Sysmex

Sustainability Report 2012
Digest Version

About this Report
Editorial policy
Sysmex publishes the annual “Sysmex
Sustainability Report” in the hopes ofcommunicating our approaches and activities
concerning corporate social responsibility(CSR) to our stakeholders and facilitating
dialogs with them.
In this sixth issue, we prepared two
versions of the report: a digest version focused
only on activities of high importance and a fullversion with more detailed information. We
also regularly disclose policy, system and other
CSR information on our website. In this way,
we enable the reader to select the reportformat most appropriate to their level of
specialization and interest.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Website
http://www.sysmex.co.jp/en/sysmex/csr/index.html

Scope of this Report
Period reported
Fiscal 2011 (from April 1, 2011 to March 31,2012). Some activities conducted outside ofthis period are also included.
Organizations covered
Sysmex Group (Sysmex Corporation and its
subsidiaries both in Japan and abroad). For the
purpose of this report, “Sysmex” refers to theSysmex Group and “Sysmex Corporation”
refers to the Sysmex Corporation on a
non-consolidated basis.

Guidelines referenced· The Japanese Ministry of the Environment’s
Environmental Reporting Guidelines (2012 ed.)· The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)’s
Sustainability Reporting Guidelines 2006

Date of publication
September 2012

Inquiries about this report
CSR Promotion Department, CSR Division
Sysmex Corporation
1-5-1, Wakinohama-Kaigandori, Chuo-ku, Kobe,
Hyogo, 651-0073, Japan
Tel: +81-78-265-0500, Fax: +81-78-265-1884

Cautionary statements
This report contains both forward-looking
statements and facts regarding the past about
Sysmex Corporation and its group companies(the Sysmex Group). These forward-looking
statements are based on the current
judgments and assumptions of the Sysmex
Group in light of the information currently
available to it. Uncertainties inherent in such
judgments and assumptions, the future courseof our business operations, and future events
may cause our actual results, performance, or
achievements to be materially diﬀerent fromany future results, performance, or
achievements either expressed or implied
within such forward-looking statements.

1 Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

Contents
3

Sysmex at a Glance

11

CSR Performance Report5

Message from the President

11With Our Customers

7

Highlight

13

With Our Employees

14With Our Business Partners

14With Our Shareholders and Investors

15

With Our Local Communities

17

The Environment

9Development of Hematology
Analyzers Contributing toUsability and the Environment

Highlight

Contributing to a Healthy Society
through Sports

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

2

Sysmex at a GlanceContributing to the Realization of a Healthy Society
through Healthcare Testing
There are two kinds of healthcare testing received at regular health checkups and hospitals. One is in-vivo diagnosis,
such as X-rays, performed directly on the body. The other is in-vitro diagnostics, which examines a patient’s blood, urine
and cells. Based on an integrated system, from research and development, to production, sales, after-sales support,
Sysmex provides all devices, reagents and software necessary for in-vitro diagnostics. Through providing theseproducts, we contribute to the early detection of disease, optimal disease management selection and the prevention of
disease.

Sysmex Business Process

Main Products

Creating valuable
healthcare testing anddiagnostic technologies
We strive to create valuable healthcare
testing and diagnostic technologies for awide spectrum of ailments, including
blood/immunity diseases, infectious
diseases, cancer and chronic disorders.

Research andDevelopment

Automated hematology analyzer

Ensuring high quality
and stable productsupplyProduction

Our quality control system isextensive and thorough. We havealso established a global
production system to ensure thestable supply of reagents.

Providing products
and services to morethan 170 countries
Through our global sales network, we
provide high-quality products andservices to healthcare facilities in morethan 170 countries around the world.

Coagulation analyzer

Gene ampliﬁcation detector

Sales

Self-Medication support software

Responding accurately
to each and every
inquiry
We take special eﬀort to respondaccurately to inquiries received
through our call center and over the
network. We also provide extensive
academic support.

3

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

After-Sales
Support

Ampliﬁcation reagent LYNOAMP® BC

Hospitals
Blood tests are always
performed at regular andphysical examinations.
Irregularities or changes inorgans and systems in the
body show up easily in blood
components, resulting in theearly detection and treatment
of disease.

Pharmacies
Provides information related
to health on an individual
basis by conducting data
analysis on results of simple
anthropometric measurements
such as body fat percentage
and blood pressure conducted
in-store and answers tolifestyle and diet questions.

Animal Hospitals
Just like humans, healthmaintenance is
indispensible foranimals to stay healthy.
Hematology tests areuseful for the healthmaintenance of dogs, cats
and other pets, aquarium
dolphins and zoo animals.

SportsUsed for daily training
programs and nutritional
maintenance to regularly
check the hemoglobin
levels of sports gym, highschool and college trackteams and other athletes.

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

4

Message from the President

We aim to build trust and conﬁdence among our
stakeholders through the creation of valuable
healthcare testing technologies.
Contributing to the “Advancement of
Healthcare” through TestingEver since its founding in 1968, Sysmex has created a wide
spectrum of products and services in the diagnostics ﬁeld
based on advanced technologies. Diagnostics play a vital rolein healthcare by enabling the early detection of disease, thedetermination of treatment and the prevention of illness.
Presently, Sysmex’s products are being used at healthcare
facilities in over 170 countries around the world.
The healthcare environment is currently undergoing
dramatic changes due to shifting social structures. In emerging
countries, economic development and population growth are
rapidly increasing healthcare needs. On the other hand,advanced countries are facing declining birthrates and aging

