Orporate Social Response
Orporate Social Response
Orporate Social Response
Corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company's effects on the environment and impact on social welfare. The term generally applies to company efforts that go beyond what may be required by regulators or environmental protection groups. Corporate social responsibility may also be referred to as "corporate citizenship" and can involve incurring short-term costs that do not provide an immediate financial benefit to the company, but instead promote positive social and environmental change.
Different organisations have framed different definitions - although there is considerable common ground between them. CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society.
Companies need to answer to two aspects of their operations. 1. The quality of their management - both in terms of people and processes (the inner circle). 2. The nature of, and quantity of their impact on society in the various areas. Outside stakeholders are taking an increasing interest in the activity of the company. Most look to the outer circle - what the company has actually done, good or bad, in terms of its products and services, in terms of its impact on the environment and on local communities, or in how it treats and develops its workforce. Out of the various stakeholders, it is financial analysts who are predominantly focused - as well as past financial performance - on quality of management as an indicator of likely future performance.
Casio is committed to earning the confidence of all of its stakeholders, including the broader society. In order to further enhance the effectiveness of its CSR activities, the company is engaged in various initiatives such as the improvement of corporate governance.
CSR Committee
A CSR Committee headed by the director responsible for CSR has been established under the board of directors. The committee is the central body for implementation of CSR. The CSR Committee is composed of a Secretariat that administers the committee, as well as representatives of the CSR-related (administrative) departments of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., and all Casio group companies worldwide. The CSR-related departments and the group companies appoint their own CSR chiefs and managers. The committee meets once every six months, but its activities are carried out based on fiscal-year management cycles. At the start of the fiscal year, the Secretariat checks progress made on various themes in the previous year. It then determines the most important CSR themes for the current year, and draws up its action plan for the year. According to this action plan, ongoing themes are continued and new themes are introduced. Next, a stakeholder dialogue is held to ascertain the current situation and challenges, and new themes are established by a working group. The CSR-related departments implement programs based on the established goals for the themes they are responsible for and the annual plans to achieve the goals. At the end of the fiscal year, progress made on the themes is evaluated. Based on the results, issues are identified, and then used to improve the plan for the next year. CSR Committee System
Based on the results of the CSR survey at the end of the fiscal 2012, respect for human rights, a core objective of ISO 26000, was established as the key policy initiative for fiscal 2013. In this year, a total of nine themes, including themes continued from the previous year, were selected and promoted: one compliance-related theme and eight themes focusing on CSR issues. The following outlines the progress made on these themes, along with the fiscal 2014 plan. <Individual themes for fiscal 2013 and implementation status>
No. Theme Fiscal 2013 performance Status Fiscal 2014 plan
Implement CSR activities Set themes by identifying across Casio group companiesCSR issues
Ongoing theme
Advance promotion and Held discussion meetings activity of female employees on work-life balance Understand importance of human rights Create mechanisms to protect human rights
Ongoing theme
(Integrate into No. 8) Raise awareness of the Code Implement measures to address human rights issues
Revised the Casio Group CodeOngoing of Conduct theme Conducted a human rights questionnaire Ongoing theme
Increase employment of person with disabilities Increase and utilize employee diversity Address compliance risk measures
Surveyed status of system to Ongoing keep and follow-up on these theme employees Established an overall theme Ongoing plan theme Established rules
Promote diversity
Completed
Casio discloses information promptly and fairly to shareholders and investors, and always strives to increase shareholder returns.
Considering this policy, Casio paid dividends of 20 per share in fiscal 2013. This was an increase of 3 over the previous fiscal year. Starting in fiscal 2014, Casio will also pay interim dividends, returning profits to shareholders more frequently than the year-end dividend system used to date.
Casio Computer Co., Ltd., is included in the Morningstar Socially Responsible Investment Index (MS-SRI). Morningstar Japan selects 150 companies from among all listed companies in Japan based on their social responsibility track records, and indexes their stock prices (April 2013).
IR events
Every quarter, Casio holds a financial results briefing for institutional investors and securities analysts on the same day that the company announces its results. The president or the director responsible for investor relations is the main speaker at these briefings, and explains the financial results and forecasts. Casio also holds meetings with institutional investors and analysts worldwide, while occasionally providing factory tours and small on-the-spot meetings for investors interested in specific business areas.
