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Fukui, Japan is one of the three largest production regions for optical
frames in the world, along with China and Italy. 97% of Japanese-made
optical frames are manufactured in Fukui.
Masunaga Optical
premiered the production of eyeglasses in Fukui in 1905. The company
founder Gozaemon Masunaga brought in skilled craftsmen from Osaka and
Tokyo with the ambition of setting the optical industry solidly in place
in Fukui.
He entered into the industry the hard way, and at first
the eyeglasses manufactured in Fukui were regarded to be third-rate in
the world. In order to raise the quality standards of the products,
Gozaemon established a guild like system where full-fledged craftsmen
could create their own businesses.
Owing to this system, the
number of eyeglass craftsmen increased gradually, and the optical
industry spread all over Fukui.There are as many as 200 manual processes
involved in making an optical frame. Generally, productivity is low when
one company is in charge of all the processes.
However, Masunaga
Optical is the only company in Japan that has a factory in charge of all
processes from raw materials to production and finish in an integrated
way. The integrated production system improves the detail and quality.
For example, when Masunaga Optical develops a new model, the molds are
always built in-house. If there is a problem in the wear comfort that
can be felt only after completing one pair of glasses, it will be
corrected in the previous process’ promptly.
The company’s
mission statement since the establishment is “We manufacture excellent
eyeglasses. We want to make a profit if we can, but we don’t hesitate to
take a loss. It is always in our thoughts to manufacture excellent
eyeglasses.” These words are still the basis of the conduct code of
employees even more than 100 years after its establishment. |
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