2017

Kagami: The DNA of Minebea lies in the sincerity of its manufacturing. For many years, we have worked faithfully to create strong technology in niche fields. We followed an uninterrupted path of steady and diligent efforts for the improvement of products such as ball bearings, enhancing their precision, for over 50 years until the present. Karuizawa Plant, the "mother plant," or launch-pad, of Minebea, has developed these beliefs over many years.

Aso: I have been strongly impressed with Minebea's sincerity, fastidiousness, and seriousness toward manufacturing since we started working together following integration. It was an area where Mitsumi was lacking, and which we hope to actively incorporate.

Kagami: On the other hand, Minebea actually had a culture resistant to ready introduction of new technologies and products. Although, as a manufacturer, we strove to provide the world with "higher quality products, at a lower price, faster, and in greater quantities," we viewed products a risk if it would be difficult to achieve volume, and we tended to avoid them. We considered Mitsumi to be more flexible in this regard.

Aso: Working with the customer in order to create products the world needs is in Mitsumi's DNA. We grew by creating innovative products, developed through extensive communication with customers, and by expanding our reach in the periphery. Currently, the Tama Business Division, which manages Mitsumi's head office functions, continues that tradition, supporting manufacturing as a base for design and development.