Improving IR publications
To provide IR information for shareholders and investors, the company issues an Annual Report, semiannual business reports (Japanese only), and quarterly Consolidated Financial Results. Casio's Investor Relations website also features these publications and other IR information. Casio also updates its Investor Relations site in a timely fashion to reflect market changes and make the information more accessible and useful. Investor Relations
Reaching out to individual shareholders and investors
Casio is carrying out various initiatives in order to deepen the understanding individual investors and shareholders have of its business. At its General Meeting of Shareholders, the company described its main products and key businesses. On the Japanese Investor Relations website, a section was added specifically for individual investors in an effort to make information disclosure clearer. Breakdown of Shareholders
Responsibilities to Customers
Casio is recognized by the market for its commitment to treating customers right. The company constantly strives to ensure its business management is worthy of customer confidence.
Product Planning
Casio focuses on the experience that people really want to have with its products. This ensures that the companys product planning is always fresh, as developers even think outside the box of Casios existing technologies. A good example of this was the development of a new digital camera with a high-speed image processing engine that enables users to press the shutter button at very short intervals. The idea for this new camera came from a frustrating experience that Casio developer Nobuyoshi Nishizaka had one day. He missed the initial moments of his childs first solo bike ride, because his high-speed continuous shooting camera was busy processing images taken an instant before and was not ready for the shutter to be pressed again. He himself had been part of the team that developed the advanced continuous shooting function, but Nishizaka realized the camera could not quite capture certain truly unexpected, now-or-never photo opportunities. Up to that point, the development approach had been to create high-speed continuous shooting that could capture virtually anything. Clearly, it was time to expand the concept. So he went back to the drawing board, aiming to create a camera that anyone can easily use to capture the truly spontaneous, memorable moments of life. This flexibility to think beyond even successful existing ideasthe freedom to consider what is really neededis the key to innovation at Casio.
Technology
AiR Sound Source generates natural changes in tones as they fade away
Creating New Amazement with Technology That Makes the Impossible Possible
Casio makes the most of its original digital technology to take on the challenge of making the impossible possiblein more ways than one. One example is the Casio AiR Sound Source, which digitally recreates the rich sound and tonal qualities of a grand piano. The harder the player hits the keys, the brighter and more powerful the sound, while a soft touch enables gentle, delicate expression. Not only that, the transitions between levels of hard and soft playing are virtually seamless. AiR Sound Source delivers sound with natural depth by adding threedimensional sound morphing from the time the note starts until it dies away. This very closely mimics the unique sound of a grand piano, where the wooden case and strings resonate together. High-speed arithmetic processing enables the instant-to-instant simulation of the complex changes in tone that occur inside a grand piano. This would be impossible using a conventional PCM sound system, which uses only pre-recorded samples for each note. Casio keeps pushing the frontiers of digital technology to do the impossibleand digital technology is just one of Casios core technologies.
Design
Casio uses a design approach called CMF for color, material, and finish. Perfect for creating product variation, this process makes it efficient for Casio to offer a variety of different looks for each model. Designers can give a base model not only different colors, but also a wide range of material textures and surface finishes. With G-SHOCK watches for example, special printing or metallic treatment on the plastic base material gives each design a unique feel, which would be difficult with actual metal or natural leather. For watches, the CMF approach is reflected not only in the hands and dial, but also in the watchband, to provide each watch with its own strong personality. Customers love to express themselves by choosing the Casio product that best fits who they want to be. This is yet another way that Casio creates new value.
Business support Tablet terminal V-T500 Casio works to develop products using human-centered design (HCD) in conformity with ISO 13407 processes, with the objective of improving product ease of use as part of the products overall quality. In the HCD process, Casio seeks optimal ease of use by determining important issues from customer feedback and observation of product use in real-world situations. Through repeated evaluation and verification, Casio works to develop highly desirable products. The V-T500 series of tablet terminals was developed to provide support in a variety of business environments. They feature a user-replaceable, high-capacity rechargeable battery for long hours of operation, and a SAM slot to support a higher level of security. The tablets can also withstand drops from one meter, are dust and splash-proof (IP54 compliant), and can operate in temperatures ranging from -20C to 50C. The V-T500 series offers outstanding grip-ability for
comfortable operation even in the rain or other environments where objects become slippery. This performance is based on the testing and evaluation of multiple exterior designs, including a raised frame around the screen and hand-gripping grooves on the back of the device.
