ANALYSIS: THE PHOTONICS LEADERS
‘Each challenge, regardless of the scale, serves as an opportunity for
transformation and learning’ In an exclusive interview, Hamamatsu Photonics President Tadashi Maruno explains how the global giant has met and overcome adversity across 70 years as it celebrates its platinum anniversary
What do you consider to be the most significant achievement of the organisation? We believe our organisation’s most significant achievement, which we also consider our responsibility, lies in the positive impact our solutions have on humanity, society, and the environment in cooperation with business partners, suppliers, employees, shareholders, and local communities. It not only enhances our corporate value, but also compels us to persistently make meaningful contributions for a better future.
How do you think Hamamatsu Photonics has managed to prosper so well across such a long period, and therefore what do you consider to be its most significant strengths? Since our founding, we have focused on light technology, consistently advancing product performance, such as high sensitivity and speed for sensors, and high brightness and long life for light sources. This has been the result of our commitment to addressing our customer requests and challenges. This philosophy also extends to our opto-semiconductor products, because we strive to supply high-value-added and unique products tailored to specific customers and applications rather than cost-oriented solutions through mass production.
26 Electro Optics February 2024
To facilitate these objectives, we
invested in self-owned and expanded facilities, allowing for in-house design and manufacturing – a critical element in achieving these goals. An additional aspect of our success lies in the implementation of a department management system for product development. This system, based on sales and profits, is characterised by product-specific manufacturing
“The core of our accomplishments lies in our people, technology, and knowledge”
departments. Each department takes responsibility for the product’s success, fostering a management mindset that values both product excellence and personnel development. However, since we believe there is always room for improvement, our ongoing commitment is to refine and enhance our processes. To summarise, at the core of our
accomplishments lies our people, technology, and knowledge – this is the foundation upon which our success is built. Our business advancements not only satisfy our customers, but also instil a sense of pride in each employee.
Our driving force is knowing that our technologies and products contribute to improving society and the advancement of science.
Across its 70-year history, what was Hamamatsu Photonics’ most significant challenge and how did the organisation change or learn from this experience? At the beginning – and throughout our founding period – we experienced scarcity in resources including people, goods, or funds. This was the backdrop against which Hamamatsu Photonics was forged. Following this period, another challenge emerged as we ventured into the development of opto-semiconductor products, transitioning from our exclusive focus on electron tube products. Then, the establishment of subsidiaries, coupled with the bold expansion of our operations overseas, added layers of complexity to our growth trajectory. The oil crisis of the 1970s posed a significant financial challenge, leading us to re-evaluate and recover from deficits. It was during such testing times that the introduction of a divisional management style became imperative for strategic agility. Finally, the establishment of our Central Research Laboratories marked a significant milestone in reinforcing our commitment to innovation. We have tackled numerous events, themes, and issues, both internal and
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