion Department, CSR Headquarters

Topic 1 Sustainability Promotion Activities

NTN
Through our business activities, we contribute to the resolution of social issues and aim to achieve a sustainable NAMERAKA Society. The biggest initiative in the fiscal year under review was a change in the management regulations for sustainability promotion activities. In 2006, we established rules for managing CSR activities, but at that time the policy related to "Responsibility" had a relative emphasis on compliance. While strengthening compliance, we have reframed the significance of "Responsibility" based on the idea that we want to be a company that meets the expectations of society, as stated in our value creation process. We have changed the term from "CSR" to "Sustainability", established the "Sustainability Committee" last year, and have started activities.
At this Sustainability Committee, "identification of our materiality" is one of the issues to be discussed. Currently, we have set up working teams centered on young employees and mid-career employees, referring to GRI standards and megatrends, identifying and evaluating issues, and working to narrow down our materiality. We would like to be able to announce it in the next fiscal year.
Experts
Identifying materiality is important, but every company seems to find it extremely difficult to put it into practice. This is because all items are important. If everything is important, it becomes meaningless to identify materiality. Currently, NTN has set a large theme that is applicable to any company, so why not focus on more detailed items for discussion? When most Japanese companies plot their issues on a matrix, they use the 2 axes of "importance to society" and "relevance to business." However, GRI essentially wants companies to pay attention to not "relevance to business" but "impact on stakeholders' decision-making." I think it would be good to verify such aspect again.
Experts
OMRON also identifies its materiality. However, human resources management and risk management are regarded as a matter of course, and there is an increase in cases where companies are not evaluated favorably even if they conduct such management activities. We are making improvements to express the uniqueness of OMRON more strongly. I think it would be better for NTN to consider expressing the "uniqueness of NTN" in the same way. What is more important is the period subject to materiality issues and the management system. I think it is necessary to consider how and how long materiality issues are managed in the business management process and how external evaluations are incorporated into the Company’s activities.
NTN
We would also like to ask about activities to instill our corporate philosophy. With the 100th anniversary celebrated in 2018, the corporate philosophy system was revised to establish NTN SPIRIT, which serves as the basis for employees'activities, and initiatives to put the corporate philosophy into practice were launched. We are promoting activities to disseminate our corporate philosophy through the 3 steps of "Recognition," "Empathy & Understanding," and "Practice." In 2019, we held the second NTN PROUD AWARD, which is an initiative to "Practice" our corporate philosophy. The number of employees who support these activities is increasing, and we intend to continue to firmly establish them on a global scale in the future. At the same time, we believe that there are issues regarding the positioning of the NTN PROUD AWARD in the corporate award system, how to reflect the practice of our corporate philosophy in our business goals and personnel assessment, and how to promote our corporate philosophy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Experts
OMRON has also held TOGA(The OMRON Global Awards) since 2012 to support the practice of the company philosophy. The only team-based internal award system we have is TOGA. When an employee wins the award, it is recorded in the employee’s personnel evaluation sheet. However, it is extremely difficult to reflect the practice of our corporate philosophy in personnel evaluation, and we are currently looking for ways to link the system to evaluation practices.
Regarding corporate philosophy activities amid the coronavirus pandemic, we first place emphasis on the health and safety of our employees, while at the same time fulfilling our supply responsibilities as a manufacturer and contributing to society through our business activities. Our employees participated in ventilator development in Spain, but this was not a top-level order, but a voluntary action. I think this is a good example of how our corporate philosophy has been disseminated and put into practice.
Experts
In recent years, our corporate philosophy has become an extremely important part of our CSR activities. NTN's founders'"Frontier Spirit" and "Coexistence and co-prosperity Spirit" have a significant impact. The "Frontier" recalls "Innovation" and "Co-existence and co-prosperity" recalls "Creating Shared Value," bringing home the fact that NTN really wants to resolve social issues.