Casio products are all designed in 3D using computer software, and are stored as digital data. These files are centrally managed along with circuit diagrams, component data, specifications, and production schedules, and are shared via network with production sites and logistics facilities. This system was established to enable Casio to flexibly adapt to changing conditions, such as changes in user needs and the economic environment. By sharing this data throughout the company, Casio can ensure that circuits and parts that work the same way, even if used in different product areas, are standardized, achieving lower procurement costs and greater efficiency in assembly. If any problems arise in relation to quality or the environment, Casio can efficiently go through its past product lineup to determine if there is a need to replace a certain part, or can work across departmental lines to examine the total environmental impact, for instance, calculating the amount of designated chemical substances contained in products. Design data is also used in the creation of catalogs and instruction manuals. Since design data can be used to create 3D diagrams and cross-section diagrams, there is no need to start drawing new diagrams from scratch. This accelerates the production process and keeps costs down.
Casio determines how many of each product to ship by looking at the market conditions immediately before shipment, inserting different types of content into the platform units, assembling the exterior, and then packaging the products. This allows Casio to supply only the number of models necessary in the shortest period of time.
The Intellectual Property Department aims to secure intellectual property rights on a global level. Its role is to utilize patent, design, and trademark rights in order to help establish competitive advantage for corporate management.
The center also broadly manages intellectual property (rights) such as copyrights and trade secrets as well as general intangible properties, while signing contracts with third parties and resolving disputes.
Casio constructs patent nets based on patent application and registration in priority fields (selection and concentration), and actively promotes activities for the acquisition of effective patents based on quality improvement. The company carries out patent application and rights acquisition activities worldwide, including in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and other Asian countries. Global patent portfolio
In addition to securing intellectual property rights for its inventions and other proprietary developments, Casio works to ensure freedom of operations by preventing legal claims from other companies and earns profits by licensing its technologies to other companies (including cross licensing). The company also uses intellectual property as a barrier to deter other companies from entering the same business, and carries out activities to establish competitive advantage for corporate management. In particular, Casio takes stringent measures to combat counterfeit products, and cooperates with government agencies to remove fakes from the marketplace.
3. Patent expert system
Meeting for patent experts Casio initiated a patent expert system in 1994 in order to promote the ongoing creation of outstanding intellectual property. With the aim of business strengthening through stronger intellectual property, engineers with high-level understanding of technologies and leadership skills have been assigned to each division as patent experts. While cooperating with the Intellectual Property Department from positions within their respective divisions, these patent experts work to strengthen the intellectual property abilities of their respective organizations. Here are details of specific activities.
1. Patent activity planning based on ascertainment of technology and development trends at Casio and other companies, as well as target management 2. Discovering and updating inventions 3. Evaluation of patent applications, determination of direction for patent creation according to business strategy, as well as evaluation of patent maintenance 4. Surveys of patents at other companies, patent infringement avoidance, and patent risk management 5. Creation of new businesses centered on intellectual property 4. Techno Power
Techno Power exhibition Casio's in-house Techno Power technology exhibition began in 1992 and is held annually to stimulate engineers, and foster sharing and cross-fertilization of technology. By creating a place for engineers to present their results to top management, and an opportunity for outstanding engineers and designers to receive recognition (i.e., awards based on the suitability of intellectual property results), the exhibition is a source of pride and motivation for engineers and encourages them to take on the challenge of developing new technologies.
5. Invention award system
Since 1968, Casio has had an award system for those employees that contribute to inventions and designs. By increasing the incentive for inventors and designers, the system fosters the desire for in-house engineers to take on the challenge of discovering new technologies. In accordance with Article 35 (Inventions by Employees) of Japan's revised Patent Act, which took effect in April 2005, Casio has revised its environment for employee inventors. It updated its intellectual property rules and created a consultation process in which the employee inventors can voice opinions in the revision of the rules. It also implemented a system for employee inventors to file an objection to monetary reward amounts. Based on the demands of employee inventors, the rules were revised again in April 2006 and April 2011.
6. Intellectual property training system
In order to create a stronger awareness about the acquisition of intellectual property, Casio holds intellectual property seminars to deepen employee understanding and interest in intellectual property. The company also distributes relevant information online (through intellectual property website content), and uses outside educational organizations such as the Japan Intellectual
Property Association and the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation. In this way, the company is promoting various intellectual property education activities.
