Color Spot Nurseries Expands SAP Footprint with Rimini Street

Company Benefits from Significant Savings and More Robust Service Model for SAP Since 2010

LAS VEGAS - Saturday, August 24th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rimini Street, Inc., the leading third-party maintenance and support provider for enterprise software, including SAP AG’s (NYSE: SAP) Business Suite and BusinessObjects software and Oracle Corporation’s (NYSE: ORCL) Siebel, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, E-Business Suite, Oracle Database and Hyperion software, today announced that Color Spot Nurseries, a leading wholesale producer and distributor of specialty horticulture, has continued to successfully expand its SAP footprint to meet growing and changing business needs while leveraging Rimini Street Support since 2010. When it switched from SAP vendor support to Rimini Street Support more than three years ago, Color Spot greatly improved the level of support it receives for its SAP system, and at the same time, was able to cut its annual maintenance and support costs by more than 50 percent. The savings were used to drive strategic initiatives and to meet the ongoing needs of the business.

Color Spot Benefits from Rimini Street’s Innovative Support Model

Color Spot specializes in the production and distribution of high quality bedding plants, vegetables, herbs and shrubs to more than 2,000 retail and commercial customers around the US. Since 2001, the company has relied on its SAP R/3 4.7C implementation for mission-critical operations, including finance, human resources and payroll processes. The company also continues to grow aggressively through acquisitions and expand its SAP instance across all entities. After an internal audit in late 2009 showed that SAP vendor maintenance fees consumed over 20 percent of the total IT budget and did not deliver value commensurate with the support the company received, Color Spot’s Chief Information Officer, Eric Robinson, made the decision to switch from SAP to Rimini Street in 2010. Moreover, SAP had announced that it would no longer provide support for version 4.7C, which would have forced Color Spot to undergo an expensive, unneeded and disruptive upgrade to ECC 6.0, or else face de-support.

Through Rimini Street’s innovative, premium-level support model, Robinson immediately cut his maintenance budget by 50 percent, gained support for customizations at no additional cost and received guaranteed support for Color Spot’s existing SAP R/3 release for at least another decade. The switch to Rimini Street support for SAP has enabled Color Spot to avoid costly, disruptive upgrades that would have been performed for the sake of continuing support. Color Spot also utilizes the Rimini Street Tax Engine for SAP Payroll and receives regular tax, legal and regulatory updates and that keep the organization in compliance with changes taking place at the local, state and federal levels.

Color Spot Expands Use of SAP While Supported by Rimini Street

Color Spot has aggressively managed its business to optimize market opportunity and streamline internal operations while under Rimini Street Support for the past three years, including making acquisitions to enter or consolidate markets. To enable this growth and expansion, Color Spot has expanded its use of SAP, including the purchase and deployment of new SAP licenses and has relied on Rimini Street for support of its growing, changing SAP footprint.

“Three years ago, we made the critical decision to switch from SAP vendor support to Rimini Street and we couldn’t be happier with the decision and the results. Their support model works as advertised and we have been able to achieve great success, including reducing our software maintenance costs from 20 percent to only 9 percent of my overall IT budget, and significantly improving the level of support we receive,” said Robinson. “Today, Rimini Street is much more than a vendor – I consider them a valued partner and extension of my IT team, especially during this important period of growth and expansion.”

Rimini Street Dedicated to Delivering Industry’s Best Support Service

Since 2005, more than 660 organizations around the world, including 75 of the Fortune 500 and 16 of the Global 100, have leveraged Rimini Street for their Oracle and SAP systems to reduce total support costs by up to 90 percent, while continuing to advance the scope, scale and use of their enterprise software to achieve critical business objectives. Rimini Street’s more efficient, personalized support program includes 24X7X365 support, an assigned Primary Support Engineer (PSE), support for customizations at no additional fee and support for a minimum of 10 years for existing releases without any required upgrades.

