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Financial Information:
Annual Report 2002
Review
of Operations
Precision Machinery
and Parts |
| Applications of NSK's
Core Technology and Products to the Semiconductor Production
Processes |
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(Click on the figure to
open a window for an enlarged image.) |
| Step
& Repeat Proximity Aligner (RZ Series) for Production
of Large-sized Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Color Filters |
(Click on the figure to
open a window for an enlarged image.)
Since the 1980s, NSK has been developing numerous exposure
machines for the electronics industry as part of our
strategy to develop high value-added products. Among
these products is the Step & Repeat Proximity
Aligner (RZ Series), developed through the combination
of NSK's expertise in drive functions and control
technologies. Appreciation for this product is increasing
due to its ability to produce large-sized displays
at low cost, especially with the increasing demand
for portable and wall-hanging LCD TVs.
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| Strategy and Highlights |
| We will spin off our precision machinery and parts
business to establish management infrastructure capable
of immediately responding to rapid changes in demand
in the precision machinery market. Within 2002, we
will reduce labor costs and change them to variable
costs by placing regular employees in specialized
positions and using outsourcing for other positions.
Sales to the semiconductor production equipment and
machine tool manufacturers currently account for two-thirds
of our business in this product segment. We will continue
to strengthen our marketing efforts to these sectors,
while simultaneously alleviating the volatility in
demand caused by our over-dependence on these sectors
by expanding sales to relatively stable markets, such
as automotive production equipment, packaging machine
and medical equipment. We will also begin developing
a new client base by focusing on 20 new industrial
categories and offering a fresh product line-up.
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| New
Production Model-NSK Kyushu Co., Ltd. |
| The new precision machinery plant, NSK Kyushu Co.
Ltd., began operation in April 2001. This plant is
based on a new production system and is the first
step towards the spin-off of our precision machinery
and parts business. The new production system and
new employment/salary structure have been successfully
adopted, leading to a drastic reduction of lead-time
required for the production of small-sized ball screws.
Increased use of outsourced labor has also drastically
changed its labor cost structure by lowering the weight
of fixed portion. To cope with rising demand, we are
increasing the production of ball screws from the
current level of 5,000 units per month to 15,000 units
per month. We will implement this production system
to other precision machinery plants to attain a higher
and more stable profit level. |
| Introduction
of New Products to Develop New Markets |
| NSK is introducing various new products to the market
in order to diversify our customer base and stabilize
order intake. New products include “Translides™”
and “MCH Monocarriers,” released in December
2001, and the “High lead precision rolled ball
screws” and “Megatorque Motor® YSB
series,” released in June 2002. These products
have not only achieved high-function, durability and
cleanness, but are also low priced, and have been
developed to meet the needs of a wide variety of customers,
such as automotive production equipment manufacturers,
tire and rubber manufacturers, wood-working machine
manufacturers, and the aftermarket.
 
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