Policy

Products and services provided by the Asahi Kasei Group internally and externally include materials, products, installations, various services, and after-sales support. We believe that providing safe and reliable products and services that satisfy our customers is our ultimate mission.
In 2016, we established the Asahi Kasei Group Quality Policy and Group Quality Assurance Bylaws. Based on these, we promote quality assurance to provide products and services that satisfy our customers and society.
As we enter an era of coexistence with the coronavirus and the post-coronavirus era, we have changed the Asahi Kasei Group Quality Policy on August 1, 2020, to reflect our strong awareness of the need to regard discontinuous and irreversible structural changes as opportunities for reform and to act on our own initiative.

Management Framework

In April 2019, we appointed a dedicated Executive Officer for Quality Assurance to further reinforce the management framework.
The Corporate Quality Assurance department of Asahi Kasei Corporation oversees and coordinates Group-wide quality assurance activities.
Corporate Quality Assurance consists of three groups: the Quality Assurance Group, which supports the enhancement of each internal organization’s quality assurance activities; the Product Safety Group, which functions to ensure our product safety as a comprehensive chemical manufacturer; and the Quality Assurance Planning Group, which proposes new plans and provides smooth connections between internal and external organizations. Corporate Quality Assurance performs a head-office function as a hub for the Group's quality assurance framework and strives every day to reinforce quality assurance activities throughout the Asahi Kasei Group to deliver safe and reliable products and services to our customers and society.
Corporate Quality Assurance prepares a Monthly Quality Assurance Report, based on which the Executive for ESH & QA and the Executive for Quality Assurance hold monthly Quality Assurance Meetings to discuss information related to quality assurance.

Each core operating company and strategic business unit within the Asahi Kasei Group performs quality assurance in accordance with the products and services provided in each business area, in conformity with the Group-wide fundamental principles and uniform guidelines and bylaws.
The Asahi Kasei Group Quality Assurance Bylaws stipulate quality assurance activities for ESH & QA Administrators, such as the Presidents of the core operating companies and strategic business units, to lead. The bylaws also define the designation and roles of Quality Assurance Managers who play a central role in activities to enhance quality assurance. The Quality Assurance Managers' Conference is held four times a year to transmit and share information among the entire Asahi Kasei Group regarding quality assurance activities. In addition, from fiscal 2019, we have started to provide an opportunity for the Executive Officer for Quality Assurance and the Senior General Manager of Corporate Quality Assurance to meet directly with ESH & QA Administrators, Quality Assurance Managers, and others to discuss the enhancement of quality assurance and for frank exchange of opinions and sharing of ideas through face-to-face meetings, thereby creating an environment that enables us to build a quality assurance system with reliable safety and security.

Product safety initiatives

The Asahi Kasei Group has also formulated The Asahi Kasei Group Quality Assurance Related Activities Standards in order to make the approach to product safety in the Asahi Kasei Group Quality Assurance Bylaws even more specific.
Product safety measures are implemented at each stage of product development and product supply, to ensure product safety and to prevent product problems and complaints from emerging. In addition, we have also established appropriate measures to be taken if a serious product problem or serious accident is likely to occur or if it does occur.

Safety assurance procedures

Procedures to achieve the safety of products and services are specified through guidelines related to The Asahi Kasei Group Quality Assurance Related Activities Standards and the response to regulations on the control of chemical products.

Chemical substance management

The Asahi Kasei Group identifies the properties of chemical substances and appropriately manages each process from product development, raw material procurement, and production (including intermediates) through to use and disposal in order to ensure the safety of products and production processes. We implement the chemical substance management shown in the diagram below at each stage from the perspectives of the global environment, process safety, occupational health and safety and quality assurance (product safety).
Corporate Quality Assurance (Product Safety Group) serves as the secretariat for the implementation of chemical substance management in each business unit let by the Group’s Quality Assurance Managers.

R&D

The management of chemical substances begins in the R&D stage when the applications for chemical substances are determined, and is guided throughout every stage by a commitment to developing products and process characterized by safe, environmentally sound production, handling, and use. For products that are expected to be exported to other countries in the future in addition to being sold domestically, we conduct research on each country’s laws and regulations and consider the requisite measures.

Materials purchase

When purchasing materials, information related to the safety of chemical substances is received from the supplier. This information serves as a guide to safe storage and handling.

Production

At the production stage, we manage chemical substances, including intermediates, in an appropriate manner to suppress emissions into the environment. We also strive to prevent fires, explosions, and leaks at facilities where chemical substances are handled to ensure the safety of local communities and preserve the global environment. The health of employees is protected by performing sound risk assessment for chemical substances and preventing workplace exposure to hazardous substances.

