Commitment by Top Management

Commitment by Top Management

Despite the changing economic conditions
our responsibilities remain the same:
contributing to the environment throughinnovation and achieving growth.

4Chairman & CEOPresident

Tokyo Electron Limited

Tokyo Electron Limited

Tokyo Electron’s mission remains unchanged

Higashi: The TEL Missions were announced in 2008, buteven amid the economic crisis.

around January and February there were already signs theHigashi: I feel that there is already a global drive towards

economy was faltering. At such a time, it seems like anachieving sustainable societies that are environmentally

extremely important move on the part of Tokyo Electron toconsiderate and make use of energy-saving products.

have demonstrated, both to its employees and those outside

The current financial crisis appears to have revealed a riftof the Group, that it would take the lead in proceeding with

between the direction that the real economy is aiming for

its commitments from a long-term perspective.

and the direction that the finance-driven economy has been

Takenaka: It is extremely significant that the Group’s seniortaking.

management explicitly formulated a clear policy regarding

Takenaka: Up to now, Tokyo Electron has enjoyed continued

the TEL Missions; and experiencing the current economic

growth as the result of the growth in the real economy,crisis allows me to again sense the importance andregardless of the state of the financial economy, but theimmensity of those missions.

current economic crisis has really had an impact on us.

Higashi: The Group’s culture has always been one of

Despite this, I believe that nothing has changed with

understanding society’s needs and issues and then taking therespect to our responsibility, or mission, to enhance thenecessary action.

social infrastructure and contribute to finding solutions toTakenaka: I think that the Group’s approach of listening

environmental issues so that society can develop in a healthy

to people’s opinions and directly pursuing what it feelsdirection.

is needed is something that has been passed down in its

TOKYO ELECTRON Environmental and Social Report 2009

they are moving beyond the realms of “convenience” andwith a sense of mission, feeling pride in the contributions“entertainment” to become an integral part of people’s lives

that they make to society from a long-term perspective. I(in devices related to security, medical equipment, and sobelieve that it is vital, in my own case as well, to thoroughlyon), we need to become better aware of how our roles relateinternalize this corporate culture.

to society.

We will play a leadership role in society throughIn our business we will strive to achieve a

our energy-saving technologies.

sustainable society by reducing environmental

Takenaka: When I entered the company some 25 years ago,

impact at manufacturing plants and producing PV

I never thought, that the use of semiconductors would growproduction equipment.

to the extent that it has. Semiconductors are employed in

Higashi: We have established the objective of developinga variety of different goods that support modern lifestyles,

equipment capable of halving the total environmental

including everything from PCs, mobile phones, home

impact at our customers’ factories scheduled for completion

electronics and automobiles to the social infrastructure.

by 2015 or later, as part of the medium- to long-term

In the future, there is no question that there will be anenvironmental goals in the TEL Missions. Since about 80%

increasing demand for semiconductors in the highlyof the total environmental impact of our products over

populated emerging countries.

the course of their entire lifecycle is generated when theHigashi: In emerging countries we can also apply energy-products are used at our customers’ factories, we believesaving technologies and alternative energy technologies,that the greatest contribution that we can make is to reducesuch as photovoltaic (PV) cells. I’m certain that we canimpact in that area.

contribute to economic growth in such nations, while limiting

Takenaka: In the future, we must formulate a more

the burden on the environment by energetically advancing

specific roadmap and numerical targets. We also intend

technological innovation. I feel that this will lead to balanced

to actively make new proposals in collaboration with parts

development for the entire planet; and that we are capable ofmanufacturers and other business partners to reduce theproviding society with value by displaying our strengths inenvironmental impact at all of our customers’ factories,

such areas.

as part of our after-service support for purchasers of ourTakenaka: Whether in hybrid vehicles or sensor-operated

equipment.

power management systems, semiconductors have been

Higashi: Regarding the PV cell field that we entered in 2008,

incorporated into products to enrich people’s lives. And

there’s still a great deal of scope for technological innovation

when seeking to introduce such technologies in emerging

in terms of conversion efficiency and other factors.

countries, I think that it will be possible to develop them from

Takenaka: Photovoltaic power generation is certain

the outset as environmentally-considerate products. I believe

to become part of the social infrastructure one day.

that by taking the lead as an equipment manufacturer we canTechnological innovation is essential for establishing PV

expect to further develop our technologies for manufacturing

production equipment as the core of a new business, and wesemiconductors and our future direction. In the sense ofwill still need to accumulate knowledge and expertise.

addressing social issues through business activities, I feel

Higashi: As for how we will be able to incorporate socialthat our role in society is growing ever more important.

contribution activities into our operations when creating theHigashi: Moving ahead, we must join with our customers insociety of tomorrow, the energy-saving products and PV

considering the future. Within the company, I think that thecells that we are currently developing are perfectly suited toawareness of this responsibility is increasing.

this task. This is really interesting, I think.

Takenaka: As with PV cells, the use of semiconductors isTakenaka: We need to open up our future path through ourexpanding more and more, to include the fields of social

own efforts. I would like for us to take the lead in achieving

contribution and safety. Up to now, semiconductors havegrowth by finding solutions to environmental issues throughmainly been used in PCs and mobile phones, but now thatvarious types of innovation.

TOKYO ELECTRON Environmental and Social Report 2009

Commitment by Top Management

corporate DNA. Both management and employees work5