Topic 2 Human Rights

NTN
This year we formulated the Human Rights Policy. We signed the United Nations Global Compact in 2015 and changed our institutional designs to a Company with a Nominating Committee, etc. last year. These measures further clarified our Management Policy, and because "Respect for human rights" was included in the policy, we decided to formulate the Human Rights Policy. In the future, we will examine the method of operating this Human Rights Policy, the scope of applicable suppliers and the method of managing them.
Experts
I feel that a mechanism for human rights due diligence is very difficult to operate, even though it is possible to create a mechanism or report to outside parties that a mechanism has been created. The main point of internal dissemination is that each and every employee understands human rights in a way that links them to their work. Human rights risks are also linked to management risks. It is necessary not only to create a system but also to continue education in everyday life.
With regard to the scope (boundary) of suppliers, it seems that many companies actually ask Tier 1 suppliers to investigate things.
Experts
The scope of application of the Human Rights Policy is also important. In the case of OMRON, a survey revealed that regular employees of OMRON accounted for less than the majority of all employees at some business sites. Based on these examples, we believe that we should not apply the policy only to employees who are directly employed by OMRON, but should also apply to temporary staff employees and contractors'employees who work at the sites.
As for the boundary, we are implementing measures by including surveys targeting Tier 2 and subsequent-tier suppliers in Tier 1 requirements.

Topic 3 Environment

NTN
In the fiscal year ended March 2020, production was reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in a decrease in CO2 emissions, but unit CO2 emissions were increased. In Stakeholder Dialog last year, it was pointed out that we should indicate a change (what volume of CO2emissions are reduced compared with the time when products before the reduction were used), rather than indicating a reduction of CO2 emissions. Therefore, since last year we have been quantifying environment-contributing products and consider setting the goal of eliminating CO2 emissions in the long run. Specifically, the total volume of CO2 generated (consumed) when products are used and CO2 generated by NTN's business activities is offset by CO2 reduced as a result of power generation with natural energy products, and this is an image of achieving the goal. Do you regard this as "net zero CO2emissions"?
Experts
It is better to say that "net zero CO2 emissions" refers to maintaining a balance between human-induced CO2 "emissions" and human-induced "absorption," such as through the promotion of tree planting. In this sense, it may be better to move away from the concept of "net zero." As the bearings industry has a fixed range of product types, we believe it will be difficult to switch to businesses that emit less CO2 and drastically reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, because of the concepts of SDGs and the circular economy, society as a whole is progressing toward a low-carbon society, with the automotive industry itself being targeted. Even if it is difficult for the bearings industry to do something drastic, I think it is important to consider the issue of climate change from the perspective of what "our company" can do for society.

Topic 4 How to Promote Business Activities in the coronavirus pandemic

NTN
We have identified the year ending March 2021 as "Crisis Response Period" and listed "Ensure the health and safety of employees" and "Prepare for future growth" as the major themes. Specifically, we intend to promote telework and respond to SDGs. Following the Declaration of State of Emergency, we have also been advancing telework with emphasis on the health and safety of our employees. In order to further promote telework in the future, issues such as the scope of application, attendance management rules, and personnel evaluation systems will emerge. In addition, with a focus on responding to SDGs, particularly on addressing climate change, an increasing number of parties endorse TCFD. We recognize that how to hold discussions by involving management will be an issue for the future, and we would like to hear your opinions on what kind of system should be in place and how to proceed.
Experts
OMRON announced in July 2018 that it will set sciencebased targets (SBT) for reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, and then the issue of TCFD emerged. Because companywide supervision is necessary for TCFD, the Sustainability Office proposed to top management that TCFD should be endorsed. The linkage of financial information has been planned, but I believe that if you do not announce your efforts to tackle the issue of climate change, that will pose a problem.
Experts
Japanese companies are lagging far behind in disclosing how they manage climate change risks. Disclosure of risk information is thought to cause anxiety, but failure to disclose such information may cause more anxiety. Responding to the new coronavirus is also an important issue. I think that the overall direction is that the "weight of individuals" will increase. In society as a whole, focus will shift from organizations to individuals and the working environment will be changed to one in which employees can work more comfortably. Also, it will be necessary to fundamentally change the organization's work system and the method of reviewing positions.
Experts
As telework progressed, the situation in which women worked at home while doing housework and raising children, as well as the case in which they suffered from domestic violence, emerged as issues. I believe that companies will be asked what they can do to address these issues and to what extent they can address them in the future.
Experts
I feel that this coronavirus pandemic has shortened the time horizon for a vision we should aim for in the field of sustainability. While OMRON has begun formulating plans for the next decade, society may change at a faster pace. I think we need to address the issue with that in mind.
Experts
NTN established the Corporate Value Promotion Department two years ago. It is obvious that "Value" is important, but how about thinking about CSR as a whole with a focus on "Value" in the future? The point is to think about the value that can be provided to suppliers and the value that can be provided in response to climate change. As I told you about a post-coronavirus world earlier, "co-creation" in which we create something together will become more important than "competition," which has been given higher priority until now. I feel it is good to promote corporate activities from such a viewpoint.
5th