5

Sysmex Sustainability Report 2012

populations, and individual values for healthcare are increasingly
diversifying. Sysmex is responding to these changes andstriving to create innovative values with the aim of contributing
to the advancement of healthcare. We want to respond to
the desire of people across the globe: “to stay healthy”.
In ﬁscal 2011, we launched a new product, the XN-Series,
in our mainstay hematology ﬁeld. Compared with conventional
instruments, the XN-Series features improved functionality,
performance and operability. In addition, the series oﬀers new
functions, such as providing a reportable parameter that assists
clinicians in the diagnosis of thrombocytopenia, thereby
adding new value that contributes to clinical site. The XN-Series
oﬀers various innovations that help reduce the workload
on medical technologists and to prevent misdiagnosis. At
the same time, extensive network-based and preventive
maintenance are available as online services. The user-friendly
design has earned high marks, winning the series the Good
Design Gold Award 2011. The XN-Series is environmentallyconscious, as well. Its use of concentrated reagents helps toreduce waste and substantially reduces product lifecycle CO2
emissions, compared with conventional models.

“Shaping the advancement of healthcare” is Sysmex’s
mission. In accordance with this aﬃrmation, we aim to create
valuable healthcare testing technologies that contribute to
the quality of life (QOL) of people and reduce the burden on
healthcare facilities.

Building Trust and Conﬁdence among
Our Stakeholders
We aim to build trust and conﬁdence among our
stakeholders in accordance with our corporate philosophy,
the “Sysmex Way.”In ﬁscal 2011, we commenced the full-ﬂedged use ofsilkworms to develop proteins, with the goal of providing
products to engender even higher levels of conﬁdence
among our customers. Some of the diagnostic reagents that
Sysmex provides are derived from animals including cattle,
rabbits and other mammals, but in recent years the risk ofprocuring such ingredients has grown in line with the growthof emerging markets and concerns about bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE). Furthermore, individual diﬀerences
can arise from such animal-derived ingredients, making itdiﬃcult to ensure the stable quality of ingredients supplied
to us. To resolve these issues, we are reinforcing our design
and mass-production technologies for proteins to produce
reagents that do not rely on such animal-derived ingredients.
Creating a protein development system using silkworms is
one aspect of these eﬀorts.

Contributing to a Healthy Society throughSportsSysmex is devoted to corporate citizenship activities andphilanthropy that center on health and healthcare. In addition
to our ongoing support of the Kobe Medical Industry
Development Project, we provide scientiﬁc support, encourage
the standardization of testing, promote organizationscommitted to eliminating cancer and take part globally incorporate citizenship activities and philanthropy designed
to meet regional needs.
During ﬁscal 2011, we participated as a special sponsor

Corporate Philosophy

Shaping the advancement of healthcare.

We continue to create unique and innovative values,
while building trust and conﬁdence.

With passion and ﬂexibility, we demonstrate ourindividual competence and unsurpassed teamwork.

in the Kobe Marathon 2011, staged by Kobe City. Based on
the theme of “thanks and friendship,” the Kobe Marathon
aims to express gratitude to everyone who supported theregion’s recovery after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
In addition to sponsoring the race based on its standing asa Kobe-based company, by operating in the healthcare sector
Sysmex is well acquainted with the link between sports andhealth. Numerous employee volunteers participated, andassisting in event operations.
In February 2011, Sysmex joined the United Nations
Global Compact, committing to uphold 10 principles in theareas of human rights, labor, the environment andanti-corruption. By joining the compact, we aim to move
forward proactively with corporate social responsibility (CSR)
activities beﬁtting a global company.
Sysmex will continue working to achieve sustainable
development of the Group and the global community. We
would like to ask our stakeholders for their continued supportand understanding of all our endeavors.

Hisashi Ietsugu
President and CEO

Sysmex Sustainability Report 20126

Highlight

Development of Hematology Analyzers Contributing
to Usability and the Environment
In May 2011, Sysmex launched its new XN-Series of products on global scale.
Pursuing the provision of comfortable healthcare sites, we designed the user-friendly analyzer from the user’s
point of view, focusing eﬀorts on improving environmental performance, speciﬁcally reductions in waste and CO2.

Development of Analyzers Equipped with
New Technologies
In May 2011, Sysmex launched its XN-Series analyzers for the
global market. This product is a hematology analyzer thatchecks patient’s health by measuring and analyzing blood
samples to determine the number, types and sizes of red andwhite blood cells and platelets and other elements.
The XN-Series signiﬁcantly improves measurement accuracy for
low platelet counts, useful for the diagnosis of diseases such as
thrombocytopenia and is equipped with a body ﬂuid measurementmode, helpful for the indication of meningitis antimicrobial
treatment. In addition to its functions and performance, usability andeco-friendliness are the most prominent features of the XN-Series.

Supporting Accurate Test Data with Design
Contributing to the Prevention of Misdiagnosis
and Improved User-Friendliness
The XN-Series attempts to improve usability in an aim toprevent misdiagnosis, lessen the workload of medical
technologists and improve the laboratory site. The
human-centered design takes operator motion into account,
resulting in signiﬁcant improvements in operability, including
the simpliﬁcation of operating panels. The design concept
uniﬁes analyzer, operating panel and disposable reagents withthe aim of realizing a quick and accurate analyzer.
The XN-Series also features further enhancements in online
service. The device and reagents can be monitored remotely,
enabling data from device sensors to be analyzed via a connection to
the Sysmex Network Communication Systems (SNCS), Sysmex’s
online system. (See page 12 for details.) This enables the detection ofproblems and preventative maintenance before failure occurs to
avoid sudden malfunctions in support of stable device operation.

