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| Daikin’s ultra-thin, energy-saving
UX-2 air conditioner |
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As Daikin Industries expands to emerging markets around the world, its manufacturing plant in the Czech city of Plzen has played a vital role in the long-term growth plans of the Japanese airconditioning business in Europe.
Under Managing Director Takayuki Fujii, Daikin Industries Czech Republic responded to the recent global financial crisis by keeping production flexible and its inventory lean.
“Thanks to this adjustment in our production, we managed to reach an optimal level. From last
December onward, we started to produce according to the demand of the market,” explains Fujii.
Owned by Daikin Industries Ltd. of Japan and Daikin Europe NV of Belgium, the Czech facility now focuses on producing residential and smaller commercial airconditioning units.
“I would like to diversify and expand our current production and to transfer the units produced in Asia here. It will bring them closer to their European market,” says Fujii.
Fujii knows that being closer to local affiliates would significantly reduce production lead time that is essential in a business dependent on the climate.
Daikin’s production in Europe has also benefited from the highly skilled Czech labor force.
“We are able to achieve kaizen (continuous improvement) in our production without necessarily making more investments because they (Czech workers) are skilled and are strong mechanics who constantly find cost-effective improvements in our current processes,” says Fujii.
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| Managing Director Takayuki Fujii,
Daikin Industries Czech Republic |
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Upholding Daikin’s current motto, “Achieve goals today and open a new avenue for the future,” Fujii, a trained production engineer, ensures that the Czech factory maintains optimum production as he aims to make the facility No. 1 in terms of quality, delivery time and cost-effectiveness.
To meet European consumer demands as it faces new environmental standards, Daikin also aims to produce energy-efficient products that integrate advanced technology and attractive design.
In December 2007, the Czech factory started manufacturing the energy-efficient and sleek-looking
Altherma line, which features heat-pump technology.
The line was originally developed by Daikin Europe in Belgium and is also still being produced there.
Fujii expects heat-pump technology to be a standard feature in the short term as demand for energy-saving products rapidly grows in America, China and Japan.
“The development was carried out by our Japanese parent company but the design was made here
in Europe. It has been well received in the market and we have high expectations for our product,” says Fujii, who is proud of the cooperation between Daikin Japan and Daikin Europe in Belgium.
www.daikinczech.cz |