Date

June,2019

Participants

Experts

Katsuhiko Kokubu
Katsuhiko Kokubu

Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration Kobe University

Masaru Kaizaki
Masaru Kaizaki

General Manager of Planning Department, Sustainability Office OMRON Corporation

Hideki Matsuoka
Hideki Matsuoka

Special Project Manager,
Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center
(HURIGHTS OSAKA)

Eriko Nashioka (Facilitator)
Eriko Nashioka (Facilitator)

Representative Director of Institute for Environmental Management Accounting, CPA

NTN Participants

Itsuji Goto

Senior Managing Executive Officer in charge of CSR Headquarters

Hiroshi Nakano

Adviser

Kenji Nono

Manager of EHS (Environment, Health and Safety)
Integrated Management Department

Masayuki Yamazaki

Deputy Manager of EHS (Environment, Health and Safety)
Integrated Management Department

Toshiyuki Kawaguchi

Manager of Personnel Department

Kouhei Iguchi

Manager of Corporate Value Promotion Department

TOPIC 1 CSR management

Opinion
The essence of "responsibility" ("R" in CSR) is to be a company needed by society. In this sense, it is vital for a company to present its contribution to society in an easy-to-understand way to stakeholders. NTN Report 2018 describes this in the Value Creation Process section, which can be highly evaluated. In the next step, it is important to show in more detail how the company generates social value ("smooth society") as well as economic value. For this purpose, we must perceive activities in each business area cross-sectionally as a process to create value. At OMRON, TOGA (The OMRON Global Award) was started in 2012 as an initiative to further put its corporate philosophy into practice. The number of participants has grown over the years, and more than 60,000 employees joined the event in 2018. The source of this continuous development is the corporate culture where the management encourages employees to take on challenges, which leads to the gradual increase of participants who agree to the purpose of the event, which results in many employees realizing the significance of solving social challenges. This year, NTN PROUD AWARD will be held for the second time. Based on the example of OMRON which shows that continuation leads to transformation, we hope that the significance of this initiative will take a firm hold in NTN to enable the event to continue.
It is great that NTN is energetically working on initiatives to raise awareness of the corporate philosophy, such as Corporate Philosophy Dialog, distribution of NTN SPIRIT BOOK, and NTN PROUD AWARD. However, it is necessary to systematically incorporate respective measures into the annual plan for the purpose of promotion of raising awareness of the corporate philosophy.

TOPIC 2 Environment

Opinion
A company that proactively works on environmental management shows its long-term vision with target figures (e.g. zero CO2 emissions by 2050), specifies the target by backcasting, and analyzes the concrete measures to realize the target. Through such approach, the whole group can work on the reduction of CO2 on the basis of the common standard over the medium- and long-term. NTN therefore should also consider the adoption of such approach when setting the environmental targets.
It is good that NTN discloses how much its environmentally friendly products contribute to the environment. However, expressing the reduction of emission as "contribution" can be misleading since there still is some level of emission when seen globally as a total volume. So, regarding the method of disclosure, it might be better to mention that NTN products are helpful as a means of reducing the total volume of emission.

TOPIC 3 Human rights

Opinion
Following the global focus on ESG investment, many companies have rapidly started initiatives on "business and human rights" in the recent two or three years. Development of basic policy on human rights on the basis of corporate philosophy, rather than human rights alone, makes it easier to share the policy globally among the whole group. It is important for NTN to clarify its positioning and connection among the corporate philosophy, NTN SPIRIT, and the basic policy, in formulating the basic policy on human rights.

TOPIC 4 Governance

Opinion
We can see from the Outside Director Dialog, which is contained in NTN Report 2018, that Outside Directors'opinions are actively voiced in NTN. The recent transition to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., which is said to have the strongest management oversight function, means that Outside Directors have a stronger voice and their opinions are more widely reflected, resulting in enhanced corporate governance.
4th

Date

June 13,2018

Participants

Experts

Katsuhiko Kokubu
Katsuhiko Kokubu

Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration Kobe University

Yoko Hiyama
Yoko Hiyama

Lawyer admitted in Japan and New York,
Hiyama & Kubota Law Offices

Masaru Kaizaki
Masaru Kaizaki

General Manager of Planning Department,Sustainability Office
OMRON Corporation

Eriko Nashioka (Facilitator)
Eriko Nashioka (Facilitator)