Contributing to the Reduction of Waste andCO2 Emissions with Concentrated ReagentsThe XN-Series employs concentrated reagent CELLPACK DST,
which is 25 times more concentrated than conventional
reagent CELLPACK (II). CELLPACK DST is diluted and used inconjunction with reagent preparation unit RU-20. Using this

7 Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

New Technologies Improving Usability
XN-Series Multiparameter
Automated Hematology
Analyzers

Equipped with touch panel that iseasy to read and operate

Conventional
reagents

Installed operation buttons in easy
to push location in considerationof operator motion

Cartridge
reagents

Received Good Design Gold Award 2011 for design recognized ascontributing to enhanced usability by healthcare facilities

Cartridge-type reagent enables
one-touch replacement

concentrated reagent enables facilities that process highID tags appended to agent
simplify reagent management andprevent improper connections

emissions throughout the product lifecycle. CO2 emitted during

volumes of tests each day to reduce the frequency of reagent

transportation accounted for 40% of CO2 emitted throughout thechanges to one ﬁfth that usually required in one day.

entire product lifecycle of conventional products, from manufacture

Concentration also makes reagents compact, whichto shipment, use and disposal. Concentrated reagents are designed

contributes to resource conservation by reducing container

to be lightweight and compact, signiﬁcantly improving

and packaging materials, enabling a signiﬁcant decrease intransportation eﬃciency with decreased weight and volume. We

waste generated by laboratories. Furthermore, switching from

calculate this enables around 50% reduction of CO2 throughout thepolyethylene to paper reagent containers is helpful for

entire product lifecycle compared to conventional products.
Going forward, Sysmex will continue eﬀorts to create valuableconserving petroleum resources.
Concentrated reagents also contribute to the reduction of CO2

healthcare testing technologies by providing new products andservices able to meet increased demand and diverse testing

XN-Series reagents are 25 times more concentrated
than conventional reagentsneeds that contribute to the evolution of clinical development.

Reagent capacity (L)CO2 Emissions of XN-Series + Concentrated Reagent andConventional Instrument + Reagent

100

20L

1/25

CO2 emissions volume (Tons)
10.00

20L
50

Approximately 50%
reduction in CO2emissions volume

20L
20L
20L

5.00

4L

0

20L×5
Conventional reagent
CELLPACK (II)

4L

0.00

XN-Series +Conventional instrument +conventional reagents concentrated reagents

Concentrated reagent
CELLPACK DST

Words from a Customer
The XN-Series significantly improves the measurement accuracy of low white blood cell and platelet counts, offering hopefor the support of new testing knowledge based on this reliability and contributions to healthcare research. In addition,
reducing the weight and number of exchanging times the reagent needs to be changed reduces our workload andcontributes to the reduction of waste after usage, making it an instrument that is gentle on people and the environment.
I hope Sysmex continues listening to customers and developing good products that incorporate user needs.

Shuichi Shiga, Qualified Class 1 Laboratory Technologist, Manager, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kyoto University Hospital

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

8

Highlight

Contributing to a Healthy Society through Sports
As a healthcare company, Sysmex supports the realization of a healthy society through sports. In addition tocontinued management of the Sysmex Women’s Track & Field Team, in ﬁscal 2011 we were a special sponsorof the ﬁrst citizen marathon ever held in our hometown of Kobe.

Special Sponsor of the First Kobe Marathon,
Run by 20,000 Participants

participants during the race, we exhibited the ASTRIM at theThe ﬁrst Kobe Marathon (sponsored by Hyogo Prefectural

Kobe Marathon EXPO event held prior to the marathon,

Government, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education

conducting hemoglobin concentration estimation for an

and Kobe City Board of Education, Hyogo Amateur Athletics

enthralled crowd. This instrument enables the estimation of

Association) was held on November 20, 2011.

hemoglobin concentration, closely connected to stamina,

In addition to providing the bibs worn by the 20,000

Sysmex became a special sponsor of the marathon, which had

without requiring a blood sample. Popular with runners who“Thanks and Friendship” as its theme, out of a desire to contribute

checked on their health just before the marathon, in two days

to health maintenance and improvement through sports.

a total of 3,300 visitors measured their hemoglobin levels.

Sysmex booth at the Kobe Marathon EXPO

Roadside supporters

The First Kobe Marathon (image provided by The Kobe Shimbun)

9

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

Employees volunteers provide waterEmployee Volunteers Cheer Runners andSupport Management

Managing a Women’s Track & Field Team
Training Globally Active Athletes

In the past, Sysmex employees have voluntarily formed teams

Sysmex conducts several other sports support activities into conduct volunteer activities such as coastline cleanup andaddition to sponsorship of the Kobe Marathon. One of those isaﬀorestation eﬀorts, but most activities were comparatively

management of the Sysmex Women’s Track & Field Team,

small in scale. The Kobe Marathon was our ﬁrst large-scale

which includes Mizuki Noguchi, active all over the world, andactivity, involving approximately 180 people, including

young athletes who aim to become world-class competitors.

employee volunteers and their families. Participants provided

The Sysmex Women’s Track & Field Team won second place atwater at a beverage booth, handed out towels at the ﬁnish line

the West Japan Women’s Industry Group Ekiden Race, held inand assisted with course cleanup activities. Many participants

October 2011, making their mark at a national event.

said the volunteer activities were excellent and provided them

At present, the Women’s Track & Field Team practices in
Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward, but in April 2013, they will move towith valuable experiences.

practice facilities in Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture, where

On the day of the event, among the approximately
520,000 people shouting encouragement to over 20,000

Sysmex head oﬃce are located, to further energize

runners, 150 of those voices came from roadside Sysmex

interactions with the local community in Kobe.

participants supporting runners with their “A Smile from

Sysmex will continue to support the realization of aKobe” message. Employee participants provided the Kobe

healthy and prosperous society through sports promotion.