“Rimini Street set out to provide SAP licensees around the world with a more relevant and value-driven software maintenance option. Today, we are proud to be an integral partner to Color Spot and many other SAP licensees,” said Seth Ravin, CEO, Rimini Street. “Now with more than 660 clients signed, Rimini Street is the proven leader in third-party support for both Oracle and SAP licensees, and will continue to dedicate itself to providing all of our clients with the most innovative, ultra-responsive enterprise software support in the industry for the long-term.”

About Rimini Street, Inc.

Rimini Street is the leading third-party provider of enterprise software support services. The company is redefining enterprise support services with an innovative, award-winning program that enables Oracle and SAP licensees to save up to 90 percent on total support costs over a decade, including saving 50 percent on annual support fees. Clients can remain on their current software release without any required upgrades or migrations for at least 10 years. Hundreds of global, Fortune 500, midmarket, and public sector organizations from virtually all industries have selected Rimini Street as their trusted, independent support provider. To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com or call within the USA 888-870-9692 or internationally +1 702-839-9671.

Rimini Street and the Rimini Street logo are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.

Contacts

Rimini Street, Inc.

Alma Park, +1 323-229-7282

apark@riministreet.com


Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/8318/en

Toshiba Starts Second Phase Construction of No. 5 Semiconductor Fabrication Facility at Yokkaichi

TOKYO - Friday, August 23rd 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today held a groundbreaking ceremony in readiness for the start of construction of Phase 2 of Fab 5, the company’s state-of-the-art fabrication facility (fab) at its Yokkaichi Operations memory production facility in Mie Prefecture.

Toshiba will expand Fab 5 to secure manufacturing space for NAND flash memories fabricated with next generation process technology and for 3D memories. Construction will be completed in summer next year, and decisions on equipment investments and production levels will reflect market trends.

Three fabs at Yokkaichi Operations currently mass produce NAND flash memories, including Fab 5 phase 1. Fab 5’s construction was planned around two phases, the first of which went into operation in July 2011. After giving careful consideration to the balance of product supply and demand, and noting a recovery driven by growing demand for smartphones, tablets, SSD for enterprise servers, Toshiba now anticipates further medium- to long-term market expansion and recognizes that the time is right to expand Fab 5.

Going forward, Toshiba will expand business and boost competitiveness by leadership in advanced process technology and the development of new generation memories that answer market needs.


Outline of Fab 5

Structure of building:
         

2-story steel frame concrete, five floors

Ground area:
         

Approximately 38,000m2

Total floor area:
         

Approximately 187,000m2

Start of Construction:
         

First Phase: July 2010
           

Second Phase: August 2013

Completion:
         

First Phase: May 2011
           

Second Phase: Summer 2014 (target)

Start of Production:
         

First Phase: July 2011
           

Second Phase: To be determined later; intended primarily for technology transition of existing wafer capacity


Outline of Yokkaichi Operations

Location:
         

800, Yamanoisshiki-cho, Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture

Established:
         

January 1992

General Manager:
         

Tomoharu Watanabe

Employees:
         

Approximately 5,200
           

(as of end of March, 2013, regular employees of Toshiba)

Site area:
         

Approximately 436,800 m2 (including Fab 5)

Total floor area:
         

Approximately 647,000m2 (including Fab 5)


About Toshiba

Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 590 consolidated companies, with 206,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 5.8 trillion yen (US$61 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130822006257/en/

Contacts

Toshiba Corporation
Semiconductor & Storage Products Company
Megumi Genchi / Kota Yamaji, +81-3-3457-3576
Communication IR Promotion Group
Business Planning Division
semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/8317/en

Training of 34 Police Officers from Abu Dhabi Police to Fly in UAE, Sweden and Italy

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, August 22nd 2013 [ME NewsWire]

The management of the Air Wing Section at the Abu Dhabi Police, represented by the training department, organized a specialized session for 34 police officers. The session included simulated flying exercises on two kinds of aircraft and a three-stage training session that took place in Dubai, Sweden and Italy.

