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Japan Seiko's Transition to an All-Hazard BCP

In a significant move for enhanced disaster resilience, Japan Seiko Co., Ltd., a leader in the bearing industry, has transitioned to an all-hazard type of Business Continuity Plan (BCP). This transformation, supported by Newton Consulting, was publicly detailed on October 14, 2025.

Since its inception in 1916, Japan Seiko has been at the forefront of the bearing manufacturing industry, occupying the top spot in the domestic market and becoming the third-largest globally. The importance of bearings in various machine operations, from industrial equipment to automobiles, makes their continuous supply essential. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan Seiko recognized the need to refine its BCP meaningfully. This led to rigorous efforts in developing pre-earthquake measures, initial response protocols, and continuous business training for staff across all its factories.

With the increasing severity and frequency of disasters, coupled with the global pandemic, Japan Seiko intensified its focus on reviewing and improving its BCP to maintain high operational resilience. The project aimed to evaluate the existing practices and identify areas for improvement, ensuring its teams are prepared for various disasters.

Project Breakdown: Setting New Recovery Goals

The entire initiative unfolded over a period of approximately 18 months and was executed in three main phases.

1. Evaluation of Existing Practices: The first step involved assessing the existing BCP documents and activities. This evaluation highlighted several key issues:
- Recovery goals were often reliant on past experiences.
- There was a disconnect between recovery strategies and the defined goals.
- A bias toward preemptive measures led to inadequate responses to actual disasters.

2. Engagement with Leadership: Subsequently, leading executives participated in interviews and workshops. These sessions focused on conducting risk analyses reflective of the current business landscape, which enabled the team to set unified recovery objectives company-wide.

3. Workshops at Key Factories: Finally, workshops were conducted at two major factories to discuss the necessary actions to align with the newly adopted recovery goals. Throughout this phase, the focus shifted from a purely earthquake-oriented response to a resource-based perspective, concentrating on the management of key resources rather than isolated incidents.

This strategic pivot helped employees at all levels fully embrace the newly articulated recovery goals set by management, fostering greater buy-in and commitment to the company's mission of resilience.

Introducing the BCP Improvement and Reconstruction Support Service

The BCP improvement service provided by Newton Consulting is a comprehensive solution encompassing everything from current state analysis to development, training, and ongoing support. This service aligns with its philosophy of a customized, effective, and sustainable BCP.

Characteristics of the Newton BCP Approach

• - Management Involvement: Ensures that organizational leadership plays a decisive role in the development process, which prevents lapses in responsibility and strategic alignment.
• - Active Participation: Participants engage in simulated disaster drills and workshops, allowing them to collaboratively develop consensus on necessary operational rules and improvements.
• - Iterative Effectiveness: Through continuous reflection and refinement of the BCP based on real experiences, the overall effectiveness of the plan increases.

For organizations seeking to enhance their resilience in the face of unpredictable disasters, this methodical and engaged approach can prove invaluable.

About Newton Consulting Co., Ltd.

Founded on November 13, 2006, and based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Newton Consulting specializes in risk management consulting. With a capital of 30 million yen as of December 2024, the firm boasts an impressive track record, having aided around 2,100 companies, including private corporations, governmental entities, and national universities.

For further insights into their service offerings and to read related success stories, visit Newton Consulting's official website.