Marathon with entertainment, voluntarily assembling a bandthat performed at a specially constructed roadside studio.
The second marathon will be held on November 25, 2012.
Sysmex plans to provide ongoing support for the Kobe Marathon.

Words from an Employee
I participated in the First Kobe Marathon, hanging medals on runner’s necks as they completed the race. The sense ofaccomplishment in the expressions on the faces of runners as they approached the finish line was moving andmotivational. Also, I got a sense of the connection and feeling of oneness shared among local runners and participantsfrom all over Japan and the world, making this a treasured experience.

Kumiko Ikushima, Human Resources Department

Internal Lectures on Sports and Nutrition Conducted by
Senior Nutritionists
In December 2011, Sysmex provided second-year students from the Dietary Nutrition
Department of the Osaka Yuhigaoka Gakuen Junior College with a lecture on sports
and nutrition. They introduced athlete diets and essential nutrients, explaining
athlete performance and hemoglobin using real-life examples. At the end of thelecture, we had the students experience use of Sysmex instruments for estimating
hemoglobin concentration.

Words from a Participant
Importance of Doing Sports Science from a Nutritional Perspective
At this lecture, the students taught me that an athlete’s diet has an enormous influence on their competitive
performance, bringing home the importance of conditioning management. Doing sports science from a nutritional
perspective is linked to enhancing the competitive performance of athletes. I look forward to the development of
instruments used to ascertain athlete nutritional management and conditioning.

Kiyohiro Kawai, Professor, Medical Doctor, Ph.D., Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Osaka Yuhigaoka Gakuen Junior College

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201 2

10

CSR Performance Report

Moving Forward with CSR
Sysmex CSR builds trust and conﬁdence to all our stakeholders through the practice of the Sysmex Way, the corporate
philosophy of the Sysmex Group. The Sysmex Way indicates the way the most basic corporate activities ought to be,consisting of three elements necessary for continued growth: Mission, Value and Mind. The Core Behaviors clarify provisionof value to customers, employees, business partners, shareholders, society and all our stakeholders. At Sysmex, every Group
employee shares the Sysmex Way, placing importance on speciﬁc behaviors throughout daily business activities.

Corporate Philosophy

Shaping the advancement of healthcare.

We continue to create unique and innovative values,
while building trust and conﬁdence.

With passion and ﬂexibility, we demonstrate ourindividual competence and unsurpassed teamwork.

Core Behaviors
To our Customers

We deliver reassurance to our customers, through unmatched
quality, advanced technologies, superior support, and actions
that consistently reﬂect the viewpoint of our customers. We
constantly look out for our customers' true needs, and seek togenerate new solutions to satisfy those needs.

To our Employees

We honor diversity, respect the individuality of each employee,and provide them with a workplace where they can realize theirfull potential. We value the spirit of independence and challenge,
provide employees with opportunities for self-fulﬁllment andgrowth, and reward them for their accomplishments.

To our Business Partners

We deliver commitment to our client companies throughbroad-ranging partnerships. We strive to be a company that can growin step with our trade partners, through respect and mutual trust.

To our Shareholders

Our shareholders can rest assured that we will continue to improve
the soundness and transparency of our management policies,
while promoting information disclosure and close communications.
We commit ourselves to a consistent yet innovative style ofmanagement, in order to achieve sustainable growth and increased
shareholder value.

To Society

We carry out our business in strict compliance with laws andregulations, as well as in adherence to high ethical standards.
As a responsible member of society, we play an active role inresolving environmental issues and other problems that impact
our society today.

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Sysmex Sustainability Report 2012

With Our Customers
Quality Assurance Initiatives
Sysmex has constructed a system to ensure compliance withlaws and regulations around the world based on the “Sysmex
Corporation Quality Compliance Policy”, and we act accordingly.
At the same time, Sysmex also conducts global internal quality
auditing, to conﬁrm that the system is operating properly.
In ﬁscal 2011, we conducted quality audits of our overseas
suppliers in addition to the auditing we have been conducting
at overseas factories.
Also, beginning in ﬁscal 2011 we concentrated the quality
eﬀorts of the main overseas companies and overseas factories
at the headquarters quality assurance department, and introduceda system whereby they are reviewed by management.
Currently, all Group companies involved in development
and production are in the process of acquiring ISO 9001 andISO 13485* international quality management system standard
certiﬁcation. As of March 31, 2012, 25 of the 47 Sysmex Group
companies had acquired ISO 9001 certiﬁcation, with 13 Group
companies also having acquired ISO 13485 certiﬁcation.

* ISO 13485: Quality management system for the design and manufacture of
medical devices.

Ensuring Product Safety
Product Quality and Safety Information Control System
Patients

Efficacy/Safety
Information

Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare
Pharmaceuticals andMedical Devices Agency

Proper testing/diagnosis

Medical technologists andother clinical professionals
Gatheringof Efficacy/
SafetyInformation

Gathering
Provisionof Efficacy/of medical
Safetyinformation
Information

Customer
Information

Sales reps

DirectreportingInstructions/guidance

Information
provision,
response
Information
provision,
response
Gathering

Information provision/transmission
Gathering of Efficacy and Safety Information

Sysmex Group

ReportingInformation
Sharing,
cooperation

Vigilance
Division

Information
Sharing,
cooperation

Partners bothin Japanand Abroad

Subsidiaries
and affiliates
outside of Japan• Literatures bothfrom Japan and abroad
Gathering • Academic Information• Research Data
• Information on
new developments

At Sysmex, information on product quality and safety is centrally
controlled at the Safety Information Division.
This division investigates and analyzes such informationfrom customers, and feeds their analysis results to relevant
customers while also sharing them with design, manufacturing
and other related functions, so that these ﬁndings may be applied
to quality improvement and product development.
The Sysmex Global Quality Complaint Processing Systemwent into operation in April 2011. This system enables us to gather
quality-related data from markets worldwide in a timely fashion.

