Behind the scenes of our swift global product delivery

As the factory’s point of contact, we arrange everything from order receipt to shipment to ensure swift product delivery to our customers worldwide.

- Our Role as a Coordinator in Providing Flexible Solutions to Meet Desired Deadlines

Sumitomo Electric receives orders for its fusion splicers from customers in over 80 countries including Japan, with more than 90% of sales coming from international markets. Despite this global scale, Sumitomo Electric focuses on producing its fusion splicers solely at its Chigasaki factory in Japan. This dedication is driven by the company’s commitment to maintaining exceptional quality for its highly sophisticated precision equipment, which has been infused with Sumitomo Electric’s proprietary technology. In the Supply Chain Management Group, we meticulously coordinate production planning, inventory management for products and components, and the overall coordination with every department involved in order processing, production, and shipment, including the factory itself. Our mission is to ensure the accurate and efficient delivery of products to customers worldwide.

In production planning, we create a general plan based on demand forecasts and continuously adjust this through discussions with the various stakeholders involved, taking into account any ongoing developments. While there are various models of fusion splicers, we also handle numerous accessories for these devices. As such, we strive to manufacture products and maintain our inventory with a foresight, that considering the combination of designs and the balance between different models of products. However, that alone is not sufficient. When we receive information on an order from the sales department, we immediately begin by confirming our inventory, and if anything is lacking, we request that the missing product be put into production. However, before that, it is essential to thoroughly confirm whether all the necessary components for production are available. If something is found to be missing during the production process, it jeopardises the completion of the product. Therefore, no matter how urgent an order is, we carefully verify everything in advance, requesting the procurement department to make arrangements for any missing parts and materials, before confirming the delivery schedule and coordinating with the factory. In order to meet the customer's desired delivery date, it is essential to ensure that the factory can operate as quickly and efficiently as possible. As the factory's point of contact, we work continuously to meet our customers' needs by confirming and coordinating various aspects of the order process, from an order’s receipt to its shipment.

Our role as a guide in maximizing teamwork and optimizing production planning.

One of Sumitomo Electric’s strengths is its ability to flexibly respond to customer requirements based on active coordination between its departments. We maintain an overall plan and constantly consult with the various parties involved, while monitoring the ever-changing conditions around us. This allows us to optimise for what we manufacture as well as prioritise the order of our operations, before executing the tasks at hand. Production management plays a crucial role in steering this process. One aspect I particularly focus on is not simply relaying information from the sales department to the factory without verifying it first. Instead, I organise the information and communicate it to the factory in a way that avoids confusion. In situations where unexpected adjustments are necessary due to sudden increases in demand, the factory must rearrange its work schedule, causing additional stress. While it's on a request basis, I believe that refining how information is communicated to foster a collaborative spirit is a crucial step in the process of coordinating information.

Just recently, we received an urgent request from an overseas customer to expedite delivery ahead of the originally planned schedule. The initially anticipated production pace wouldn't have met the accelerated deadline, so through close communication and continuous discussions with the factory, we were able to come up with a solution and adjust production accordingly. Eventually, we managed to meet the customer’s desired shipping date. During this process, the factory itself proposed to continue operations on Saturday, while various other related departments offered their support, which made this achievement possible. This experience made me realise just how powerful Sumitomo Electric’s teamwork is. The members of the Mechatronics Department, who are involved in creating fusion splicers, always approach difficult challenges with a positive attitude and strive to find solutions. In this context, my role is to organise and communicate accurate information to the factory and procurement departments, engaging in meticulous communication with various stakeholders. Each time we successfully ship products together as one team, I feel grateful and proud of everyone I get to work with. While there are often complex adjustments that need to be made, we at Sumitomo Electric value the importance of human-based ideas rather than relying solely on systems. We embrace customer needs, show respect for our colleagues' work, and collaborate towards a common goal. Cooperation runs in our blood. This, I believe, is the strength of Sumitomo Electric’s teamwork.

We always ensure reliable and speedy solutions in helping to create “One World, Connected.”

Fibre-optic communication infrastructure is in demand worldwide as it helps support people's daily lives. Fusion splicing is performed in various locations across the globe, including urban areas, mountainous regions, deserts, snowy areas, and offshore locations. Many individuals work in these challenging environments, and their feedback from these locations is listened to attentively. We continuously develop new technologies and improve upon our designs to address customer needs and challenges, and these technologies and improvements are then passed on to the factory. Consequently, there are frequent specification changes, with new products being introduced one after another, making production planning and inventory management quite demanding. However, I see this as evidence of Sumitomo Electric's ongoing evolution to meet customer requirements, and as the frontline point of contact with the factory, I feel a strong responsibility to fulfill our role effectively.

While the Supply Chain Management Group may not directly engage with customers, the shared desire to support fusion splicing operations for customers worldwide is always present. Our greatest mission is to be flexible and make meticulous adjustments to ensure timely deliveries according to the customer’s desired deadlines, all while working closely with other departments. By always responding reliably and speedily, we hope to continue to meet the diverse needs of our customers.