News
News by Year
Corporate Management Division
- (1) In line with the adoption of the in-house company system, a new management headquarters - named the Corporate Management Division -- is to be set up to strengthen overall control. Consequently, the Office of Corporate Planning is to be abolished.
- (2) The Corporate Management Division will be in charge of the operations of the Corporate Controlling Department, the Corporate Planning Department, the Affiliated Companies Administration Department, the BPR Department, and the Corporate Communications Department.
Organization of Support Divisions
- (1) In pursuit of greater efficiency, the Accounting and Finance departments are to be amalgamated.
- (2) For the purpose of promoting the integrated operation of the Kuraray group and higher efficiency, the Business Service Center, Kuraray Information Systems Center Co., Ltd. and Kuraray Finance and Accounting Co., Ltd. will be merged and the newly established Kuraray Business Service Co., Ltd will be taken over these operations. However, responsibility for the hiring and staff training functions hitherto carried out by the Business Service Center will be transferred to the Personnel Department of Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Purchasing and Logistics Division
The Offices of Purchasing and Logistics will be combined into the Purchasing and Logistics Division.
Environment and Technology Division
- (1) The Office of Environment and Technology will be renamed the Environment and Technology Division.
- (2) To enable flexible operation of the Technology Development Center, operations in the fields of Chemical Process Development, Plastic and Compounds Technology Development, and Technology Development will be carried out on a group basis.
- (3) To strengthen the environmental and technology-related functions of each Plant in East Japan, a deputy head of the Environment and Technology Division will be placed in charge of these functions at the Tokyo office.
Research and New Business Development Division
- (1) The Company's intellectual property will be the responsibility of the Research and New Business Development Division with the aim of strengthening synergy with R&D activities.
- (2) To strengthen research and development capabilities in the fields of fibers and man-made leather over the medium-to-long term, the basic research functions with relation to fibers and man-made leather performed hitherto by the Kurashiki Plant's Fiber Research and Development Department will be transferred to the Research and New Business Development Division. In line with this, the Kurashiki Plant's Fiber Research and Development Department will cease to exist.
Operation Groups
As a result of the adoption of the in-house company system, equivalent sections within each "company" will continue to perform the function hitherto carried out by the Offices of Planning and Administration within the former Fibers and Textiles Operation Group, Specialty Polymers Operation Group, and Chemicals Operation Group.
Fibers and Industrial Materials Company
- (1) The Fibers and Industrial Materials Division (formerly of the Fibers and Textiles Operation Group) is to be renamed the Fibers and Industrial Materials Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department is to be set up within the company to enhance the strategy drafting and management capabilities of the Fibers and Industrial Materials Company.
Fastening and Non-Woven Fabrics Company
- (1) The Fastening and Non-Woven Fabrics Division (formerly of the Fibers and Textiles Operation Group) is to be renamed the Fastening and Non-Woven Fabrics Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department is to be set up to enhance the strategy drafting and management capabilities of the Fastening and Non-Woven Fabrics Company.
- (3) The Kuraflex Sales Department I is to be divided into two according to product application, becoming the Kuraflex Sales Department I and the Kuraflex Sales Department II.
- (4) The Kuraflex Department II is to be renamed the Kuraflex Goods Sales Department.
Clavella Division
- (1) Textile operations for apparel and furnishings are to be transferred to Kuraray Trading Co., Ltd. A Clavella Division, which will take charge of raw yarn operations, is to be established.
- (2) The Fiber Department and the Official Supply Department are to be established within the Clavella Division.
Clarino Company
- (1) The name of the Clarino Division (formerly of the Fibers and Textiles Operation Group) will be changed to the Clarino Company.
- (2) The former Administration Department (within the Clarino Division) will be reorganized into the Planning and Administration Department in the Clarino Company. This department will take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the Clarino Company.
- (3) The Apparel and Upholstery Material Sales Department will be transferred from Tokyo to Osaka.
- (4) The Product Planning Group of the Okayama Plant Clarino Development Department will be transferred to the Clarino Company and become its Products Planning Department. This department will focus on enhancing cooperation between the Clarino Company's production and marketing functions.
- (5) In Okayama Plant, Clarino Development Department and Clarino Production and Technology Department will be reorganized and formed into the Clarino Company's Production and Development Department. This department will focus on enhancing cooperation between the Clarino Company's production and development functions.
Poval Company
- (1) The name of the Poval Division (formerly of the Specialty Polymers Operation Group) will be changed to the Poval Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department will be established within the Poval Company to take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the Poval Company.
- (3) The former Poval Sales Department and the Tokyo Poval Sales Department will be reorganized into the Poval Sales Department of the new Poval Company to enhance the efficiency of domestic sales.
Eval Company
- (1) The name of the Eval Division (formerly of the Specialty Polymers Operation Group) will be changed into the Eval Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department will be established in the Eval Company to take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the Eval Company.
Methacrylate Company
- (1) The name of the Methacrylate Division (formerly of the Specialty Polymers Operation Group) will be changed into the Methacrylate Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department will be established in the Methacrylate Company to take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the Methacrylate Company.
- (3) The Optical Products Development Department will be created in the Methacrylate Company to accelerate the business expansion of optics products.
Chemical Company
- (1) The Chemicals Divisions (formerly of the Chemicals Operation Group) will be reorganized to form the Chemical Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department will be established in the Chemical Company to take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the Chemical Company.
- (3) The Chemicals Department and Specialty Chemicals Group will be reorganized to form the Chemicals Sales Department and Chemicals Development Group, respectively, of the Chemical Company.
Elastomer Company
- (1) The Elastomer Division (formerly of the Chemicals Operation Group) will be renamed the Elastomer Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department will be established within the Elastomer Company to take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the Elastomer Company.
OPT Company
- (1) The optical products business, which has been successful in developing products for the market, will be removed from the High Performance Materials Division and formed into the OPT Company.
- (2) A Planning and Administration Department will be established in the OPT Company to take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the new company.
- (3) A Sales Department will be established in the OPT Company.
High Performance Materials Division
- (1) The former Planning and Administration Department will take responsibility for improving the strategic planning and administrative functions of the High Performance Materials Division.
- (2) The former Environmental Business Development Department (within the High Performance Materials Division) will be renamed the Environmental Facilities Business Development Department.
Saijo Plant
In October 2001, Clavella operations were taken over by Kuraray Saijo Co., Ltd. The remaining operations at Saijo Plant will be transferred to Kuraray Saijo Co., Ltd., to reduce overall costs and integrate the management of the plant.
Offices
- (1) The Nagoya, Sapporo, and Sendai Branch Offices will be closed down in order to improve the efficiency of the overall domestic office network.
- (2) A new branch office will be established in Shanghai in order to promote our business in China.