Prompt and Accurate Response to Customer
Inquiries
In Japan, Sysmex Corporation maintains a Customer Support
Center, where experienced staﬀ members with expert knowledge
cater to customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (separate
agreement required).
By creating a database containing maintenance histories
and the details of past inquiries from customers to ensure
quick reference, the center responds to inquiries and requests
both quickly and carefully. We also maintain customer service
contacts at our regional headquarters in the four regions
outside of Japan (the Americas, Europe, China and theAsia-Paciﬁc region).

For Accurate In-Vitro Diagnostics, Which is
Indispensible to Treatment
Sysmex is expanding support structures and facilities to ensurestable product supplies. In ﬁscal 2011, we upgraded and madeadditions to the Ono Factory of Sysmex International Reagents,
expanding capacity. By expanding the production area we haveincreased the factory’s production capacity to 1.5 times its
previous level. We are also moving forward with revising thematerials procurement process as part of our disaster response.
We are also expanding reagent production facility in Jinan
to meet rapidly growing demand in China. The new facilities
are scheduled to commence operation during 2012.

Holding Scientiﬁc Seminars for Clinical
Professionals
Sysmex keeps clinical professionals updated on scientiﬁc
information by sponsoring seminars and study sessions for
doctors, nurses, and medical technologists. In June 2011, nine
venues, including the main sites in Kobe, Tokyo, Sendai andFukuoka and ﬁve satellite sites, were linked by satellite relay
in conducting the 34th Sysmex Scientiﬁc Seminar under thetheme of “Cancer Genomes and Epigenomes: The future of
testing at the genome level”.
We are also active in holding seminars overseas, including in
Asia. In ﬁscal 2011, we held seminars in Indonesia, China and Taiwan.

Inquiries to the Customer Support Center
Complaints
0.2%

Consultations on data
3.5%
Inquiries on operatingprocedures
5.0%
Inquiries on quality
control
4.0%

Others10.4%

Total forﬁscal 2011:

94,584Inquiries on products
7.2%

Requests forrepairs /maintenance
69.7%

For Highly Reliable Testing DataAt hospitals and other healthcare facilities, instrument
precision is controlled to maintain consistent testing datareliability. In most cases, instrument precision is checked bycomparing the measurement results of special reagents known
as “control samples.” Sysmex Corporation supports precisioncontrol by providing control samples.
In addition, customer instruments are connected to theCustomer Support Center via our online Sysmex Network
Communication Systems (SNCS). Measured values of control
samples sent via the SNCS from customer instruments arereceived by the Customer Support Center, which checks forabnormalities and returns the analysis results to the customer.
The SNCS also helps customers to prevent instrument failure
by detecting signs of problems even before customers havebecome aware of them.

Sysmex Scientific Seminar in China

Publication of Sysmex Journal International and
Picture Books Explaining Diseases and Testing
We distribute Sysmex Journal International to healthcare facilities
and college libraries in more than 100 countries around theworld, thus keeping many clinical professionals updated on
current clinical medicine and medical testing.
Sysmex compiles educational picture books on diseases
and testing, which we distribute to clinics and other healthcare
facilities to keep in their waiting rooms. Introducing thecharacteristics of diseases andprocedures of healthcare
testing and treatment inan easy-to-understandway, the picture books
present stories that hold theinterest of children andother readers who may lack
Picture books fordisease and testing education and awarenessmedical knowledge.

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201212

Acquiring a Next-Generation Accreditation MarkWith Our Employees

In ﬁscal 2011, Sysmex Corporation
received the next-generation
accreditation mark (nicknamed“Kurumin”) from the Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare for its planned
implementation of systems to support
a balance for employees between workand family life.

Equitably Evaluating Personnel Based on Abilities
and Accomplishments
Sysmex Corporation values the spirit of independence andchallenge, provides employees with opportunities for self-fulﬁllment
and growth, and rewards them for their accomplishments.
Based on the principle of fair treatment, Sysmex’s basic
approach on evaluation is to “reward employees for capabilities
that contribute to the enhancement of corporate value as well
as for producing accomplishments.” In addition to evaluating
employees for their successes, we evaluate the processes leading toemployee growth (competency evaluations). To ensure the fairness
and elicit employee understanding of their evaluations, we show
employees their evaluation results, as well as superiors’ comments.

Next-generation accreditation
mark, “Kurumin”

Focus on Developing Global Human Resources
In human resources, Sysmex focuses on two areas related toskills/education and motivation enhancement: enhancing
management ability, business knowledge and skills throughcontinuous training and education, and developing personnel
capable of performing in the global arena.
In ﬁscal 2011, we introduced the Global Apprentice
Program at overseas Group companies for younger employees.
This program targets high-potential employees 35 and younger,
and seeks to train personnel who can prevail in the global
business arena by oﬀering opportunities to gain overseas
work experience at an early stage of career development.

