Most people see headquarters, branches and subsidiaries in a pyramidal relationship. Murata doesn't see them that way. Branches and subsidiaries are categorized according to their functions. Currently, Murata is comprised of over 70 subsidiaries. Each operates independently as a production, sales and R&D center. Murata interconnects them all with Murata matrix administration for dynamic cooperation. People, materials, technologies and information freely traverse this matrix. This organic and dynamic organization supports Murata's strategies.
Numerous Driving Forces in the Matrix of People, Organizations and Information
The work process axis, technological axis and functional axis all cross cach other to form numerous intersections. New ideas are born every day in this multi-dimensional matrix.
Each of the intersections is Murata and the entire matrix is Murata.
Technological innovation and low-cost operation
Because of Murata窶冱 integrated production system originating in development of materials, the process of creating a product may be lengthy. As the number of processes increases and the production process becomes complex, it is difficult to pinpoint the problem when the profit ratio is small. This is why Murata divides the organization窶冱 structure vertically by products for R&D, production and sales, and horizontally by production processes in terms of materials, in-process products and completed products to manage them as separate independent profit-seeking entities. On the other hand, to avoid the risk of more non-producing personnel, headquarters staff members support the entire Murata group beyond organizational divisions. The Murata matrix organization including the vertical axis(products), horizontal axis (processes) and the third axis (headquarters support staff), draw the maximum efficiency from the Murata group of over 70 subsidiaries to realize coexistence of technological innovation and low-cost operation.
For example, the accounting staff standardizes accounting processes and the accounting system to be applied to the group subsidiaries. We also store all accounting information on one server to centralize the accounting tasks and cut the cost.
Promoting swift administrative decision making
Murata has been promoting more rapid administrative decisions by concentrating central management functions to aggregate and share our information. To this end, we have concentrated central management functions formerly dispersed throughout various business sites in Japan, such as staff members handling Headquarters functions and business division functions, at our Headquarters. Furthermore, we are trying to speed up development and deployment of new products using global information network, by having a stronger collaboration with overseas business sites and R&D divisions.
We have strengthened organizational cooperation among global members through our high-speed digital communications network to allow information sharing.
Staff members in charge of general affairs, personnel, accounting, planning, support the activities of the Murata group through various routines.
To localize our sales activities overseas sales offices are staffed mainly with local resident employees.
Organization
