ミネベアのグローバルオペレーションの展開

抄録

Minebea began its operations in 1951 as Japan's first specialized manufacturer of miniature ball bearings. For some time the Company engaged in a small-scale production geared to the domestic market. With the start of export to the U. S. in the late 1950's as a momentum, the Company continued to steadily expand its operations overseas: Production began in the U. S. in 1971, in Singapore in 1973, in Thailand in 1982, and in Shanghai, China in 1994.
In the meantime, Minebea continuously diversified its operations. Sales of bearings including miniature ball bearings currently account for less than 30% of the Company's overall sales; still, the Company produces miniature ball bearings and small-sized ball bearings (M & I bearings) with external diameters of up to 22 millimeters at 10 of its manufacturing facilities all over the world. With a total production amounting to 130 million pieces per month (expected to reach 150 million pieces by the end of 2000), Minebea enjoys a 65% share of the global market as the world's top manufacturer of these bearings.
In this text, I would like to explain how Minebea, through global expansion of its operations, has achieved the current competitive position exemplified by high product quality, competitive pricing, on-time delivery performance, and volume production capacity. Taking M & I bearings for example, I will elaborate on current situation, history, background, and purposes of Minebea's operations in Singapore, Thailand, China, and the U. S. I will also talk about various factors that characterize Minebea's operations in these countries such as training of all employees at the parent plant, intensive technology transfer, installation of the most advanced machinery/equipment, thorough in-house production of parts and components, horizontal administrative system, and separation of production and sales.