Supporting Employees in Striking a Balance
between Work and Family
Sysmex Corporation oﬀers a variety of childcare leave andshortened working hour systems to ensure that parents can spend
as much time together with their children as possible. To further
support employees’ childrearing, we have introduced a systemthat allows employees to take reserve paid leave days whennecessary to attend to sick children. In ﬁscal 2011, we extended
the period of applicability of this program, which formerly applied
to children prior to entering elementary school, to children prior
to entering junior high school.
Sysmex Corporation has opened the “Sysmex Kids Park,”
an in-house daycare center, at Technopark, our core R&D facility.
The center takes care of employees’ infant children while they
are at work.

Left) Shino Kurisu of the Business Management (Japan) Division (Dispatched to
local subsidiary in Germany through the Global Apprentice Program)Employing Seniors, and Hiring Contract Employees
and Temporary Employees as Full-Time Employees
Sysmex Corporation’s mandatory retirement age is 60, but we havein place a system for rehiring until age 65 people who have retired
at the mandatory retirement age and still wish to work. During ﬁscal
2011, we rehired according to internal rules all nine employees who
had retired at the mandatory age but wished to continue working.
We also actively seek to hire temporary and part-time employees
as full-timers. In ﬁscal 2011 a total of 23 contract employees andtemporary employees were brought on as full-time employees.

In-house daycare center, Sysmex Kids Park

Users of Work and Family Support Systems (As of March 31, 2012)
System13

Description

Number of Users

Shorter work hour system forchild rearing

Until the end of third grade of elementary school

26 users

Leave of absence system(childcare leave, childbearing leave)

Child nursing leave prescribed by law, available after one year of age andup to two years

43 users

Reserved paid leave system

Reserved leave with pay for up to 10 days of annual paid vacation fromprevious years can be taken for child nursing leave or short-term nursing leave.

5 users

Reemployment system

System to reemploy people who previously left the Company for childcare
or nursing-related reasons

0 users, 9 people registered

In-house daycare system

Daycare center provides care for infants and children up to entry intoelementary school, which is available for full-time or temporary childcare.

26 children

Sysmex Sustainability Report 2012

CSR Performance Report

Promoting Employment of People with Disabilities
Sysmex Corporation encourages the employment of people withdisabilities. Targeting long-term employment, we design working
conditions so as to maximize individuals’ aptitudes and skills.
As of January 2012, our employment ratio of people withdisabilities was 1.99%, exceeding the legally stipulated 1.8%.
We will continue reinforcing our eﬀorts in this area, targetingan employment ratio of 2.0%.

With Our Business Partners
Purchasing Policy Brieﬁng
The annual Purchasing Policy Brieﬁng is an opportunity for us
to meet with suppliers and brief them on the course of ourbusiness and purchasing policy, thereby forging even stronger
relationships with them.
The brieﬁng in February 2012 was attended by 397 people
from 225 companies. We described to participants our businessactivities, purchasing policies for the ﬁscal year. Throughout
the year, we also awarded ﬁve suppliers whose cooperation wasparticularly helpful in heightening the competitiveness andreliability of our products, as well as their stable supply.

We also hold informal meetings every year to deepen
conversations with shareholders. In ﬁscal 2011, with the objectiveof facilitating a better understanding of our activities, we
exhibited the XN-Series and introduced facilities using our
products in addition to a panel display explaining Sysmex social
contribution activities.
At the same time, for shareholders who ﬁnd it diﬃcult toattend shareholder meetings, we use mail and the Internet tofacilitate the exercise of voting rights.
Furthermore, we contribute to the readability of convocation
and resolution notices. We also prepare English-language versions
for overseas shareholders. In ﬁscal 2011, we printed a color
convocation notice and posted the same information on our
corporate website.

Further Enhancing Information Disclosure
Sysmex makes it a rule to disclose any information that we
believe will aﬀect investment decisions in light of our own
standards, as well as to observe applicable laws and regulations
concerning securities trading and the Rules on Timely Disclosureof Corporate Information by the Issuer of Listed Security andthe Like established by the Stock Exchange.
In addition to biannual brieﬁngs on ﬁnancial results (after
year-end and after the second quarter), since the third quarterof ﬁscal 2011 Sysmex has held a conference call following theannouncement of business results in the ﬁrst and third quarters
in an eﬀort to further enhance information disclosure.

Active Approach to Direct Dialog
Sysmex creates a great number of opportunities for direct
dialog with investors so as to explain our management
policies and business strategies.

Main Dialogue Achievements in Fiscal 2011
Purchasing Policy Briefing

Strictly Observing the Act against Delay in Payment
of Subcontract Proceeds, Etc., to Subcontractors
In order to comply with the Act against Delay in Payment of
Subcontract Proceeds, Etc., to Subcontractors, Sysmex provides
education through companywide e-learning. In addition, we
have established an electronic purchasing system to prevent
unreasonable payment reductions and refunds. Each year, we
also provide training on the system. In ﬁscal 2011, 63 people
underwent this training, including new employees assigned to
R&D departments.

• Conducted informal meeting after general shareholders meeting(Sysmex Corporation)• Conducted individual interviews with over 300 domestic andforeign institutional investors and analysts (Sysmex Corporation)• In October 2011, conducted tour of R&D core Technopark for individual
investors (Sysmex Corporation)• In January 2012, held informational meeting for individual investors at
Kobe Portopia Hall for 515 individual investors (Sysmex Corporation)

With Our Shareholders and Investors
General Meeting and Informal Meetings
for Shareholders
Valuing opportunities for direct dialogue with our shareholders,
we make an eﬀort to encourage the participation of as many
shareholders as possible at the General Meeting of Shareholders.