Certified Public Accountant and Representative Director at Institute for Environmental Management Accounting

NTN

Hiroshi Nakano

Corporate General Manager
of CSR Headquarters

Kenji Nono

Personnel Department Manager

Takanobu Ozawa

Corporate Planning Department Manager

Kunio Kamo

Corporate General Manager of Procurement Headquarters

Masahiro Kusunose

General Affairs & Environmental Management
Department Manager

Kouhei Iguchi

Corporate Value Promotion
Department Manager

TOPIC 1 Corporate philosophy

Opinion
Creating methods of concretization such as the award system and the creation of a continuous project structure that employees voluntarily participate in, will be an important requirement for raising corporate philosophy awareness. It will be necessary for employees to think about the corporate philosophy code of conduct (NTN Spirit) and work on their own initiative to encourage actions inspired by the corporate philosophy. Continuing ongoing activities will also be effective, such as by having top management make personal visits to domestic and overseas business sites and convey the dialogs on the spirit of the corporate philosophy. In addition to organizing the NTN PROUD AWARD, we also recommend activities designed to make the corporate philosophy more relatable. For example, the results or processes of implementing NTN PROUD AWARD could be illustrated in videos shown to all employees.

TOPIC 2 Materiality

Opinion
NTN engages in a comprehensive set of CSR activities, but these activities could be improved by deciding on their materiality to indicate which way the company is heading. It is important to hold ample discussions with units such as business divisions and technical divisions in addition to head office divisions. It is also important for management to make decisions on the issues discussed. Materiality selection procedures are something the company decides on autonomously. Materiality should be determined by scoring and mapping analysis, consistently ensured to adhere to the Medium-term Management Plan. The company should ultimately consider SDGs and other issues of public concern while keeping strategic assessments of materiality in mind.

TOPIC 3 Environmental issues

Opinion
Producing environmentally friendly products is a very good thing. But quantifying the amount of CO2 reductions of certain products may cause a risk of greenwashing＊1 in overseas business sites, so enough care is needed when disseminating information from Japan and overseas. Even for quantification done in conformance with the SBT (Science Based Target) ＊2 initiative, measurement accuracy and improvement levels should be prioritized instead of just releasing indicators. Scope 3 work also needs to cover approaches to improvements as well as just measurements. If possible, the ideal procedure would be to focus on key processes for CO2 reductions, and to include disclosure of reduction effects.
  • ＊1：Fraudulently making a product appear to be environmentally friendly
  • ＊2：Setting targets for companies that are consistent with scientific findings

TOPIC 4 Supply chain CSR, human rights and governance

Opinion
Key suppliers should be designated and managed instead of just setting the same standards for all suppliers, and we recommend gathering a wide range of information.
Considering as global management, local areas should generally be handled by the head office, and ideally not left completely up to local business sites. It is also important to strengthen internal control functions and improve awareness among employees. Especially, in the area of human rights, human rights should be addressed on a global level even when no human rights issues exist in relation to local domestic laws. We recommend working on making human rights effective in overseas locations with different laws and cultures.
3th

Date

June 7, 2017

Participants

Experts

Katsuhiko Kokubu

Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University

Yoko Hiyama

Lawyer admitted in Japan and New York, Ethos Law Office, Ethos LPC

Kazuhiko Shiratori

Executive Researcher, The Japan Association for Chemical Innovation; Former Senior Manager, Sekisui Integrated Research Inc

Eriko Nashioka (Facilitator)

Certified Public Accountants / Representative Director, Institute for Environmental Management Accounting

NTNParticipants

Hiroshi Nakano

Director and Corporate General Manager, CSR Headquarters

Kouhei Iguchi

Project Leader, 100th Anniversary Planning &
Promotion Project

Yasuyuki Kuroda

General Manager, CSR Department, CSR Headquarters

Toshiyuki Matsutani

General Manager, General Affairs & Environmental Management Department

TOPIC 1 On the Centenary of the Company’s Founding

Stakeholder
I feel that it is wonderful how you have sincerely responded to the results of the dialog during the past two years through evaluation and execution. Also, in the lead-up to commemorating your centennial in 2018, you are instilling your corporate philosophy. To achieve this, it is necessary to be linked to specific actions and to clarify what links the corporate philosophy to the concrete actions of employees. Doing this will enable each and every employee to contribute to society through his or her actions.
NTN
Our corporate philosophy reflects the "frontier spirit" and "co existence and co-prosperity spirit" that permeated our company when it was established, as expressed in the phrase, "creation of original technologies" and "contributing to society." In order to ensure this corporate philosophy permeates the company for the next 100 years, it is necessary to explain it in a manner that enables employees to understand the link between their day-to-day work and our corporate philosophy.
Ultimately, it would be ideal if our corporate philosophy were to guide our employees in their decision-making. We will work to ensure that each and every employee can contribute to society while meeting the needs of our customers.

