Tokyo – Sony today confirmed the safety of all of its employees in the region affected by the recent
earthquake and tsunami and said it has resumed operations at several
manufacturing sites.
Recovery plans to
resume operations at most of the remaining manufacturing sites damaged by the
earthquake and tsunami have already begun to be implemented, Sony said. At the
same time, manufacturing operations at certain sites that sustained no direct
damage are now being affected by planned power outages as well as shortages of
raw materials and components, causing those sites to temporarily suspend a part
of their operations.
Sony said in its
statement that at this time it will endeavor to maintain supplies of the listed
products in the market through reliance on existing inventory, to the extent
available. While Sony is making every effort to resume normal operations at
these sites, in the event shortages of necessary raw materials and components
at these sites will continue, the company is considering alternatives,
including possibly temporarily shifting certain manufacturing operations
overseas.
The current
situation of each manufacturing site of Sony Group in Japan is as follows (with
main products manufactured in parentheses) and dates following it:
Resumed or
partially resumed manufacturing operations:
Sony Manufacturing Systems Corporation, Kuki plant in
Saitama prefecture (surface mounting equipment), resumed March 15; Sony
Chemical & Information Device Corporation, Kanuma plant in Tochigi prefecture
(bonding materials, optics materials) partially resumed on March 15; and Sony
Energy Devices Corporation, Tochigi plant in Tochigi prefecture (lithium-ion
secondary batteries), partially resumed March 22.
While
manufacturing operations at the following manufacturing sites remain suspended,
the company has begun inspection, restoration and repair of affected buildings
and manufacturing equipment, Sony said.
Manufacturing operations suspended:
Sony Chemical & Information Device
Corporation, Tagajyo plant in Miyagi prefecture (magnetic tapes, Blu-ray discs);
Tome plant, Nakada/Toyosato sites in Miyagi prefecture (optical devices, IC
cards); Sony Shiroishi Semiconductor in Miyagi prefecture, (semiconductor
lasers); Sony Energy Devices Corporation Koriyama plant in Fukushima prefecture
(lithium-ion secondary batteries); Sony Energy Devices Corporation Motomiya plant
in Fukushima prefecture (lithium-ion secondary batteries); Sony DADC Japan Ibaraki
facility in Ibaraki prefecture (CDs, DVDs).
Manufacturing operations resuming intermittently:
These are plants that had no direct damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami but had suspended
operations temporarily primarily due to planned power outages. However, it may
have to suspend manufacturing operations temporarily again, depending on the planned
power outage situation, the company said
Sony EMCS
Corporation, Kisarazu Technology Center in Chiba prefecture (Blu-ray Disc
recorder, home audio).
Plants to be temporarily closed based on the
availability of raw materials and components:
These sites were not damaged by the earthquake and
tsunami, Sony plans to temporarily suspend certain parts of its manufacturing
operations at these sites on and after March 22 through March 31, depending on
the availability of necessary raw materials and components. Sony intends to
resume manufacturing operations at each of those sites as it secures raw
materials and components.
Sony EMCS
Corporation, Tokai Technology Center, Kosai Site in Shizuoka prefecture (broadcast
and professional equipment); Kohda Site in Aichi prefecture (camcorders,
digital still cameras), Minokamo Site in Gifu prefecture (lens for digital single-lens
reflex cameras, cellphones); and Inazawa Site in Aichi prefecture (LCD TVs).
Also on this list
is the Sony/Taiyo Corporation plant in Oita prefecture that makes microphones
and headphones.