7. Brand support activities Protecting rights to the Casio brand
In order to promote smooth corporate operations on a global level, the company protects the Casio brand with 1,973 registered trademarks in 193 countries around the world, most of which are product trademarks. In 2009, the Casio brand was recognized as a well-known trademark by the Chinese authorities (see the related Highlight column). In recent years there have been more trademark applications by other companiesmainly in emerging economies such as China and Indiawhich try to mimic the well-known Casio brand. As a result Casio has been strengthening its monitoring activities and its efforts to prevent the trademarking of look-alike brands. Trademarking of the Casio Brand Design rights acquisition (as of March 31, 2013)
Casio has registered the Casio brand for product trademarks in the countries indicated in blue. In the countries indicated in yellow, trademark review has been delayed in one area, there is no trademark system, or applications are not being accepted due to the politician situation.
Activities for minimizing risk entailed by new product naming and design, as well as rights acquisition
While avoiding the risk of infringing upon the design or trademark rights of other companies, Casio is actively promoting business support activities based on the strengthening of Casio's own design and trademark rights. Design rights acquisition (as of March 31, 2013)
Counterfeit versions of Casio watches and calculators can be found around the world, and they can have a large negative impact on sales. In 2005, Casio began holding regular group-wide conferences combat fake products. At these meetings, employees discuss the damage situation, priority of countermeasures, and the degree of importance. Business divisions and sales
departments at headquarters are committed, and Casio is working to strengthen its counterfeiting countermeasures in China, Hong Kong, and other consumer countries. At the same time, Casio has appointed an employee in charge of counterfeiting countermeasures at Casio Shanghai, and is strengthening efforts to stop these products at Chinese factories and in customs inspections.
Under these three major CS activities, Casio is investing in programs to improve product knowledge, repair technical skills, and customer service skills. In fiscal 2013, Casio once again carried out Internet surveys using its own method, which it established in fiscal 2010 to ensure continual assessment of customer satisfaction levels, particularly with regard to after-sales CS activities. Casio is also working hard to ensure that customer feedback from in and outside Japan is always delivered directly to the right place within the company, and to take unified improvement measures. Casio is also constantly working to improve product functions (functional CS). Casio compiles and analyzes information on customer inquiries and product defects in and outside Japan. It focuses on early detection, rapid response and prevention of recurrence of problems (quality CS).
Quality Assurance
In all of its business processes, Casio always takes the customer's perspective and bases its actions on the Principle of the Five "Gens"in Japanese, genba (on site), genbutsu (actual goods), genjitsu (reality), genri (theory) and gensoku (rule). Casio focuses on daily improvement in order to provide customers with reliability and peace of mind, and to meet customer demands with speed and integrity.
Casio believes it is important not only to provide products and services that delight customers, but also to win acceptance from the whole of society and achieve mutual prosperity. Toward this end, Casio Quality includes everything from the quality of individual products, to environmental protection and recycling. The role of quality assurance is to deliver quality that satisfies customers in every possible way.
As the division in charge of group-wide quality management, the CS Department (within the Global Marketing Headquarters) has been linked together with the Engineering Department (within the Production & Purchasing Division). By closely connecting the product development and sales teams, Casio is working hard to ensure quality, with the cooperation of all departments, while always pursuing the best solution for customers. In order to create a common group-wide awareness of "Quality First" being the foundation all operations, strong leadership is essential from top management and those responsible for quality. The Promotion Committee for Group-wide Quality Enhancement implements training to ensure employees understand and are widely aware of regulations and standards relating to quality and safety, and to learn technology expertise. This includes holding presentations for the improvement of quality management skills. Moreover, Casio is striving to raise the level of quality initiatives and improve the quality skills of employees, including the holding of in-house seminars given by outside instructors. Casio's production plants carry out plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycles using the ISO 9001 Quality Management System. In order to deliver reliability and peace of mind to customers that use Casio products, Casio employees focus on daily improvement. List of ISO 9001 Certified Sites
Classification Certified and Registered Sites Initial Version Registration Date
Development, Production and Service Sites in Japan Casio Electronic Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Yamagata Casio Co., Ltd.