Investor briefing

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201214

Technopark Festa: A Community Event

With Our Local Communities
Japan
Funding of University Courses
Since ﬁscal 2004, Sysmex has contributed funds to a course at
the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine. The course,
entitled “Assessment of Clinical Testing (Sysmex)”, involves basic
and clinical research for the scientiﬁc determination of theeﬃcacy of clinical testing, such as new testing methods, the use of
biomarkers and laboratory diagnosis evaluation, in a clinical setting.
Sysmex also seeks to invigorate educational and research
activities at local universities, and contributed funds toward
the construction of a hall at the Kobe University School of
Medicine. The university has named one part of the facility“Sysmex Hall” in appreciation of the Company’s funding support.

Endorsing “Pink Ribbon” to Support
Breast Cancer Patients

Photo 1Since 2004, Sysmex has continuously supported the Pink
Ribbon Campaign, which promotes the early detection andtreatment of breast cancer, by sponsoring symposiums andthrough other activities. In 2011 we participated in the “Smile
Walk” held in Kobe.

Sysmex Corporation holds Technopark Festa, inviting community
residents to visit the Technopark R&D Center every year.
Technopark Festa aims to strengthen our relationship with thelocal community.
More than 500 people attended the Technopark Festa in
November 2011, at which we provided lectures and facility tours.
We also opened the Japanese garden at Technopark to the
public in April, and had about 400 visitors.

The Americas
Supporting Local High School Students
Sysmex America is working with a local NPO to provide advisors
and ﬁnancial support for students at three Chicago public highschools. These eﬀorts have received high marks, and in ﬁscal 2011
Sysmex America was awarded Honor Roll status by the Centerfor Companies That Care for its local community contributions
and outstanding workplace practices for four consecutive years
since 2008.

Photo 4

Sysmex Reference Counter provided free of charge on loan to
the Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing in China

Photo 3

Photo 5

Reagent manufacturing (packaging by workers with disabilities)

Tree-planting (Indonesia)

15

Sysmex Sustainability Report 2012

CSR Performance Report

Ongoing Participation in an Philanthropic
Photo 2
Event for the Elimination of Cancer
Sysmex America has continued to participate in fundraising
events for the elimination of cancer since ﬁscal 2009. In ﬁscal
2011, Sysmex America sponsored charity events for theAmerican Cancer Society, the American Heart Associationand the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

EuropeContracting out Work to Organizations
Supporting People with Disabilities

blood cell counting in China. The BIMT handles the registrationof medical devices under the State Food and Drug Administration(SFDA), and this is the ﬁrst time the reference counter has been
employed.
The adoption of the Sysmex Reference Counter provides abasis for further eﬀorts toward more precision in blood cellcounting and further standardization of testing by registered
testing organs aﬃliated with the SFDA.

Asia-PacificPhoto 3

Sysmex Europe and Sysmex Deutschland contract out work
such as materials selection and carton stacking to organizations
that aid the physically-challenged in becoming more self-reliant.
These organizations dispatch workers with disabilities to Sysmex’s
manufacturing line.

China
Sysmex Reference Counter for Blood Cell Counting
Contributes to Testing Standardization Photo 4

Tree-Planting throughout the Region

Photo 5

Sysmex employees throughout the Asia-Paciﬁc region havejoined to create the Greener Sysmex Team, with the goal of
making Sysmex a more environmentally friendly company. In
ﬁscal 2011, the team was active in tree-planting and greening
projects in each region.
Mangrove planting was undertaken by Sysmex Thailand
in April 2011 and by Sysmex Malaysia in November 2011. Sysmex
Philippines also conducted tree-planting in May 2011, while
Sysmex Indonesia did so in February 2012.

The Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing (BIMT) selected
the Sysmex Reference Counter as the national standard for

Photo 2

Photo 1

Presentation of charity funds(Georgia Branch of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)

Pink Ribbon Smile Walk (Kobe)

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201216

The Environment
Sysmex Group Environmental Action Plan
(Sysmex Eco-Vision 2020)
In ﬁscal 2010, Sysmex formulated the Sysmex Group
Environmental Action Plan (Sysmex Eco-Vision 2020).
We are working to reduce our environmental impact toachieve these long-term environmental objectives.

By making changes such as these, in ﬁscal 2011 we succeededin reducing CO2 emissions from transportation to overseas
destinations by 19% year on year.

CO2 Emissions for Logistics(t-CO2)

Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Business Oﬃces(t-CO2/¥100 million)
12.0

10.35
8.69

18,00012,0006,000

12,61912,910

4,488

4,440

8,131

0

8,470

2009
Japan

2010
Overseas

11,711
4,516
7,195
201 1

9.0

1,256

1.2

0

2009

2010

CO2 emissions

0
2011 (Fiscal year)

Per unit of sales

Effective Use of Resources andWaste Reduction
Reducing Waste at Business Oﬃces
In ﬁscal 2011, we conducted a review of the suppliers who
process the waste generated by Technopark and the Seishin
Factory of Sysmex International Reagents, with the aim ofraising recycling ratios.
We continued to promote the use of garbage disposers at
facilities that produce large amounts of raw garbage and wasteoil, such as employee cafeterias. In ﬁscal 2011, we installed agarbage disposer at theOno Factory of Sysmex
International Reagents.
Owing to renovations atbusiness oﬃces, however,total waste emitted inﬁscal 2011 was up 3% year
Garbage disposeron year per unit of sales.

