A new look and a new management structure for Fujifilm, which will see closer cooperation between Fujifilm and Fuji Xerox to exploit the resources within those organisations
On October 1, the Fujifilm Group will shift to a new group management structure with Fujifilm Holdings Corporation at its core, under the leadership of president and CEO, Shigetaka Komori. Fujifilm Holdings will provide strategic management of the entire Fujifilm Group including its two major operating companies, Fujifilm Corporation (president and CEO, Shigetaka Komori) and Fuji Xerox Co Ltd (president Toshio Arima).
These changes and the implementation of a new logo (pictured) coincide with the transfer of the Australasian Fujifilm graphic arts business that has been conducted by IPP subsidiaries, Graphic Systems Australasia (GSA) and Graphic Systems Australasia (NZ) over the past three years to Fujifilm Australia and Fujifilm New Zealand, on September 30.
All of the current GSA sales and support staff maintain their contact numbers and will continue to serve existing customers on a business as usual basis during the transfer which will be conducted "in a seamless manner". Existing staff at GSA will continue sales, service and support of Fujifilm’s products to GSA’s customers in Australia and New Zealand during the transfer.
"GSA have been an excellent distributor for Fujifilm," says Mike Machida, Fujifilm Australia CEO. "During the last three years we have seen enormous growth in the population of Fujifilm CTP devices in the Australian and New Zealand markets and a continued growth in the use of our plates and consumables.
"We have enjoyed a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship with IPP reflected in the amicable nature of the in principle agreement reached to transfer the business inhouse."
On a global scale, the Fujifilm Group is actively implementing a full spectrum of policies and measures based on its midterm management plan, VISION75 (2006), which articulates three fundamental strategies: “Implementing comprehensive structural reforms,” “Building new growth strategies,” and “Enhancing consolidated management.”
The drastic structural reforms being implemented in the Imaging Solutions segment since last fiscal year for the purpose of preserving and nurturing the culture of photography have been progressing favorably at a pace that surpasses the original plan, and are gradually leading to improvements in the revenue structure says the company in a statement.
Aiming toward “building new growth strategies,” Fujifilm Group is now making further headway. It annually invests approximately 200 billion yen in R&D, approximately ¥200bn (US$1.75bn) goes into capital investment, approximately ¥100bn ($875m) into M&A and approximately ¥65bn ($557m) into environmental investment in such key growth business fields as medical and life sciences, documents, graphic arts, highly-functional materials and optical devices.
Furthermore, vigorous implementation of measures for “enhancing consolidated management” has also been undertaken. These measures include consolidation of subsidiaries involved in sales, equipment manufacture and logistics, as well as Sankyo Chemical and Fujinon becoming wholly owned subsidiaries and implementation of the CMS (cash management system) on a consolidated accounting basis. Steps on an even larger scale to dynamically “enhance consolidated management” will be considered for the Fujifilm Group with the transition to the new management structure on October 1.
Among the results likely to accrue from the new structure will be exploitation of the synergies between Fujifilm and Fuji Xerox in various areas, including R&D, production, sales and after-sales services. It is understood that both companies will be able to promote high value-added solutions that range from materials and devices to systems and networks.
In the area of printing, the leading position of Fuji Xerox in the “print on demand” business will be further strengthened through the incorporation of image processing technologies that include colour management technologies, and the sales capabilities of Fujifilm.
Consolidating the power of the group through the new management structure, the Fujifilm Group anticipates a V-shaped recovery for FY2007. It aims to achieve a record-high operating profit of 200 billion yen in fiscal 2007. Furthermore, it aims to achieve revenue of over 3,150 billion and an operating profit of over 250 billion yen by fiscal 2009, which marks the year for the completion of the midterm management plan and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the company.