Lieutenant Colonel Pilot Salem Khalifa Al Suaidi, Head of the Training Department at the Air Wing Section, said that the session represents the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters’ (GHQ) strategy for developing police entity capabilities and informing officers about emerging developments in their respective career fields. He also mentioned that participants of the first group were distributed among four other groups in Sweden and each of them got a 14-hour training session on how to fly an aircraft.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the participants of the second stage were distributed among nine other groups where each participant had a five-hour training session in Dubai. In the third stage of training, participants were distributed in 12 groups and the training sessions took place in Italy.

The lieutenant colonel pointed out that the training of all groups in each country focused on empowering the participants on how to handle a malfunction during flight and extending technical training to them on how to use the devices and equipment.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter

Photo Caption:

Photo1: Air Wing Section missions

Photo2: Air Wing Section missions

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com



 

Bloomberg Releases Report Following Client Data Review

NEW YORK. - Thursday, August 22nd 2013 [ME NewsWire]

External Review Finds Bloomberg Has Appropriate Client Data Policies and Controls in Place

Company Adopts Further Changes to Data Access Policies and Procedures, Enhances Training, and Commits to Third-Party Reviews to Strengthen Client Security

(BUSINESS WIRE) Bloomberg L.P. today released a report resulting from an external review of the company’s client data policies and procedures, led by the law firm Hogan Lovells and the regulatory compliance firm Promontory Financial Group, which concluded that Bloomberg has appropriate client data policies and controls in place. The company also announced the adoption of additional new procedures consistent with recommendations stemming from the review.

Former IBM Chairman and CEO Samuel J. Palmisano has provided independent advice to Bloomberg’s Board of Directors on the company’s client data policies and practices since May 2013. Commenting on the Hogan Lovells/Promontory report, Mr. Palmisano stated, “The report issued today is thorough, objective and comprehensive. Bloomberg’s leadership recognized the need for a more comprehensive set of policies and procedures. They acted quickly to enhance their existing structures and put more resources behind this critical priority. Based on my own observations, I support the report’s conclusion that Bloomberg currently has appropriate policies and controls in place.”

Additionally, Clark Hoyt, previously Editor-at-Large at Bloomberg News and a former Public Editor of The New York Times, led an internal review of the relationship between Bloomberg’s news and commercial operations. The company released Mr. Hoyt’s findings and recommendations, and has begun to implement them. Mr. Hoyt said, “Based on my review, I have offered recommendations to Bloomberg with the intention of helping news and the whole company adhere fully and consistently to their already-high standards, as well as to highlight areas where policies and practices should be revisited in a rapidly-changing world.”

CEO and President Daniel L. Doctoroff, said, “We know we needed to evolve, and we have learned from our mistakes. We are already implementing many of the recommendations we received. Most importantly, we have carefully listened to our clients and other constituencies, and their suggestions are helping make us a better partner.”

Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg, said, “Our Board of Directors placed a high priority on ensuring the experts had full and complete access to Bloomberg employees and the company’s operations to identify areas of concern and address how could we fix them.”

The reviews included:

    Examination of more than 500,000 news stories
    425 interviews of Bloomberg employees
    230,000 separate tests of client data systems
    In-depth examination of more than 350 documents, including internal policy manuals, policy notes, training guides and client visit logs

Matthew Winkler, Editor-in-Chief of Bloomberg News, commented, “These changes are part of a natural evolution at Bloomberg News and will only make us stronger.”

The Hogan Lovells/Promontory report, which includes Mr. Palmisano’s statement on the report, and the findings and recommendations from Mr. Hoyt can be found on the Bloomberg terminal at RVWS and online at www.bloomberg.com/reviews.

