Corporate Activities
Procurement / Production / Distribution
Striving for the most rational production means reducing waste in materials and time to virtually zero, while raising performance and quality.
Pursuing the ultimate in craftsmanship. With the comprehensive use of IT, Canon has implemented the real-time central management of all operations, from development and production to sales and service. Doing away with all unnecessary inventories, Canon ensures the timely delivery of superior-quality products to customers around the world.
“Man-Machine Cells,” with automated systems between workers, represent an evolution of the cell production system (Canon Hi-tech, Thailand).
Nagasaki Canon (Japan)
Automated production of toner cartridges
Canon is currently building automated production lines capable of running nonstop every day of the year. Design, production technology, and manufacturing expertise combine through the sharing of experience and know-how to establish entirely automated production systems with increasingly enhanced quality and stability.
Production of image sensors
With the dual aim of product innovation and cost reduction, Canon conducts in-house development and production of proprietary key components and devices. In addition, functional parts, circuit boards and other major components, molds and manufacturing equipment are produced within the Canon Group.
Canon Suzhou (China)
Canon factories worldwide use the cell production system, which eliminates conveyor belt assembly lines in favor of small teams, or “cells,” of workers that handle multiple procedures to complete a product. The system allows workers to change the number of procedures they perform according to skill level while also facilitating adjustments in production output.
Checking status through the PO system
This system enables the manufacturing of products in precise lots according to purchase orders. Unlike in forecast-based production, only the number of parts needed per order are acquired and assembled into products. There is no surplus production. PO-based production is made possible by IT that closely aligns parts-procurement, production, and sales operations.
Super-grade expert
Canon's Expert System recognizes employees with exceptional work skills. Workers are evaluated based on the number of operations they can perform, specialized knowledge, work speed, and other abilities. The system contributes to improvements in cell production quality and increased productivity.
A master craftsman working on a mold
At Canon, employees with exceptional skill who have received awards from public institutes are acknowledged as master craftsmen. At present, 32 master craftsmen apply their superior skills to lens polishing, precision machining, and other processes, while passing along their unique knowledge to the next generation.
Onsite verification at a green procurement facility
Green Procurement prioritizes the purchase of products with minimal environmental burden. Canon regularly evaluates the chemical substance management of its parts suppliers and includes that as a condition of doing business. Furthermore, by thoroughly examining the chemical composition of parts, Canon makes “greener” choices in products.
Railroad transportation in Europe
To lower the environmental burden due to CO2 emissions, Canon employs modal shift—switching from truck-and air-based transport to rail-and sea-based transportation, worldwide. Other initiatives to reduce the environmental costs of transportation include shortening the transportation distances to ports and improving load efficiency.