Sale, use, and disposal

Guidance for proper sale, use and disposal of chemical substances and chemical products is provided in Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), technical bulletins, and product brochures.
Transport Emergency Cards are issued to guide the proper environmental and safety response in the event of an accident during physical distribution. Moreover, when products are exported outside of Japan, we take appropriate measures to comply with laws and regulations, such as complying with the EU REACH regulation.^*

• ^*Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a regulation in Europe on chemical substances. It obliges registration of the usage and safety of chemical substances imported to or produced in Europe. Substances judged to pose high risks are subject to authorization and restriction.

Quality assurance and human resources development

Development of core human resources for quality assurance

We have held the Quality Assurance Forum since fiscal 2017 to continue heightening awareness of quality assurance among younger and mid-level employees across the Asahi Kasei Group. In fiscal 2023, 51 employees selected from throughout the Asahi Kasei Group gathered once per month for a period of six months for group discussions on a certain subject each time, combined with lectures on each subject by outside experts (mainly university professors at the forefront of the Japanese Society for Quality Control and experts who gained practical experience in quality assurance in companies). At the final session, participants in each business sector discuss issues in their own organizations based on what they learned, and prepare a declaration summarizing their own future actions for organizational improvement.
In fiscal 2024, we are continuing this as a key project for in-house quality assurance training.

Fostering a quality assurance mindset

In fiscal 2023, training on quality risk was performed at each location in Japan and overseas, so that all members of the Asahi Kasei Group can accomplish their daily tasks with an understanding of quality risk.
Coinciding with Quality Month in November, the President, the presidents of core operating companies, the president of each SBU, and the Senior General Manager of Corporate Quality Assurance issued messages for all Group employees about the importance of quality assurance. Training via e-learning was conducted as well, further raising awareness on the subject for employees. We plan to continue implementing measures to foster a quality assurance mindset in fiscal 2024 and beyond.

Chemical substance management training

We provide regular training to research, production, and sales staff in each region. Such training includes sharing the most up-to-date information on the latest domestic chemical substance-related laws and regulations (Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc., Industrial Safety and Health Act, Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act, etc.) in Japan and overseas for the management of chemical substances and considering the possible responses, and presentations of the latest themes in chemical substance management.

Appropriate labeling and information provision

Providing appropriate information to our customers

As the Asahi Kasei Group provides customers with products and services that are end products for domestic and household-use products, we provide information that includes product performance, precautions, and suggested usage to ensure safe use of our products and services.
We endeavor to provide descriptions of products and services to customers, including product labeling and advertisements, that are easy to understand and not misleading. In addition, we confirm the content of descriptions and advertisements of products and services at each stage from product development and introduction to sale, and continuously check that there is no infringement of related laws, regulations, or voluntary industry standards, and confirm that customers are able to properly use products and services safely and reliably.

Compliance with the revised Food Sanitation Act

In June 2020, the revised Food Sanitation Act came into effect, and a new positive list (below “PL”) system was introduced.
The Asahi Kasei Group participates in a number of committees of the JCII (Japan Chemical Innovation and Inspection Institute) Food Contact Material Safety Center, and it is continuing its activities to ensure that nothing is overlooked in the PL system and to provide customers with appropriate information related to the PL system.

Responding to Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a system for classifying and labelling chemicals in accordance with globally unified rules in order to help with accident prevention and health and environmental protection. The Asahi Kasei Group is advancing a program to classify the hazards of all of our chemical products in accordance with GHS categories, and revise our SDSs and label our products with safety information accordingly.

Compliance with chemical substance regulations around the world and sharing of information

As laws and regulations concerning chemical substances continue to be adopted around the world, such as the REACH Regulation in the EU, we have been confirming, responding, and managing within the company to ensure compliance with them. In addition, some of these regulations require the sharing of information. Besides providing the necessary information to our customers, we actively work to provide information on chemical substances contained in products throughout the supply chain. One of our activities is participating in the Joint Article Management Promotion-consortium (JAMP) as an upstream company since its establishment in 2008. We continue to promote the use of chemSHERPA, a communication tool, as part of JAMP’s activities.

• JAMP

Mechanisms to utilize customer feedback

We believe satisfying customers and providing products and services that are a delight to use translates into contribution to society. In order to achieve this, we believe that it is most important to identify true needs by listening carefully to customer feedback to establish two-way communication. We have built frameworks for such communication with customers in each of our businesses and strives to listen to frank and honest feedback.

• Product and business inquiries