Pentax 2011 Annual Report Download - page 3

HOYA Annual Re
p
ort 2011
Since its establishment in 1941 as Japan's first optical glass manufacturer, HOYA has pursued a
basic business strategy of being "a big fish in a small pond." The "pond" is the market and the
"fish" is the share of that market. This expresses the basic strategy of gaining a dominant
position by capturing the top market share in limited niche markets. We believe that finding many
small ponds and creating our own new ponds will translate into sustained growth for the HOYA
Group as a whole.
To put it another way, subdividing otherwise large markets on the basis of different axes (region,
product and technology), selecting segments that allow us to leverage our strengths, and
focusing energy and resources in them makes it possible to gain an overwhelming presence in
those segments. As a school of big fish in small ponds, we will continue striving for a balanced
form of management while maintaining our competitiveness.
Globalization is also an important concept that speaks to the future of HOYA.
In 1974 we established our first overseas production site in Thailand and subsequently
established regional headquarters in Europe, North America and Asia, as we actively worked to
globalize the organization. Although we are still only halfway there in terms of globalization in the
true sense. True globalization goes beyond production and sales; it means having head office
functions and decision-making for development and the like spread out all over the world. We
firmly believe that making optimal management decisions quickly from a global perspective will
ensure sustained corporate growth over the long term.
With the spotlight on health and medicine continuing to get brighter, it is expected that the
market itself will continue to steadily grow in a way that is relatively impervious to economic ups
and downs. HOYA intends to apply the optical technology it has cultivated to the field of
medicine and raise its presence in businesses related to health and medicine. The Group
strongly believes that by providing enduring solutions that meet needs in areas closely
connected to people's lives, such as the areas we are currently involved in, endoscopes,
eyeglass lenses and intraocular lenses, it will be able to bring about changes in the quality of
those lives. Moreover, HOYA will continually search for the seeds of new businesses in which it
can leverage its strengths and conduct focused investment for growth.
Reconstruction in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake will be without a doubt a
major task for Japan, as well as for industry and commerce at the global level. The first steps are
already being taken. As a member of the industrial community, HOYA is fully committed to the
recovery and reconstruction of the affected regions.
Optical Technology comprises the DNA of HOYA. With this DNA as our core competence, we
intend to provide value to society in various forms to make our presence even stronger.
We thank our shareholders and customers for their ongoing support and understanding.
Fundamentals and Future Prospects: A Roadmap to Growth
To Our Shareholders