Message from Top Management
Overcoming Obstacles and Taking up New Challenges for Continued Growth
Canon is seizing the initiative in 2012 and taking up new challenges. We are now one year into Phase IV of our Excellent Global Corporation Plan, for which we have adopted the slogan "Aiming for the Summit: Speed & Sound Growth."
This first year proved to be a real test for us in the face of two unprecedented disasters—the Great East Japan Earthquake and the major floods in Thailand. Nonetheless, we have lost neither our competitive strength nor our growth momentum. Harsh conditions also provide opportunities for great progress, and we will exercise our spirit of challenge and flexible responsiveness to the ever-changing environment to again advance on the path toward growth.
Accelerating Our Growth Strategy by Strengthening and Expanding Core Businesses and Developing New Businesses
By 2015, the final year of Phase IV of our Excellent Global Corporation Plan, Canon aims to achieve net sales of ¥5 trillion and join the ranks of the world's top 100 companies in terms of all major management indicators.
One example of how we have strengthened our current core businesses on the way to achieving this goal is the launch in November 2011 of the Cinema EOS System, which has enjoyed wide acceptance by the film industry, including Hollywood. We are also strengthening our solutions business through cloud-based document services. Another example is our entry into the retail photo segment through the introduction of commercial photo printers. Our goal is to achieve the overwhelming No. 1 position in all of our core businesses by continuing to take on the challenges of new business domains.
We are also boosting our efforts in the medical and industrial equipment fields to establish new pillars of support for the Company. In the medical field, for example, we are engaged in joint research with Kyoto University targeting the application of imaging technology in new medical equipment. We also plan to finalize and commercialize DNA diagnostic equipment based on our R&D activities in the United States. Canon aims to achieve sustainable growth while contributing to the resolution of issues confronted by society through technological innovation.
Furthermore, we are strengthening the R&D and production systems that support our business efforts. In the area of R&D, we are establishing new innovation centers in Europe and the United States toward the establishment of our Three Regional Headquarters management system, which will contribute to the creation of new businesses capitalizing on the unique technological expertise in Japan, the United States and Europe. As for our operational structure, we are heeding the lessons learned from the earthquake and floods of 2011 as we push forward in establishing a globally optimized production system to realize the optimal distribution of our production sites worldwide. In addition, we are strengthening our sales force as we focus on developing markets in emerging countries.
Strengthening our CSR Activities to Become a Corporation Worthy of Admiration and Respect Worldwide
A company's operations are supported by the development of society as a whole, so proceeding with our growth strategy and expanding our business requires consideration to our impact on the global environment and community.
It is therefore important for us to respond to the demands and expectations of all our stakeholders, and to seek to grow by offering superior products while at the same time fulfilling our roles and responsibilities as a member of society.
To reaffirm our position in this regard, in January 2012 we established the Canon Group CSR Activity Policy, which outlines Canon's commitment to CSR activities on the global and community levels by leveraging our advanced technological strengths, global business deployment and diverse, specialized workforce.
Under the new policy, the Canon Group will continue to develop a variety of CSR initiatives based on our CSR policies, including humanitarian support for disaster victims as well as cultural support for the arts, science and sports. As an environmental leader, Canon will continue to balance contributions to enriching people's lifestyles with concern for the global environment through efforts to reduce CO2 emissions across the entire product lifecyle, maximize resource efficiency and steadily eliminate toxic substances while continuing to offer our customers highly functional, easy-to-use products. In addition, we will strengthen our internal control system and maintain structures to ensure full compliance while persisting in our quality improvement efforts so that we can continue to engage in sound, fair business practices as a member of the international community.
Canon aims to be worthy of admiration and respect worldwide as a truly excellent global company by employing our strengths to contribute to the realization of a better society as a good corporate citizen.
Contributing to the Realization of a Sustainable Society by Developing Global Human Resources Capable of Responding to Change
With a foundation based on respect for humanity, Canon's corporate culture promotes self-transformation and responsiveness to changes in the business environment through an enterprising spirit and the San-ji (Three Selfs) Spirit—self-motivation, self-management and self-awareness—guiding principles that have been passed down from the Company's founding. Maintaining and cultivating this corporate culture, we focus on developing global human resources capable of taking an active role on the global stage.
We will continue working to develop human resources who maintain compliance as a fundamental principle, who think about environmental conservation and other social issues, and who seek to achieve sustainable development for both the Company and the community.
We look forward to your continued understanding and support.