TOPIC 2 The Need for CSR in the Midst of Global Expansion

Stakeholder
In order to promote CSR on a global basis, it is important to cooperate with local companies and with society. Toward that end, it is also useful to "identify materiality (issue of particular importance among wide range of CSR initiatives)" in addition to instilling the corporate philosophy, so please consider that aspect. From a management perspective, "promoting diversity" is also an important factor. For the global expansion, promoting diversity is required with the understanding of executive officers.
NTN
We have been considering the materiality of our group by placing our focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations. This will enable each base outside Japan to be rooted in its own region through its business operations. Regarding diversity, we have been implementing a variety of measures, including training of executive officers, and we will take steps to create an environment of mutual respect with each of our bases outside Japan and with our respective cultures.

TOPIC 3 Environmental Initiatives

Stakeholder
I believe that you have positioned itself at a fairly high level in terms of reducing the environmental impact of its business operations. In the future, I would expect to see initiatives involving different aspects than in the past through the establishment of an environmental strategy with a long-term perspective. This could involve reducing the environmental impacts and other innovations in the scope of supply chain. In such a case, it would be necessary to develop indicators, such as the environmental contribution, that could be understood by a third-party, what it means the objectivity of data. I believe that products that contribute to society ‐ not only from your own company but also developed in collaboration with other companies ‐ will be essential for the sustainable society.
NTN

From now on, we would like to concentrate not only on environmental efforts at our factories but also on creating environmental value. We recognize that the objectivity of data is also important, and we are promoting visualization of environment-related figures as non-financial indicators, such as third-party evaluations of CO2 data. Regarding products that contribute to the environment, we are beginning to formulate such criteria, and we intend to develop products that would be effective over the medium and long terms.

(The above is the summary of the experts'comments.)

2th

Date

June 9,2016

Participants

Experts

Katsuhiko Kokubu

Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration Kobe University

Yoko Hiyama

Lawyer admitted in Japan and New York, Ethos Law Office, Ethos LPC

Kazuhiko Shiratori

Senior Manager, Sekisui Integrated Research Inc.

Eriko Nashioka (Facilitator)

Certified Public Accountants / Representative Director, Institute for Environmental Management Accounting

NTN

Hiroshi Nakano

Director and Corporate General Manager, CSR Headquarters

Toshiyuki Matsutani

General Manager, General Affairs & Environmental Management Department

Yasuyuki Kuroda

General Manager, CSR Department, CSR Headquarters

TOPIC 1 CSR at NTN

Opinion in
2015
  • Further coordination between business activities and CSR activities will be important in the future.
  • It is vital to include "Value Creation" as part of corporate activities for the further CSR development.
Progress
  • In addition to energy conservation and global environmental protection in main businesses, we are coordinating business activities with natural energy utilization and contributions to local communities even in the natural energy business and other new business fields.
  • As a way of "value creation" through products, with consideration for the global environment, local communities, personnel and other factors, we are incorporating CSR activities in our business activities from the perspective of achieving a sustainable society.
Opinion in
2016
  • Taking CSR priority level and direction as CSR materiality indices, it is desirable to disclose related progress using nonfinancial KPI. Materiality should reflect changing conditions and may be adjusted every three years.
  • CSR targets (as well as business targets) should not be just action plans. Maintaining them as benchmarks is also important during times of low growth.
  • As a form of value creation, it is important to assess materiality in the medium and long term based on major objectives.
  • Advancing local production for local consumption is necessary for energy as a whole in Japan. Businesses that contribute to this area are admirable.
  • Reporting should clearly communicate the key points of this year (not across the board).

TOPIC 2 Global

Opinion in
2015
  • Building up a global network is needed for the mutual interaction within the NTN Group.
Progress

We hold Global Management Conferences and CSR Global Meeting in English, and we advance the sharing of information by localizing various databases into English and publishing "e-Talk21" in-house electronic news (combined English and Japanese editions) and the seasonal "Blue Horizon" in-house bulletin (combined English and Japanese). We also engage in mutual personnel exchanges, through overseas trainee and International Internship Program systems, as well as by receiving trainees from overseas factories.

