About Canon > Excellent Global Corporation Plan Phase III
Canon is seeking further business development through innovation and sound growth
Through the five key strategies of Phase III of our Excellent Global Corporation Plan,
we aim to become a truly excellent global company, joining the ranks of the world's top 100 companies
1 Bolster existing core businesses and launch three new display businesses
- As we celebrate Canon's 70th anniversary, we aim to achieve the overwhelming No. 1 position in existing businesses that have supported our growth to date. To enhance our market competitiveness, we will secure a new technological edge through the development of key components and key devices and the reinforcement of platform technologies. We will also work to bring to fruition the three display businesses currently under development: SED, organic LED displays, and projection displays.
2 Establish new production systems to maintain international competitiveness
- To maintain and also increase international competitiveness, Canon believes it is necessary to shift toward equipment-intensive processes by introducing highly productive automated systems and robots.
Integrating development, production technology and manufacturing expertise, we aim to introduce a new production system centered on automated assembly lines that operate around the clock. In this way, we can improve the cost of sales ratio to 45% by 2010 to attain an even higher level of cost competitiveness.
3 Expand operations through diversification and strengthen the Three Regional Headquarters System
- Canon has increased corporate value through business diversification and globalization. Looking to further business diversification, we are seeking out promising new areas of business—such as displays, office imaging solutions, and commercial printers—while encouraging Group companies to pursue business activities outside Canon's established fields. Regarding international diversification, our regional headquarters in the United States and Europe are investing capital and human resources to establish new businesses that capitalize on areas of technical expertise and characteristics unique to each region.
4 Identify next-generation business domains and obtain necessary technological capabilities
- To continue to grow beyond 2010, Canon is stepping up research to discover new technologies and develop new business domains. While engaging in basic research and leading-edge technical development in such fields as medicine, robotics for factory automation, and product safety based on quality-improvement platform technologies, we are also expanding collaborations with world-leading research institutes and universities, focusing our energies on the development of cutting-edge technologies.
5 Nurture truly autonomous individuals to promote everlasting corporate innovation
- For Canon to become a world-class company, our employees must strive for excellence. From a human-resource development standpoint, we will further enhance our education and training programs to cultivate capable employees who are trusted by society, and encourage employees to put into practice Canon's "Three Selfs" guiding principle. At the same time, we will step up efforts to develop insightful global leaders and business managers who actively contribute to not only progress at Canon, but also to the business world and society as a whole.
The Excellent Global Corporation Plan
The Excellent Global Corporation Plan was introduced with the aim of building a corporate group that continuously contributes to society
through technological innovation and is worthy of admiration and respect worldwide. Phase I of the Plan, launched in 1996, focused on profits and total optimization through selection and concentration of business areas.
In Phase II, launched in 2001, we established a highly profitable business structure with the goal of becoming No. 1 in all of our major areas of business. Focusing on sound growth in Phase III, which began in 2006, we aim to join the ranks of the world's top 100 companies in terms of all key business performance indicators.
The ‘Three Selfs' Principle
The guiding principle that has served as the foundation of Canon's corporate culture since its early beginnings is the " San-Ji," or Three Selfs, spirit. The Three Selfs are: self-motivation, self-management and self-awareness. Self-motivation refers to taking the initiative and being proactive in all things; self-management refers to conducting oneself responsibly and being accountable for all one's actions; and self-awareness is understanding one's situation and role in it.
This guiding principle takes on even greater importance today as Canon aims to become a truly excellent global corporation.
