In September, a group of the security industry’s foremost journal editors embarked on a fact-finding tour of Japan and China as guests of CCTV systems manufacturer Panasonic. Security Management Today reports from the Far East. Pictures courtesy of Panasonic (UK)

In mid-September, Security Management Today’s (SMT) editor Brian Sims, Alan Hyder (editor of Security Installer, SMT’s sister title at CMP Information) and Lucie Burgess (publisher of both titles, in addition to CCTV Today) were invited to Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan and the bustling city of Shanghai, China as guests of Panasonic (UK).

It was very much a fact-finding tour whereupon the English contingent (also comprising Professional Security’s editor John Cully, Pete Conway – editor of Professional Security Installer – and Panasonic (UK)’s Rob Healey and Jane Hinton) could learn about production methods for Panasonic’s products currently in place at the company’s PSS-SSD (Tsunashima) and Saedo plants in Japan and the PSSZ factory in China.

In addition, there were three formal press briefings during the trip, at which point Panasonic’s representatives (including Tokyo-based vice-president Toshio Yokoyama, director Toshihiko Hayashi, general manager Takeshi Ishihara and global sales group manager Futoshi Umeki) were interested to hear our views on the security industry and how it’s likely to develop.

The UK party was also treated to a tour of the Matsushita History Museum which offers a memorable and insightful chronology of the life and business philosophies espoused by Konosuke Matsushita, the legendary founder of Matsushita Electrical (and thus very much the ‘father’ of Panasonic as we know it today). Also on the agenda was a visit to the Panasonic Centre, which provides a ‘vision of tomorrow’ in terms of the networked society and where it may lead us all.

In Suzhou, China the journalists toured Panasonic’s bespoke manufacturing facility. Opened only last year, the plant is run by chief executive Noboro Fujii, a hugely respected business leader in the country who has already featured in several articles across the Chinese security trade press.

Commenting on the trip, SMT’s editor Brian Sims said: “I think I can speak for all of the journalists by stating that it was a fascinating tour. It was extremely interesting to learn about the Japanese and Chinese approaches to the security business. The basic principles laid down by Konosuke Matsushita still apply to this day, which means that the work ethic is paramount.

“It was an honour for us all to be able to present our views of current UK market developments to Panasonic’s many representatives.”

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SMT