Company Actions

Bloomberg has taken several actions related to the Hogan Lovells/Promontory report, many of which were implemented during the course of the reviews. As noted in the report, those actions include:

    Enhancing the company’s governance framework:
        The Bloomberg Board of Directors’ Audit Committee now includes oversight of risk and compliance, and the Committee is now comprised of a majority of independent directors.
        The company is in the process of hiring a Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, reporting to the CEO. The heads of risk, corporate compliance, client data security, and security will report to him or her.
        The company has committed to periodic third-party reviews of client data compliance controls, the results of which will be made available to clients.
        These actions are in addition to the appointment of a Client Data Compliance Officer in April 2013.
    Augmenting Bloomberg’s prior client data compliance controls:
    Bloomberg has created a role-based permissioning framework, with a centralized access control team that oversees the granting of access privileges to restricted data.
    The company is enhancing its systems that monitor for unauthorized access.
    Bloomberg has also developed a framework that formalizes client data compliance policy and procedures.
    In addition to mandatory firm-wide training on privacy and client data issues, the company is creating tailored training modules for specific workforce roles.
    The company has created a central portal to provide access to training modules, and a separate portal to provide privacy and client data policies and procedures.
    Journalists no longer have access to client UUID and ADSK screens1 and their access to client data is the same access that non-employee terminal users have.
    Journalists no longer have access to Bloomberg’s anonymous chat rooms.
    Expanding training on privacy and client data compliance policies and procedures:
    Restricting journalist access to client data:

Mr. Hoyt’s Recommendations

Bloomberg has or will be implementing Mr. Hoyt’s primary recommendations as follows:

    Bloomberg is creating a cross-platform newsroom Standards and Practices Task Force, including representatives of Bloomberg News and all other units that engage in newsgathering and reporting, to formulate updated ethical guidelines and policies reflecting best journalism practices.
    Reporters and their editors will be permitted to visit Bloomberg terminal clients only for the purpose of newsgathering.
    Bloomberg is creating a newsroom Standards Editor position to be filled by a senior journalist with the responsibility for making sure that News consistently adheres to The Bloomberg Way's high standards for accuracy, rigor in reporting, balance and tone.
    Separately, outside the newsroom management structure, Bloomberg is appointing an Independent Senior Editor as an independent avenue of appeal for complaints about news coverage and to assist in ongoing development and training on best practices.
    Where appropriate, in order to supplement other measures that restrict access to client data, Bloomberg will facilitate greater physical separation between news and business colleagues and introduce further guidelines on how employees should conduct themselves in shared-use facilities.

About Samuel J. Palmisano

Mr. Palmisano served as the CEO of IBM from March 2002 until January 2012. He was also Chairman of the company from January 2003 to September 2012. Under his leadership, IBM achieved record financial performance, transformed itself into a globally integrated enterprise and introduced its Smarter Planet agenda. He serves on the Boards of Directors of ExxonMobil and American Express. Mr. Palmisano also serves on the Board of Bloomberg Philanthropies.

About Clark Hoyt

Currently, Mr. Hoyt is a Senior Adviser to Bloomberg’s CEO and President Daniel L. Doctoroff. Before this assignment, Mr. Hoyt was an Editor-at-Large at Bloomberg News. Prior to joining Bloomberg in 2010, he was Public Editor, or Ombudsman, of The New York Times for three years. Prior to that, he had worked for 38 years at Knight Ridder Newspapers in a variety of reporting and editing positions, including National Correspondent in Washington, Business Editor of the Detroit Free Press, Washington Bureau Chief and Vice President of News, its Chief News Officer. Mr. Hoyt shared the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting with Robert S. Boyd.

About Hogan Lovells

Hogan Lovells is a global legal practice that helps corporations, financial institutions, and governmental entities across the spectrum of their critical business and legal issues globally and locally. The firm has over 2,500 lawyers operating out of more than 40 offices in the United States, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. Hogan Lovells has one of the largest and most experienced Privacy and Information Management practices in the world.

About Promontory Financial Group

Promontory is a leading strategy, risk management, privacy, data security and regulatory compliance consulting firm focusing primarily on the financial services industry. Led by Founder and CEO, Eugene A. Ludwig, former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, Promontory professionals have deep and varied expertise in data and privacy. From fifteen offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, professionals assist clients in more than 50 countries on six continents. Promontory’s affiliates complement its global strengths by providing compliance technology, reporting, financing, and funding solutions.

About Bloomberg L.P.

Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company’s strength – delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately – is at the core of the Bloomberg Professional® service, which provides real time financial information to more than 315,000 subscribers globally. Bloomberg’s enterprise solutions build on the company’s core strength, leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively.

1 ADSKs related to News (e.g., ADSKs raising questions about articles) are forwarded to trainers in the News division, and they may forward questions or issues raised in those ADSKs to journalists as appropriate.

Contacts

Bloomberg L.P.

Media

U.S.

Ty Trippet, +1 212-617-2443

ttrippet@bloomberg.net



EMEA

Catrin Thomas, +44 7917 000 808

cthomas106@bloomberg.net



APAC

Pam Snook, +65-6231-3637

pamsnook@bloomberg.net





Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/8308/en

Africell Gambia Crosses the 1 Million Active Subscribers

BEIRUT - Friday, August 23rd 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Africell Holding announces that Africell Gambia crossed the one million mark with over 1.1 million active subscribers. The group’s total active subscriber base stands around 6 million and is expected to cross the 7 million mark by end 2013. Africell Gambia is positioned as an uncontestable market leader with 65% market share in a market of 4 players and a population of around 2 million. By the end of 2013, Africell Sierra Leone is expected to reach over 2.3 million active subscribers, and the newly launched Africell RDC in Congo is set to cross the 3.6 million active subscribers.

Contacts

Africell

Hala Haddad, +961 1 966777

HR and Admin Manager

hhaddad@africell.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/8312/en

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts Launch In-Room and Online Magazines for Global Luxury Travelers

MCLEAN, Va. - Thursday, August 22nd 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Created for the luxury traveler, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of individual magazines available both in-room and online, each with a distinct voice and point of view offering inspiring design, arts, culinary, style and travel content from preeminent lifestyle writers.

“These exciting new magazines not only extend our voice in the luxury space, but also allow us to provide relevant lifestyle content through the unique lens of our Waldorf Astoria and Conrad brands,” says John T.A. Vanderslice, global head, luxury and lifestyle brands, Hilton Worldwide. “The debut of these beautifully curated magazines reinforces the exceptional experiences awaiting each guest when they arrive at one of our nearly 50 luxury properties around the world.”

The Waldorf Astoria Magazine focuses on the iconic brand’s inspirational environments and unforgettable experiences, giving readers a glimpse into the portfolio’s more than 20 extraordinary properties and highlights compelling new Waldorf Astoria destinations such as Berlin, Shanghai and Panama City. Readers will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Resort, indulge on 11 unforgettable adventures in and around the Waldorf Astoria Park City and be introduced to the delights of culinary director David Garcelon of Waldorf Astoria New York where the hotel’s rooftop beehives produce honey which is harvested and served in signature cocktails, seasonal dishes as well as spa treatments.

Waldorf Astoria’s True Waldorf Service is brought to life through profiles on Leo Wang, personal concierge at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, and Randy Lowe, the inimitable “Kite Concierge” from Boca Beach Club, a Waldorf Astoria Resort.

The Conrad Magazine unlocks a world of style and connectivity across five continents while highlighting Conrad’s newest luxury hotels in Seoul, Dubai and the Algarve. The inaugural issue provides readers a look into local culture, exceptional design and exciting experiences, including finding elephants at play in Thailand, eating the best dim sum in Hong Kong and accessing the finest contemporary art in Miami. Feature stories in the issue include profiles on up-and-coming filmmakers making waves at the Tribeca Film Festival and chef Simon Leung at Conrad Beijing who makes tea an art form.

Published biannually in partnership with publishing house, Rodale, print copies of the magazines are available in-room at all Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels and resorts globally. Digital versions, featuring videos and exclusive bonus content, are available free for download via Flipboard and iTunes (for iPad) or the Google Play Store (for Android), and at www.waldorfastoria.com/magazine or www.conradhotels.com/magazine.

For advertising opportunities in future issues, please contact Advertising and Partnership Director Renee James at (610) 907-8378 or renee.james@rodale.com. For more information about the Waldorf Astoria or Conrad brands, please visit http://news.waldorfastoria.com or http://news.conradhotels.com.

About Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is a portfolio of 24 landmark destinations, each being a true reflection of their surroundings in the world’s most sought after locations. Unified by their inspirational environments and unparalleled guest service, Waldorf Astoria creates unique authentic moments through the delivery of True Waldorf Service. Personal concierges deliver unparalleled, bespoke service from the moment a guest books through check out. From signature culinary excellence, 12 world-class golf courses and 23 rejuvenating spas, Waldorf Astoria offers luxuriously appointed accommodations and unforgettable experiences. Waldorf Astoria is a global luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide with development plans to add 12 new hotels to the brand. Experience Waldorf Astoria by booking at www.waldorfastoria.com or learn more about this expanding portfolio by visiting http://news.waldorfastoria.com.

About Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Conrad Hotels & Resorts is the destination for the new generation of smart luxury travelers for whom life, business and pleasure seamlessly interact – people who know that the greatest luxury is the luxury of being yourself. A global brand consisting of 22 properties across 5 continents, Conrad Hotels & Resorts offer guests personalized experiences with sophisticated, locally inspired surroundings and connections to people and places around the corner or halfway around the world. Intuitive service is delivered with the Conrad Concierge App that puts Conrad’s services and amenities at the guest’s fingertips, whether ordering room service or a wakeup call to customizing the room’s pillow options or arranging reservations at our locally inspired cuisine and spa offerings. Conrad is a global luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide with plans to add 12 more properties to the brand’s portfolio. Connect with Conrad by booking at www.conradhotels.com or learn more about the brand by visiting http://news.conradhotels.com.

Contacts

John Walls

Hilton Worldwide

+1 901-374-6383

john.walls@hilton.com



Ani Zerounian

For Hilton Worldwide

+1 646-274-3631

azerounian@hlgrp.com

 

Toshiba Manufacturing Facilities Win Major Japan Management Association GOOD FACTORY AWARDs

TOKYO - Thursday, August 22nd 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Toshiba Corporation today announced that two of its production facilities have won major awards in the Japan Management Association GOOD FACTORY AWARDs 2013. Yokkaichi Operations, the company’s development and mass-production base for NAND flash memory, was selected for a Factory Management Award, and Toshiba Information Equipment Hangzhou (TIH), the company’s development and mass-production base for value-added notebook PCs, received a Manufacturing Innovation Award.

The GOOD FACTORY AWARDs was founded by JMA in 2011 as part of its efforts to promote the monodukuri (manufacturing) potential of Japan’s manufacturing sector. The awards focus on and recognize excellence in different aspects of factory operations, from process innovation through to corporate social responsibility in manufacturing. The winners are seen as models and benchmarks for Japanese manufacturing industry.

The Factory Management Award is based on an “ideal factory” that promotes excellence across its activities and in all business processes, while the Manufacturing Innovation Award focuses on a factory’s total efforts to reinforce its manufacturing processes.

The Yokkaichi award recognizes the factory’s efforts to establish a management system that allows it to withstand fierce competition through technology innovation and market expansion. The system includes a management index focused on securing the competitiveness necessary to be No.1 in the market and realization of the world’s most advanced memory fabrication facility. It also promotes training of technicians and engineers, the use of IT to promote productivity, and an awareness of the environment in its operations.

The TIH award recognizes the factory’s efforts to develop a management system that achieve high level process innovation in manufacturing. TIH promotes close collaboration between development and manufacturing in a wide range of activities through projects with a 90-day cycle, synchronizes board and product assembly lines, operates IT-driven quality control and product management, and places a major on reinforcement of human resources development.

Going forward, Toshiba will continue to boost its competitiveness by strengthening manufacturing capabilities across its complete range of operations.

About Toshiba

Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 590 consolidated companies, with 206,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 5.8 trillion yen (US$61 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Contacts

Toshiba Corporation

Semiconductor & Storage Products Company

Megumi Genchi / Kota Yamaji, +81-3-3457-3576

Communication IR Promotion Group

Business Planning Division

semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/8300/en