To all KIMOTO fans
At the end of the half-year, we were able to close the fiscal year almost as planned.
Reflecting on the previous fiscal year, which stalled in the second half of the season, we will continue to develop our business without hesitation.
The theme of the Kimoto Group's current fiscal year is "Fun, Smart, and Win."
We will report on the topics of each group.
1) KAG (Swiss Kimoto) is expected to become profitable for the first time in more than 10 years.
Moreover, it is the first time in more than 20 years that the company has become profitable through the sale of its own manufactured products.
It's not just luck, it's a successful restructuring of the European business, which took about 8 years.
2) A new production line for KTI (Kimoto America) started operations in August 2017.
It will be possible to respond to new development requests, mainly in the United States, and many unique product development projects are expected in the future. The number of researchers has also increased, and the will of the founding president to "receive ideas in the world's largest market and develop and manufacture products that can contribute to the world" has started in earnest. I am excited and excited about 2018.
3) SKI (Shenyang Kimoto, China) is restructuring its operations to focus on its Data Kitchen business and consulting services. In particular, the Data Kitchen business is being steered towards high-quality, high-value-added operations. Although a significant review of previous orders has led to sluggish sales, the business will undoubtedly evolve into one that meets next-generation needs by the middle of 2018.
4) KMT (Kimoto Japan) started its workflow reforms in 2009 and naturally led to work style reforms, and as a result, the break-even point dropped by more than 25% without layoffs. In the midst of severe ups and downs in business development, we have courageously disposed of non-performing assets and repaid unnecessary loans, and as a result, our corporate structure has become muscular.
5) As a KIMOTO Group, we will promote "three days off per week" for all groups aiming for 2022. Since the 40-hour work week, five days a week, will be reduced to 32 hours a day, four days a week, an efficiency of 20% or more will be required. Fortunately, we will not start from scratch, but will use AI and IoT as a foundation based on what we have experienced in the reforms of the past eight years.
"KIMOTO fans" is an expression that includes customers, business partners, shareholders, and KIMOTO Group employees.
We would like to ask for more support from KIMOTO fans.
November 8, 2017
KIMOTO Co., Ltd.
President and Representative Director Kazunobu Kimoto