Honda 2007 Annual Report Download - page 42

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40
Preparing for the Future
Preparing for the Future
Looking globally, the U.S. economy is showing signs
of a moderate downturn, while European economies
are expected to continue recovering and Asian
economies are expected to continue expanding.
Japan’s economy is forecast to sustain its gradual
recovery. However, the global environment in which
Honda’s management operates still remains uncertain
because of global political and economic uncertain-
ties, fluctuations in oil and raw material prices and
currency movements. As a result, we expect the
operating environment to remain difficult.
It is under these circumstances that Honda seeks
to strengthen its corporate structure quickly and flex-
ibly to meet the requirements of our customers and
society and the changes in its business environment.
Also, in order to improve the competitiveness of its
products, Honda will endeavor to enhance its R&D,
production and sales ability. Furthermore, Honda will
continue striving to earn even more trust and under-
standing from society through Companywide activi-
ties. Honda recognizes that further enhancing the
following specific areas is essential to its success:
1. Research and Development
Along with efforts to develop even more effective
safety and environmental technologies, Honda will
enhance creativity in its advanced technology and
products, and will seek to create and swiftly introduce
new value-added products that meet specific needs
in various markets around the world. Honda will also
continue its efforts to research future technologies.
2. Production Efficiency
Honda will seek to establish efficient and flexible pro-
duction systems and expand production capacity at
its global production bases, with the aim of increasing
its capability of supplying high quality products.
3. Sales Efficiency
Honda will remain proactive in its efforts to expand
product lines through the innovative use of IT and to
upgrade sales and service structure, in order to
further satisfy its customers.
4. Product Quality
Responding to increasing consumer demand, Honda
will seek to upgrade its quality control through
enhancing the functions of and coordination among
the development, purchasing, production, sales and
service departments.
5. Safety Technologies
Honda will seek to develop safety technologies for
accident prediction and prevention, technologies to
reduce injuries to passengers and pedestrians from
car accidents, and technologies for reducing
aggressivity, as well as expand its line-up of products
incorporating such technologies. Honda will reinforce
and continue to advance its contributions to traffic
safety in motorized societies in Japan and overseas.
Honda also intends to remain active in a variety of
traffic safety programs, including advanced driving
and motorcycling training schemes provided by local
dealerships.
6. The Environment
Honda will step up its efforts to create better, cleaner
and more fuel-efficient engine technologies and to
further improve recyclables throughout its product
lines. The Company also plans to make further
progress with fuel cells and solar cells, and to pro-
mote commercialization of solar cells. In addition,
Honda will further its efforts to minimize its environ-
mental impact. To this end, we set global targets to
reduce the environmental burden as measured by the
Life Cycle Assessment*, in all areas of business,
spanning production, logistics and sales.
* Life Cycle Assessment:
A comprehensive system for quantifying the impact Honda’s products
have on the environment at different stages in their life cycles, from
material procurement and energy consumption to waste disposal.
7. Continuing to Increase Society’s Trust in
and Understanding toward Honda
In addition to continuing to provide products incorpo-
rating Honda’s advanced safety and environmental
technologies, Honda will continue striving to earn
even more trust and understanding from society by,
among other things, undertaking activities for corpo-
rate governance, compliance, and risk management
and contributing to society.
Through these Company-wide activities, we will strive
to materialize Honda’s visions of “Value Creation
(Creating New Value for our Customers),”
“Glocalization (Expanding Regional Operations),” and
“Commitment to the Future (Developing Safety and
Environmental Solutions),” with the aim of sharing joy
with Honda’s customers, thus becoming a company
valued by society.