Opinion in
2016
  • The CSR Global Meeting is useful for sharing the issues of each area as they are different in every region.
  • "For New Technology Network" is important for expanding networking ties.

TOPIC 3 Compliance

Opinion in
2015
  • Sharing information with transparency is crucial.
Progress

We established Internal Control Sections in the Overseas Offices of the General Manager in every region. As we strengthen the compliance promotion structures of the NTN Group Overseas, we are advancing measures for each region based on their conditions and characteristics. For these measures, we are conducting overall management in the head office and monitoring them in the Internal Auditing Department.

Opinion in
2016
  • The corporate governance code is being handled correctly. It is originally a medium and long term way of thinking, stating that it is for all stakeholders. Showing medium and long term value creation is important.
  • There might be some cases that the compliance systems do not work properly. Distance between workplaces and management may result in a failure of compliance. Communication and feedback processes are important to keep encouragement from becoming pressure.

TOPIC 4 Environment

Opinion in
2015
  • We would like to see more information on environmentally friendly products designed as "value creation."
Progress

We are advancing businesses in fields that are "value creation" domains, including natural energy, EV business for the electrification and safety revolution of automobiles, robots that work and live with people, and service and solution businesses that utilize big data. In the natural energy field, we established Green Power Park as an energy recycling model. This empirical experiment utilizes power generated by vertical axis wind turbines and micro hydro turbines, to charge electric vehicles, to illuminate vegetable farms and for other purposes.

Opinion in
2016
  • Green Power Park is a good effort that strengthens public infrastructure not only for the company but for the community. It also represent a significant contribution to society.
  • Bearings themselves, as the core business, probably still have considerable potential. We believe there would be more added value in rotation and movement of bearings in terms of ease of turning and stopping, etc. We expect them to have new functions as well.

TOPIC 5 100th Anniversary and Future Issues

Opinion in
2016
  • Approaching your 100th anniversary, we want you to devise new ways to show "value creation." The corporate philosophy is a place to return as the company continues to thrive. We hope that you approach the 100th anniversary in a way that makes employees feel proud.
  • Investigating, for example, the CSR consciousness of employees in areas other than compliance on a global scale could be valuable. Investigation is necessary to confirm the permeation of the philosophy.
1th

Date

May 22, 2015

Participants

Experts

Katsuhiko Kokubu

Graduate School of Business Administration, Dean and Professor, Kobe University

Yoko Hiyama

Lawyer admitted in Japan and New York, Ethos Law Office, Ethos LPC

Kazuhiko Shiratori

Senior Manager, Sekisui Integrated Research Inc.

Eriko Nashioka (Facilitator)

Certified Public Accountants / Representative Director, Institute for Environmental Management Accounting

NTN

Hiroshi Nakano

Director and Corporate General Manager, CSR Headquarters

Toshiyuki Matsutani

General Manager, General Affairs & Environmental Management Department

Yasuyuki Kuroda

General Manager, CSR Department, CSR Headquarters

Outline of Dialog

  • NTN’s CSR report contains a lot of information for a B to B company (Business to Business, companies selling products and services to other companies, instead of general consumers). Further coordination between business activities and CSR activities will be important in the future.
  • After a system has been built, promoting CSR activities is tend to be difficult to become part of routine procedures. It is vital to include "Value Creation" as part of corporate activities for the further development.
  • For globalization, it is vital that employees around the world are aware of NTN’s overall image and significance of CSR. Building up a global network is needed for the mutual interaction within the NTN Group. It is also important to provide a framework that allows the most suitable people for the job to work by incorporating a sense of global value with suitable positions and jobs.
  • Companies that face problems related to compliance have issues with their corporate culture. Even companies have an appropriate system for compliance; it would be possible not to function properly. Sharing information with transparency is a key point. Some countries have different levels of compliance with laws and regulations, so it is also important to develop a framework for each country.
  • Environmental efforts designed with the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are reaching their limit with regards to the Recycle aspect. The issue in the future will be focused on the Reduce aspect. We would also like to see more information on environmentally friendly products designed to "create value."

Issues that have been raised from the feedback we received will be assigned an order of priority in spans. We will continue to hold this kind of stakeholder dialog with a view to taking a pro-active stance to issues related to the environment, society, governance and other fields.