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KAIHARA CORPORATION
Special Interview with Mr. Junji Kaihara,
President & CEO of Kaihara Corporation
Kaihara denim is well-known and highly valued by leading denim clothing manufacturers, not just in Japan but all over the world.
The Kaihara Corporation's strengths emerge from the unification of integrated production (from spinning to dyeing, weaving and processing), developmental capability, and proficiency in direct marketing.
Factory automation has saved production costs i.e. labor costs, reducing overall expenses, and opened the way for various kinds of high additional value - diversity matching the demands of Japanese consumers. This enterprise, too, has chosen its Winder - the No.21C PROCESS CONER.
Mr. Junji Kaihara
President & CEO of Kaihara Kaihara Corporation
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How cost-effective is denim production in Japan ? |
Mr. Kaihara
We have made effort to strength our competitiveness in cost.
Firstly, in point of our production management, we built our plant on our own, and manufacture even a part of production equipment that can be supplied from in-house forging plant.
Furthermore, we are operating the factories installed the systems and equipments automated to the fullest extent, for enabling maximum labor cost rationalization and energy saving. This contributes to lowering manufacturing costs. |
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Why do you continue production in Japan ? |
Mr. Kaihara
In Japan, we have two thirds of all our customers, and supersensitive premium denim that leads the world market is always required. In this huge market, we must develop and supply new products timely, by deft and flexible response to diverse needs of customers.
We produce with rigorous quality control, and product differentiation that starts with the raw materials. In addition to our own spun yarn, we purchase outside the company, we do not switch suppliers because of price. Rather, our goal is to cooperate with spinning companies and thereby ensure precise raw cotton specifications, thorough manufacturing control, and consistent quality. By using the Supply Chain Management system, we are curtailing distribution costs. We can do these things because we are in Japan, working with Japanese companies.
Package transporting system at Kaihara Corporation
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Are there any plans for development overseas ? |
Mr. Kaihara
We are not considering it. It is the most important for us to find out what consumers really think in Japan, one of the most sophisticated fashion market. Our products should be matched to consumers' preference and sentiments. Also, even if we deploy our business with the purpose of reducing labor cost, as the textile industry is fully automated, we can not get any cost advantages but high risks will be accompanied by the deployment. |
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Why do you use the Muratec Link Coner and transporting system ? |
Mr. Kaihara
Because we are aiming for laborsaving benefits attainable with total24-hour automation. Of late, packages have been growing larger, increasing the burden on operators. By integrating the Link Coner, package transporters and automated warehouses, they provide functions of a distribution center, and serves as a buffer solution. Many of the company's employees are young and ambitious, and we hope to stimulate aspirations for the future of the manufacturing industry.
Link Coner & Package transporting system at Kaihara Corporation |
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Please give us your opinion of the No.21C. |
Mr. Kaihara
It strikes me as being a sophisticated machine. Hairiness is an important factor in denim quality, and there appears to be very little variation from package to package.
No.21C Link Coner at Kaihara Corporation |
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Kaihata Corporation was established in 1893, now approaching the 111th anniversary.
Weaves 3 million meters of cloth per month and spins 6,000 bales per month (Open-end yarn and Ring spinning yarn).
Operates integrated production lines from spinning, to dyeing, weaving and processing.
Seven factories, including the headquarters. Operations centers in Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture (Headquarters), Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong.
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The above information was written in September 2003.
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Japan