Product Solution Department, System Product June 25, 1999 Division, Casio Computer Co., Ltd. August 5, 1994 December 16, 1994
Casio Techno Co., Ltd. Casio Electronic (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Guandu Factory Production Sites outside Japan Casio Electronic Technology (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd. Casio (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Casio maintains a strong quality assurance system, based on its belief in "Quality First." This system requires all employees to make quality their first concern in every task they perform, enabling the company to offer products and services that please and impress customers. The company's commitment to quality supports its corporate growth and makes social contributions possible, while at the same time winning customers' trust and giving them peace of mind.
Quality Management Policies
To build a good corporate image, we offer products and services that please and impress our customers, gain their strong trust, and ensure their peace of mind. We respond to our customers' requests and inquiries with sincerity and speed, and reflect their valuable comments in our products and services. In all our business processes, we base our actions on the Principle of the Five "Gens"in Japanese, genba (on site), genbutsu (actual goods), genjitsu (reality), genri (theory) and gensoku (rule)and adhere to the basics of business operations. We capture and analyze quality assurance activities quantitatively, using reliable data, and use the analysis to make continuous improvements. We also maintain a quality information system that enables the sharing of quality information and prevention of problems before they occur, and prevents recurrence of quality problems.
To comply with the legislative intent of Japans recently revised Consumer Product Safety Act, which went into force on May 14, 2007, the Casio board of directors has adopted the Fundamental Policies on Product Safety. Based on these policies, Casio has put in place the Product Safety Voluntary Action Plan which specifies the details of the steps to be taken. The company has also reengineered its response systems for handling those unusual situations when a product-related accident occurs, and has established procedures for managing such situations. These include the steady, timely collection and dissemination of accident information, the issuance of notifications and reports to customers and relevant administrative agencies, prompt, appropriate response measures, efforts to identify causes, and measures to prevent any future recurrence.
In order to promote long-lasting relationships of trust with customers, the Customer Support Center strives to respond to customer inquiries rapidly, exactly, politely and sincerely. The Customer Support Center strives to resolve any issues customers may have. The center is also always working to enhance its education programs to enable the appropriate provision of useful information that customers want. For example, the curriculum for newly hired or transferred personnel has been systematized and rebuilt. The center is also providing training to continually improve basic quality and presenting employee achievements in numerical format for principal skills such as verbal communication and writing. Even in the area of customer service quality, response procedures have been documented to promote standardization, and a centralized information database is being built. Customer inquiries and complaints are welcomed as important customer feedback. After analyzing the content of this feedback, the relevant departments and the Customer Support Center work together to implement improvement measures, and these efforts help to improve customer satisfaction for Casio products and services. Casio is also working hard to develop a structure for building positive relationships with its customers around the world in partnership with customer support centers at local sales subsidiaries outside Japan. Breakdown of Product Inquiries (Fiscal 2013, Overseas/Japan)
Fiscal 2013 Item Timepieces Digital Cameras Calculators Overseas Japan 43.1 24.0 7.3 29.4 17.0 3.2 27.0 23.4
100.0 100.0
Nearly every year since 2007 Casio has held a Global Teachers Meeting, inviting teachers from around the world who are passionate about mathematics education and research to the Hamura R&D Center and Casio headquarters in Hatsudai. The aim of the meeting is to contribute to the development of mathematics education in actual classrooms by using feedback from teachers to develop products that meet real-world educational needs. In 2012, the meetings focused on the use of high-performance graphing calculators in developed countries, where IT has become an integral part of education in recent years. There were vigorous discussions on the features and specifications that make graphing calculators easier to use, easier to teach with, and further enhance student understanding. Using this input, Casio developed and released the ClassPad II (fx-CP400) in March 2013. It offers switching between upright and horizontal views, and was well received by teachers worldwide.
Casio is working to improve repair technical skills, product knowledge, and customer service skills (through training programs and in-house competitions, for example) in order to maintain customer confidence and realize the kind of service quality that customers expect. As the company responsible for repairing Casio products, Casio Techno Co., Ltd. encourages its employees to obtain public certifications and professional qualifications. By promoting the acquisition of a wide range of qualifications, the company is developing outstanding employees with proficiency not only in repair skills, but also in customer service and product knowledge. Casio Techno is committed to providing detailed high-quality service to customers. Every Casio Techno employee acquires a high degree of technical expertise, motivated by a sincere desire to please customers and earn their confidence. By continuing to work tirelessly in this way, Casio Techno can promise service that both reassures and delights customers.