6.0

Total Volume of Waste Emissions at Business Oﬃces

3.0

(t)

(t/¥100 million)

2,000(Fiscal year)

0.74

1,500

Per unit of sales

We are also promoting eﬀorts to reduce CO2 emissions fromlogistics processes. For logistics operations in Japan, during theyear we consolidated our logistics centers and revisedtransportation routes to make them more eﬃcient. As a result,CO2 emissions from transportation within Japan were down
8% in ﬁscal 201 1, compared with the previous ﬁscal year.
To reduce emissions resulting from the export from Japanto overseas regions, whereas in the past we transported
instruments from Japan to Indonesia by air, we shifted
transportation of approximately 90% of these exports to ship.

1.00

0.83

0

Reducing CO2 Emissions for Logistics

Sysmex Sustainability Report 2012

1.8

0.6

1,000

17

1,369

1,344

1.54

700

We are promoting various measures at each site, in order toreduce greenhouse gas emissions at our business oﬃces. As aresult, in ﬁscal 2011 greenhouse gas emissions per unit of sales
were 16% lower than in the previous ﬁscal year.
At our factories in Japan, we are working on various measures
to bolster production eﬃciency, such as by conserving energy
at production facilities. At all our business oﬃces, including
our factories, we haveintroduced thoroughtemperature controls,
aﬃxed insulating
sheets, and assiduously
reduced unnecessary
lighting. Energy
conservation measures
are designed according to Introduction of electric power monitor at
Technopark to determine status of electricity
each site characteristics. use throughout the facility

10.83

1.84

2,100

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Business Oﬃces

24,000

2.4

2.05

1,400

Global Warming Countermeasures(t-CO2)(t-CO2/¥100 million)

2,800

500
0
Japan

969
170

917
195

799
2009
Overseas

0.76
0.75
1,025
262

0.50

722

764

0.25

2010

2011

(Fiscal year)0

Per unit of sales

Effective Use of Water Resources
Reducing Water Usage and Processing Wastewater
Appropriately at Business Oﬃces
Sysmex is working to reduce the amount of water it uses throughsuch eﬀorts as increasing the eﬃciency of water purifying

CSR Performance Report

Activities at Overseas Bases
Renewable Energy Use (Germany)

Eco-Friendly Factory (China)

At Sysmex Europe, the Neumünster Factory’s installation of aphotovoltaic system reduced overall power consumption at all
factories in fiscal
2011 by around25%, or 110,000
kWh. The company
has also switchedelectric power
providers, using
only suppliers thatgenerate powerfrom renewable
Photovoltaic system installed at the Neumünster
resources.
Factory

Sysmex Jinan is building an eco-friendly factory, including(without limitation) greenery on its roof (scheduled to commence
operations in 2012).

equipment. However, as production volumes are increasing—notably for the production of reagents overseas—water use inﬁscal 2011 per unit of sales was up 2% year on year.
In addition, we upgraded
the wastewater processing
system at our Kakogawa
Factory to augment facility
operation eﬃciency and boost
safety. This system measuresbiochemical oxygen demand(BOD)—an indicator of waterpollution—in real time, helping toensure that we control equipment
appropriately to keep wastewater
Wastewater processing system
above required standards.

Water Consumption at Business Oﬃces(thousand m3)
227.2
400
300

230.7
288

264

200
100
0
Japan

234.6
316
157

1 17

137

147

150

159

2009

2010

2011

Overseas(t/¥100 million)
240

Water Recycling (India)
At Sysmex India, all factory wastewater is reused at green spaces
within the factory area, and thus the company is working to reduce
the amount of water it consumes.

Acquisition of ISO 14001 Certification(Germany, Singapore, India)
Sysmex Europe, Sysmex Asia Pacific and Sysmex India have acquired
ISO 14001 certification. Sysmex Wuxi and Sysmex Jinan are also
pursuing initiatives toward this end.

To meet the stipulations of the revised RoHS Directive, Sysmex
is adjusting its design and production processes for products
shipped to Europe.

* RoHS Directive: A directive prohibiting the use of hazardous substances inelectrical and electronic devices sold in the European Union. This directive calls
for the cessation of use of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalentchromium) and specified bromine-containing flame retardants (PBB and PBDE).

OthersHelping Suppliers Build an Environmental
Management System
Sysmex encourages its suppliers to acquire ISO 14001 certiﬁcationor build other environmental management systems recommended
by local administrations. As of March 31, 2012, 64 of our 84 main
suppliers had received ISO 14001 or a simpliﬁed version ofenvironmental management system certiﬁcation.
Furthermore, in ﬁscal 2011 we conducted a survey of 220
suppliers to determine their environmental management system
response status and environmental preservation initiatives.
We conﬁrmed that no major environmental issues had arisen.

180
120
60
0

(Fiscal year)

Per unit of sales

Reducing the Use of Substances withEnvironmental Impact
Conforming with Regulations
Application of the revised RoHS Directive*, which went into
eﬀect in July 2011, to Sysmex’s products begins in July 2014 forscientiﬁc measurement instruments and from July 2016 fordiagnostic instruments and diagnostic instruments for animals.

Establishing Eco-Friendly Production Methods for
the Raw Materials Used in Diagnostic Reagents
Sysmex has established a method of producing from silkworms theproteins used as raw materials in certain of its diagnostic reagents.
In the past, proteins were cultivated in computer-controlledtanks, using cells derived from mammals; the new approach reduces
energy consumption
substantially. As silkworms
can be cultivated at room
temperature, simply using
shelves and breeding
containers and providingthem with food, we
anticipate energy savings
and waste reduction.
Silkworms to produce proteins

Sysmex Sustainability Report 201218

1-5-1 Wakinohama-Kaigandori,Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0073, Japan
A portion of the printing costs for this printing paper
is donated to the “Japanese Red Cross Society”.

For environmental consideration, vegetable oil ink and awaterless printing method were used to produce this brochure.