— The Business Ethics Committee, held its tenth meeting Tuesday, December 21 at the Shinagawa headquarters (Commissioner Fujimoto was absent and professional counselor Yamamoto was in attendance).
Today's topics for discussion were the following three points:
- The explanation of the response to the warning received from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
- The progress of the internal investigation into the causes of the emergence of the past recall and process problems.
- The progress of the Action Program for company ethics and reforming of corporate culture.
The explanations from the company as well as the opinions of the commissioners are as follows.
- The explanation of the response to the warning received from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The company explained the answer that it has internally prepared, and presented it to each commissioner before submitting it to the Ministry.
- In terms of the contents of the response, in the case of judging recalls, it is not only product information reports, but phone calls from dealers, and defect information received from customers, is the appropriate direction for you to study incorporating. Listening sincerely to the real voice of customers is the key to quality improvement, and listening to these voices, you must carry through on making safe vehicles without exception.
- The progress of the internal investigation into the causes of the emergence of the past recall and process problems.
The additional hearings that are currently being held and the progress of the outline of the report was explained by the team of outside lawyers.
- After the recommendation made by the committee at the 8th meeting to reinforce the investigation, it was confirmed that more hearings were held with managers and regular employees. Although there is a time restriction, we believe these hearings to be necessary and ask that you put them into effect by whatever means.
- The description of the process of concealment of recalls in 2000, the perceptions of persons involved and the processes by which this happened has been enriched. We ask that the team of outside lawyers, who have increased the proportion of information, that they conclude the investigation as quickly as possible.
- The team of outside lawyers, who were originally commissioned to investigate the 2000 recall problem, are also requested to investigate those who came after 2000, and we ask that you do so immediately.
Also, the committee, with regard to the report to be submitted, had originally appointed a professional counselor who would inspect the report from the point of view of compliance, but at this time, we have decided to appoint Professor Nobuyuki Yamamoto, a lecturer from the Toin Yokohama University Compliance Research Center.
- The progress of the Action Program for company ethics and reforming of corporate culture.
The company explained the progress of the currently advancing "For compliance first Action Program", the investigation into the degree of understanding of corporate ethics, the Q&A manual on corporate ethics, and the progress of the written pledge.
- There is no meaning to the Mitsubishi Motors newly started compliance system if it does not take root in one site and continue as a chain of actions. You must be sure to continue steadily and see that it spreads through the organization.
- At present, a system to have all employees sign a pledge of corporate ethics is being implemented, but accordingly, the company must not oblige those employees who do not wish to sign. As a company, an effort should be made to obtain the person's consent, even if they refuse to sign, it is also rather important to respect individual judgment.
The eleventh meeting of the business ethics committee has been scheduled to be held on January 24.
Noboru Matsuda
Business Ethics Committee Chairman