Prompt response
Casio is taking steps to improve operations by focusing on parts procurement, the repair system, and repair technical skill, so as to shorten repair time and return repaired products to customers as quickly as possible. As part of this effort, the company is reorganizing its repair centers for consumer products and revising its logistics network for repaired products, in order to shorten the time it takes to get the repaired product back in the customer's hands. Casio is also further improving its online service that allows customers to request pick-up of digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, and watches needing repair. The service is very handy for customers who do not have the time to take the product to a service center or retailer. Casio is actively promoting this new pick-up service to enhance customer convenience.
Casio is striving to ensure reasonable repair fees by controlling costs through the improvement of methods for repair and parts procurement.
As part of Casio's mission to provide delight, happiness, and pleasure to customers through its innovative products, the company is promoting the following policies.
Policies on Stable Product Supply 1. We strive to shorten production lead-time and improve planning and execution accuracy by using IT to streamline the supply chain (procurement-production-logistics-sales-service). 2. We build good relationships with component suppliers to ensure stable procurement. 3. We maintain the flexibility needed to address various risks involved in manufacturing by: building a production system with at least two production sites for each product; producing multiple products at each Casio Group production site maintaining in-house production and inlining of key devices and components.
Accordingly, Casio has taken various measures to minimize the loss of sales opportunities, and has worked to expand its market share.
One such measure is the operation of parallel supply chain management systems (SCM) at the headquarters procurement division and a production site, in order to enhance capacity simulation speed.
Production sites carry out simulations based on sales plans provided by the sales department, and calculate the personnel and equipment levels needed for production, before making the necessary
arrangements. The materials procurement department adjusts the procurement quantities every week by looking at information on materials to be received and the models prioritized by the sales department. These efforts help ensure timely production delivery.
In the case of electronic dictionaries, by using common platforms as base models, and performing primary assembly production, it is possible to add individual model specifications, such as dictionary content, display panels, and keyboards, during secondary assembly just prior to delivery. This enables Casio to rapidly meet changes in customer demand.
In the past, all parts procurement was carried out three months in advance. However, through the use of model platforms, the lead time for final product specifications determination has been shortened to just two weeks in advance, which also helps minimize surplus production.
Casio responds to the competitive and rapidly changing market for digital cameras by using weekly supply chain management in all divisions for sales, procurement and production.
The company is also increasing the internal production of components in order to protect newly created technologies and to reduce parts procurement risk. Production sites for individual products
Highlight
Casio Thailand Casio's new plant in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand, is located on high ground, making it less susceptible to floods. Casio has added the new plant to its existing major production sites with a view to enhancing business continuity planning (BCP) and diversifying risk through global manufacturing. Casio will continue to expand the plants production scale and functions.
Responsibilities to Employees
At Casio, the human resources mission is organized around two themes: contributing to the development of the company through the growth of all employees based on their desire to always take on challenges and make improvements; and achieving both corporate development and employee growth under optimal conditions.
Policy concerning respect for human rights and prohibition of discrimination / expanding awareness
With the rapidly developing globalization of the economy and society in recent years, human rights problems have become more serious, including child labor and forced labor discovered in the corporate supply chain, as well as discrimination and disparities. Given this context, companies are urged to meet international human rights standards and fulfill their social responsibility in terms of human rights when conducting business. Casio long ago spelled out its strong commitment to human rights and respect for the diversity of individuals in the Casio Group Code of Conduct and put that commitment into practice. It recently revised the Code of Conduct, explicitly stating a commitment to uphold and respect international norms relating to human rights, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Code of Conduct also stipulates specifically that Casio will not engage in any acts of discrimination based on race, creed, gender, age, social status, lineage, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender orientation, sexual orientation, or any other discriminator, will not use or permit any form of child or forced labor, and will not permit acts that impair personal dignity, such as discriminatory speech or behavior, acts of violence, sexual harassment, power harassment, privacy infringement, or slander. In December 2010, with the commitment of its president, Casio became a signatory to the UN Global Compact, endorsing its universal principles, such as the protection of human rights and
the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor, and making continuous efforts toward their achievement. Casio provides internal education at Casio Computer Co., Ltd., as well as group companies in and outside Japan in order to expand awareness about respecting human rights. In 2013, Casio conducted a human rights questionnaire survey of all group companies to identify human rights issues. It then held a human rights round table with relevant persons from within the group based on the survey results in an attempt to ascertain the actual conditions and increase awareness about respecting all human rights. Additionally, Casio Computer Co., Ltd. provides human rights education at training sessions given to new hires and employees before and after promotion and appointment to managerial positions. Casio also recognizes the importance of spreading the idea of respect for human rights outside its organization together with its entire supply chain. All suppliers have been made aware of Casios Supplier Guidelines, which clearly mandates respect for human rights and prohibits discrimination. In addition to requesting compliance, Casio strives to verify implementation using questionnaires and other means.
