DIC (China)’s Activities

Mao Jianwei

By focusing on ensuring a balance between growth and efficiency, we are striving to increase our value to the DIC Group.

Mao Jianwei
General Manager
DIC (China) Co., Ltd.

Driving Transformation into a Provider of Solutions

With the objective of transforming DIC (China) into a provider of solutions in Greater China that emphasizes manufacturing products that sell—i.e., that deliver the value our customers seek—rather than simply on selling the products we manufacture, we recognize the importance of securing a position close to end users from which we can directly respond to social imperatives, allowing us to offer solutions that address challenges further downstream. We are promoting initiatives in all three business areas aimed at achieving this objective. In the packaging and graphic business, we are extending solutions across supply chains that meet customer needs for cost reductions and mono-material products. In functional products, we are developing PPS products that respond to market demand by leveraging application technologies cultivated in Japan and Europe, together with raw materials and production resources in the PRC, targeting EV manufacturers, which are seeing their operations expand globally. In color and display, we are studying changes in color trends in key industries, as well as on the status of international and domestic regulations pertaining to safety and health with the goal of proposing new color materials and solutions that satisfy the requirements of customers, enabling us to develop products that are compatible with the need to help ensure sustainability.

Improving Productivity

Given the sharp increase in regional labor costs in recent years, improving labor productivity is crucial to maintaining and/or growing market competitiveness. As regional headquarters, DIC (China) regularly compiles data for indicators that illustrate the relationship between work hours and production output for individual subsidiaries, as well as for each business group, in the region. This data is provided to relevant management teams, thereby helping to raise awareness of labor productivity.

We also plan and implement skills training and competitions to lift the skill levels of regional employees. At the same time, we conduct employee engagement surveys and have introduced various performance-based incentive systems, as well as strive to create harmonious working environments in an effort to enhance the potential of employees.

In recent years, the importance of improving labor productivity has penetrated not only at the management level but also across the region. This is thanks to bold measures such as the merger and closure of production facilities, as well as the review of workflows.

Promoting Strategic Efforts to Expand Regional Sales of Resins

Thanks to steps taken by Guangdong DIC TOD Resins Co., Ltd. (TOD), acquired in July 2022, we have made considerable progress in implementing the DIC Group’s strategy for establishing itself as a dominant player in the Asian polymers market. Of note, in addition to existing production equipment for solvent-borne resins at its Shaoguan and Wengyuan plants, TOD began building new production equipment for waterborne resins that will be completed in fiscal year 2024, positioning the company to bolster its status as a supplier of resins for industrial coatings. Going forward, the DIC Group in the PRC will continue to steadily further a variety of measures to expand sales in the eastern and northern parts of the PRC, which we have designated as priority areas for expanding Group operations in this country.

Advancing Sustainability Initiatives

DIC Group companies across Greater China are taking a variety of steps to slash CO2 emissions in line with the target set by the Group for such emissions in fiscal year 2030. DIC (China) gathers monthly data on energy consumption and continuously monitors CO2 emissions, in addition to which it regularly publishes information on energy saving and emissions reductions with the aim of realizing facilities that qualify for Green Office designation.

In addition, DIC Group companies are pressing ahead with plans to switch from coal-fired to gas-fired boilers, facilitating a shift from in-house production using steam to external procurement, as well as to reduce CO2 emissions by replacing biomass boilers with electric hot air heaters, and promoting energy-saving boiler renovation projects, including implementing energysaving modifications to energy-consuming equipment such as water coolers and electric motors. We are also focusing on enhancing the operations of solar power generating facilities and encouraging the increased use of green power, including solar power.