Our Corporate Communications staff spend time getting to know Sumitomo Corporation's different business sites around the world, reporting on how the people at those sites work. We will keep you up to date with the world of Sumitomo Corporation, which extends to every corner of the globe.
Kenichi Hirao,
Strategic Planning Team, Corporate Communications Department
After experiencing marketing at the Automotive Division and Network Division, He was assigned to the Corporate Communications Department in April 2007. Currently He is in charge of the formulation of mid- to long-term corporate communications strategies, group and global communications, etc. He sometimes enjoy playing golf, while He is also into audio equipment.
Summit D&V
Headquartered in Esztergom, Hungary, Summit D&V also has a plants where it assembles and distributes automotive OEM components. Sumitomo Corporation first took a stake in the company in 2003, and now the Group has full ownership. Summit D&V mainly supplies automotive OEM components to Suzuki (local company Magyar SUZUKI) which is located next to the headquarters site. In 2006, it formed a joint venture, Plastimat Hungary, which manufactures auto parts.
Summit Agro Hungary
Summit Agro Hungary was established in 1992 as the first local agrichemical marketing company to develop the Group's global agricultural chemical business. (The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation.) It was later reorganized as a subsidiary of Summit Agro Europe, the European umbrella company based in London. The company engages in the import and wholesale distribution of agricultural chemicals, seeds and other agricultural materials in Hungary.
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On July 22, 2008, I entered Hungary from Moscow via Vienna. With the flight delayed, it was 22:00. Summer days are long in Europe, but at this late hour it was pitch dark. On the way from the airport to a hotel in Budapest, I was greeted by the lit-up Royal Palace on a hill along the Danube, magnificent night view. Perhaps I was lucky that the flight was delayed, for I have never seen such a scene. A prosperous kingdom in years gone by, Hungary became a republic in 1989. The long traditions of the country are often awe-inspiring.
Mr. Ishibashi, General Manager, in a meeting
Summit D&V is situated in Esztergom's industrial complex located about one hour by road from the city of Budapest. The company supplies original equipment manufacturing (OEM) components to Suzuki (local company Magyar SUZUKI). Sumitomo has had a stake in Summit D&V since 2003, and is involved in managing the company.
I first met with Mr. Kikkawa, Managing Director, and Mr. Ishibashi, General Manager, who are stationed locally from Sumitomo Corporation, and then took a tour of the plant. Currently, about 170 people work for Summit D&V. The company values JIT (Just-In-Time) delivery and components assembly, and supplies components directly to the production lines of the Suzuki plant, which is located next to the company. Client-tailored services such as this are the strengths of Summit D&V.
Working at the factory
In 2006, Summit D&V established Plastimat Hungary as a joint venture with Cadence Innovation. Plastimat, which manufactures injection molded plastic products including door trims, is taking root in the local market and its business is steadily expanding.
The factories are well organized and extremely clean, and the layout and the manufacturing process are based entirely on the workflow. I was impressed that, in contrast to the strict accuracy of their work, the people in the factories greeted me with relaxed smiles.
Mr. Kikkawa, managing Director, in his office
Mr. Kikkawa, the Managing Director, smiled rather shyly when we took his photograph. But when we talked, he was very clear about what he believes in. I got a real sense of how the attitude of top management strongly influences not only the employees but every aspect of the factory.
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