[Industrial Tourism] Breaking Away from Subcontracting: A 70-Year-Old Company’s Journey to Independent Manufacturing

• Table of Contents
• Revival from Crisis — The Path to Recovery Led by Technology and Determination
• Details of the tour
• Take a peek at the tour!
• Lecture by the President
• Factory tour
• How to contact us

Revival from Crisis — The Path to Recovery Led by Technology and Determination

Specializing in components for automobiles and home appliances, this company has long earned trust in the B2B sector with its advanced plastic processing technologies. However, during the turbulent 2000s, when Japan’s manufacturing industry shifted production overseas, the company faced instability in its business operations. To overcome this crisis, it took on the challenge of developing original in-house products and expanded its reach into the B2C market. The company also established its own factories overseas, gaining new clients through innovative technology development and proactive sales activities. Today, it continues to move forward as an “independent manufacturing company,” going beyond the traditional role of a subcontractor and carving out its own path with unique strengths.

Details of the tour

In this Premium Plan, you will have the rare opportunity to hear directly from the company president, who will personally share the know-how that enabled the business to overcome its toughest challenges.This is not only about plastic processing, but also about learning the company’s unique “manufacturing philosophy” that guided it through adversity. From developing original products to expanding sales channels for new technologies, the president will recount how the company broke away from subcontracting and grew into an independent manufacturer.

It is a valuable chance to experience firsthand the site where technology, management, and human determination come together.

・Fee: JPY 57,500 (tax included, group price)
・Participants: 1–20 (same fee applies for up to 20 participants)
・Duration: Approx. 120–150 minutes
・Details: Factory tour & lecture by the president
・Registration: Up to one month in advance

For inquiries, please click here (Japanese, English)

Take a peek at the tour!

We would like to introduce the company tour.

The flow of the tour is as follows:

Lecture by the president → Factory tour

Lecture by the President

First, there will be a talk by the president.

*The talk will take place in the meeting room.

Founded 70 years ago, this company has long supported Japan’s manufacturing industry. In the 1990s, Japanese manufacturing entered its golden age, a time when having just one major client was enough to ensure stable business. Delivering high-quality products at fair prices, and doing so quickly, was considered “standard practice” — and it became the foundation for building trust with customers.

However, as the 2000s began, the entire industry was hit by an economic downturn. The old model of relying on a single major client was no longer sustainable, and breaking away from a subcontracting-centered business structure became an urgent necessity.

The path this company chose was a strategy of “breaking away from single-client dependence” and “breaking free from subcontracting.” Instead of continuing with the conventional approach of providing “ordinary products at ordinary prices and speed,” it embarked on a new challenge: pursuing originality and added value in manufacturing.

In the special lecture by the president, he shares the background behind the company’s step toward “a new approach to manufacturing,” the challenges faced along the way, and the journey of how they were ultimately overcome.

The theme of the lecture is three steps of management reform: stabilizing cash flow, improving profit margins, and increasing sales. At first glance, these may sound like mere numbers, but in reality, they reflect the wisdom and ingenuity of the workplace, as well as the accumulation of challenges taken on by each and every employee.

“Why was this sequence chosen?” “Which decisions determined the company’s future?” — These questions are addressed exclusively in the lecture.

The president’s message embodies the resolve to embrace change and move forward, even while bearing the legacy of 70 years of history. Beyond figures and financial results, this lecture offers a rare opportunity to experience the “human aspect” of the company — and that is what makes it so compelling.

We warmly invite you to visit the factory in person and listen to the president’s words. You will surely feel the true depth of Japanese manufacturing and the genuine passion of the company.

Factory tour

Now, let’s explore the company’s technology.

After the lecture, you will be guided through part of the factory. The tour includes facilities that support the manufacturing process, such as the automated warehouse, molding lines, and the mold maintenance room.

A highlight of the tour is the display area showcasing improvement initiatives proposed by employees each month. By making the voices from the workplace visible, the company fosters a culture of continuous improvement that involves everyone — offering valuable insights even for business leaders.

The tour also introduces the manufacturing process of the company’s original B2C products, as well as its plastic recycling initiatives. These efforts reveal the company’s genuine commitment, as it strives to balance environmental responsibility with technological innovation.

Finally, the tour concludes with a group photo to commemorate the visit!

We warmly invite you to experience the factory firsthand and listen to the president’s words. You will surely gain a deep appreciation for the true spirit of manufacturing.

Visitors from overseas are also welcome.

*Please note that an interpreter is required.

How to contact us

1. Please fill out the required information in the form below and submit your inquiry.

2. We will get back to you from "industrial.tourism@nankai.co.jp" within three business days.

For inquiries, please click here (Japanese, English)

Feel free to contact us for anything from available dates to detailed information about the tour!