Quality Management System

Promotion System

The Sumitomo Forestry Group has been pursuing the acquisition of ISO 9001 certification for its quality management systems to constantly enhance the quality of products and services that it offers to customers.

The Sumitomo Forestry Group has established the Quality Control and Worker Safety Management Department with a mission to consistently improve product and service quality and eliminate occupational accidents. The department provides guidance and advice to all Group companies in Japan and overseas, as well as developing and strengthening the quality and occupational health and safety management systems. In addition, important quality issues that affect the entire Group are reported and discussed by the Sustainability Committee. We conducted a survey of the current status of quality management systems at Group companies in Japan and overseas in fiscal 2025 and reported the findings at the meetings of the Sustainability Committee and other entities.

Implementation and Enhancement of ISO 9001 Quality Management System

The Sumitomo Forestry Group promotes the operation of ISO 9001-based quality management systems in order to provide reliable products and services to customers and increase their satisfaction.

Among the Sumitomo Forestry Group companies, we analyze the companies where quality control is particularly important and prioritize the introduction of ISO 9001-based systems to these companies. We also incorporate management system activities into our day-to-day operations, and once a high level of understanding is gained about ISO 9001, we make self-declaration of conformity* to the standard. Subsequently, in order to obtain ISO 9001 certification, we continue to conduct relevant activities for another one year to further increase the level of understanding about the standard.

The departments and divisions that have acquired ISO 9001 self-conformity and external certification promote the operation of their ISO 9001-certified management systems by conducting internal auditing on a regular basis to ensure continuous improvement.

We encourage the consolidated subsidiaries that are engaged in businesses where quality control is of high importance to obtain ISO 9001 certification. In fiscal 2025, the certification acquisition rate of targeted consolidated subsidiaries reached 98.7% (on a sales basis).

*Declaration on the establishment and operation of a quality management system that conforms to ISO 14001

*Formaldehyde emission standards for specific wood products stipulated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Product Safety and Quality Control in the Manufacturing Business

Sumitomo Forestry is building ISO 9001-based quality management systems. In addition to meeting the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS), we also manage quality according to our own developed quality standards and conduct acceptance inspections, process inspections, and final inspections. Through monthly quality meetings, we analyze the causes of in-process defects and customers’ quality complaints, formulate improvement measures, and conduct quality improvement activities, with the aim of providing higher product quality.

Additionally, in collaboration with the Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute and other organizations, we conduct basic research and evaluate the performance of our products, and accumulate verification and manufacturing technologies for product development and quality improvement.

We place importance on communication and feedback with customers regarding product safety and quality, and are manufacturing products that customers can use with peace of mind. Sumitomo Forestry Crest, a manufacturing company in Japan, has reduced the number of customer complaints by approximately 13% over the past five years through various quality improvement activities. In addition, our overseas manufacturing companies are working to provide higher quality products based on their experience of meeting stricter quality requirements for the products manufactured and sold for use in Japan.

Quality Management System (ISO 9001)

Sumitomo Forestry Crest has been operating an integrated ISO 9001-based quality management system for its manufacturing facilities located nationwide. Based on the quality policy, the company conducts a PDCA cycle for the quality management system by conducting top management reviews and internal audits twice a year and external audits once a year. By repeating the reviews of these audits, we have established a rigorous process management system for manufacturing high-quality products.

Product Certification

For our manufacturing facilities, we have obtained JIS, JAS and other certification as necessary.

Also, we have acquired ministerial certification to guarantee the quality and performance of our products. Sumitomo Forestry Crest has produced items that have been received ministerial certification for their fireproof performance

*(1) toluene, (2) xylene, (3) ethylbenzene, and (4) styrene emitted from building materials

Product Safety and Quality Management in the Construction Business

Product Safety and Quality Management System

The Construction Business Sub-Division of the Real Estate Division is improving its quality management system based on the quality policy, thereby building a strict process management system.In fiscal 2025, in order to conduct a PDCA cycle for its ISO 9001-based quality management system, the Department also expanded the target of its audit to include all active construction sites to further improve on-site quality. In addition, by delivering higher quality construction, we have received high praise, including numerous awards, such as the Wood Design Award and the Good Design Award.

Initiatives and Framework for Product Safety and Quality Control

Quality and safety management at each construction site is ensured by a double-check system, whereby, in addition to our own inspections, designated building contractors carry out inspections based on our construction quality standards.

In addition to inspections by on-site personnel, the Headquarters Quality and Safety Department conducts separate inspections for types of construction that have been identified as important in the comprehensive construction plan and the quality control plan.

From a third-party perspective, regular site inspections are conducted to monitor quality, safety, and compliance with design documents. Feedback is then given to the business division to enhance quality and safety management.

In 2025, we began implementing the business processes revamped in the previous fiscal year. Going forward, we will establish a system that enables us to make further quality and safety improvements.