Omron 2010 Annual Report Download - page 35

the past 20 years and now even molded plastic prod-
ucts can be immediately procured. When we first
started business here we procured everything, from
a single screw to cardboard, from Japan. We now have
a local procurement structure, developed through
alliances with all types of parts and materials manu-
facturers, and currently procure over 70% of our parts
and materials locally. While taking full advantage of
this local concentration of industry, we are fortifying
our supply chain management (SCM).
Local Product Planning and Development for
the Chinese Market—Blood pressure monitors
with backlights are a hit—
Omron Healthcare Product Development Dalian Co.,
Ltd. (OHP) is also located in the city of Dalian. OHP
combines existing general-purpose technology with
the common platforms of healthcare equipment
developed in Japan and adds functions, increases
specifications, and changes product designs to create
timely products catered to local needs around the
world. One example is a blood pressure monitor model
featuring backlighting, which has become a big hit. In
Japan, backlighting is not required because the light-
ing in most rooms is sufficient for reading the digital
displays of blood pressure monitors. By adding back-
lighting to our blood pressure monitors for China, where
many rooms are not so well lit, the product quickly
became popular. More recently, we commercialized
solar charging semi-automatic blood pressure moni-
tors designed in Japan for sale in Europe and Africa.
In addition to these product development opera-
tions, OHP also plays a critical role in selecting locally
procured parts with an engineer’s eyes through coop-
eration with production sites to enhance product
quality and reduce costs.
Omron’s Advantage is Quality
The majority of Omron’s blood pressure monitors sat-
isfy the accuracy standards of academic institutions
in Europe and other advanced countries and are rec-
ommended by international evaluation organizations.
Numerous makers have entered the Chinese health-
care equipment market in recent years, and the
intensity of price competition is increasing. Omron’s
advantage is the strong reputation and trust for the
accuracy and ease-of-use of its products.
China’s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA)
has been tightening its mandatory registration system
standards for medical equipment. We welcome the
heightened standards because we believe they will
serve to highlight the strength of our products. We
have been continuously researching ways to improve
the accuracy and ease-of-use of our products since
we developed our first blood pressure monitor for in-
home use in 1973. We have also developed close ties
in the medical community and actively supported clin-
ical surveys, research, and other activities in the
medical field. Our products are able to meet such strict
standards because they are the culmination of many
years of technology cultivation and clinical research.
It is recognized worldwide that “quality is the life-
line” of healthcare and medical equipment. We believe
that continuing to make high-precision, high-quality
products is the way to press our advantage, and we
will continue to form production and development
alliances in Dalian as we strive to create even better
products in the future.
Feature “Omron in China” China, Our Driving Force for Growth
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