During the selection process, Casio has been making careful efforts to prevent disadvantages at the time of selection resulting from insufficient understanding of information due to differences in language, culture, and customs. One way it does this is by holding orientations and consultations exclusively for foreign students. Casio also provides an environment where foreign nationals can feel secure to work for a long time after joining the company, such as by providing business Japanese training, helping with procedures to acquire visa status, and taking care of procedures to move into a bachelors dormitory or company housing. At present, Casios nonJapanese employees are playing active roles while displaying their individuality in many kinds of workplaces.
Encouraging the hiring of seniors / supporting the lives and employment of seniors
Casio has a Senior Employee Program to provide retirement-age employees with employment opportunities, and to effectively utilize the skills and know-how that these individuals have accumulated over the course of their careers. It has now revised this program following amendment of the Act for Stabilization of Employment of Older Persons. Under the postrevision program, Casio offers continued employment with reasonable treatment according to past performance and the roles and responsibilities assumed after retirement age. The system creates workplaces where seniors can continue using their career skills and expertise within the Casio group.
Each year, Casio holds Life Planning Seminars for employees who have just reached age 53 or age 58. The seminars cover topics such as the pension system, as well as living costs, taxes, and
health after retirement. This provides participants with an awareness of these issues while they are still working, and helps them plan their post-retirement lives. Taught by an outside instructor, the seminars also provide financial information including details on the costs required to sustain full retirement. These learning opportunities have been well received by participants.
Initiatives in hiring
The Casio Group Code of Conduct states that "we will respect all fundamental human rights, and will not engage in any form of discrimination." Casio provides equal employment opportunities to anyone with the desire to work.
Casio also endorses the Japan Business Federations charter of hiring ethics. The company strives to avoid early hiring of undergraduate university students to minimize any impact on their studies. It also conducts voluntary explanation meetings at universities around the country and holds hiring events at different times during the day and week, splitting up selection periods into four or five different times. In this way, Casio is striving to provide hiring opportunities to as many students as possible.
At the core of this labor-management communication is the Group Workers' Labor-Management Conference, which is held four times a year (February, May, September, and November). At
these conferences, management and labor, together representing the entire group, exchange opinions about current conditions at the company. In addition, close communication is maintained at various other levels, including the Central Labor-Management Meeting, the Division Labor-Management Meeting, and the Sales Chapter Labor-Management Meeting. Casio operates on a union-shop basis; as a rule, all employees except for managers are members of the union.
Additionally, all managers are evaluated by their colleagues and subordinates about once every three years. The results are fed back to managers during training sessions to encourage continual improvement. An overview of the evaluation and compensation system is posted on the company intranet to keep all employees thoroughly informed about this system. The company not only works with evaluators, but has also cooperated with the labor union to produce a Goal Setting and Evaluation Interview Handbook to help deepen understanding between supervisors and their subordinates and ensure fairness in operations.
Casio aims to develop professionals in the form of strategic generalists who pass on the company's corporate culture, and technical specialists who pass on the company's unique technology and know-how. For this purpose, based on the convictions that people grow through their work and that the source of growth is personal motivation, Casio helps employees improve their skills by providing environments that enable them to overcome challenges through personal determination and effort.
Accordingly, the company emphasizes on-the-job (OJT) training to improve practical skills, complemented by off-the-job (off-JT) training to provide theoretical knowledge. In recent years, the training system has been improved to ensure even more effective, efficient skill development via a broader choice of training courses.
This system lets employees periodically register their careers, skills, and personal challenges with the company, and serves as an important reference for assisting managers to determine policies on developing their subordinates and future placement planning.
Career Challenge: Advanced
This program preferentially places employees who have been in their current career position for a rather long time and hope to challenge themselves to pursue work environments and careers that require new skills, for the objective of self-improvement and making further contributions to the company, in their desired divisions, if their desires meet the needs of the new department. This program has been gradually extended to consolidated group companies and the number of employees wishing to take the challenge doubled over the previous year. Casio will continue facilitate revitalization within the group through this system.
Job Posting System
This system seeks to satisfy both the company's business needs and employees' career paths, and is a program for priority placement of suitable people, based on selection of candidates for jobs which the company offers. It is operated jointly with other Casio group companies.
New Employee Training, Follow-up Training, Career Development Training
Training for young employees becomes a place for learning the basics of being a Casio employee, and offers opportunities for employees to consider their own career paths, with training for new entrants as well as one-year and three-year employees.
In-house specialist seminars
Casio holds in-house specialist seminars for young employees in engineering and marketingrelated positions. At the seminars, departmental managers pass on expertise and the aspirations of the company directly by introducing case studies from Casio itself. This raises the levels of specialist skills in the respective areas of engineering or marketing while passing on Casios company culture.
Skill Selective Training
The training targets all regular employees, for the objective of effectively and efficiently acquiring diverse skills required for work operations, in a training program that allows employees to select from a large variety of training courses. It also functions as an opportunity for network building within the company, as employees from different occupational categories attend the same training.
Techno Power
This is a technology exhibition held annually for the objective of stimulating engineers, and of sharing and accumulating technology, serving as a place for recognizing technology superiority, patentability, completeness, and other in-house advanced technology.
Advanced Technology Seminars
These are in-house seminars mainly targeting engineers, using case studies of innovators at other companies who were able to develop revolutionary new manufacturing methods and create new businesses, for the objective of understanding advanced technology trends and of fostering a development mindset and the will to take on challenges.
Language training
The purpose of this training program is to increase employees language skills. The company provides diverse language training suited to employee needs.
Intrapreneurship Program
Casio established its Intrapreneurship Program to identify and foster talented human resources who can motivate employees and develop businesses and to quickly launch new businesses by providing an opportunity for employees to make business proposals beyond organizational boundaries. The program allows individual employees to make their own business proposals directly to top management. Those employees whose proposals are approved as promising themes become the project leaders, and then work to realize the goals they proposed. So far 96 proposals have been made, some of which led to business development. Casio intends to make use of this program as an ongoing business proposal tool in the future.
Healthy menu Casio goes beyond employee health management. It also seeks, by taking active measures to promote better health, to improve employee motivation and raise productivity.
Regular health checks Employees receive regular health checks that are more thorough than legally mandated, in order to maintain and enhance their health and to help prevent lifestyle-related diseases. Nearly 100% of employees come for the health checks every year.
In the effort to prevent lifestyle-related illnesses, Casio, together with the Casio Health Insurance Association, is promoting initiatives that focus on exercise and healthy eating. From September to November and from March to May every year, Casio holds a Walking Campaign at sites across Japan to encourage the habit of getting moderate exercise. In fiscal 2013, 3,477 people participated in the campaign. Participants can check their progress and ranking on a special website. The employee cafeterias provide healthy menu choices featuring a balance of calories and nutrition. Wellness Fairs are also held at all Casio cafeterias.
Activities to raise employee awareness of health As a means of raising employee awareness of health, Casio held health classes on the themes of hints for making healthy choices when eating out and facts about sleep apnea syndrome at 14 worksites, and 272 employees took part.
As part of this system, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., has initiated an e-Learning Program, a SelfCheckup, and a Stress Test by Organization for all its employees. A separate e-Learning Program and a Program for Managers have also been created for those in leadership positions. All of these programs are designed to improve awareness of mental health issues.
In addition, Casio has an in-house mental health physician and an external Physical and Mental Health Hotline in place to offer counseling in and outside the company.
Casio has been steadily establishing the same kind of support system for group companies in Japan, in order to ensure that employees are able to work with vigor and satisfaction.
Disaster prevention drill at the head office Casio is committed to the goal of zero occupational injuries and operates regular safety programs with the aim of maintaining an accident-free record at all Casio work sites. In addition, each site and group company conducts fire and disaster prevention/evacuation drills.
Example commendations
Casio has placed automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during a cardiac arrest, in all its facilities nationwide. Additionally, the company provides lifesaving classes and supports initiatives for lifesaving activities by employees, in order to be prepared for any eventuality. So far, AEDs at Casio facilities have been used three times to save the lives of people who had a heart attack, and in each case the person fully recovered.