Kobe Steel probed over fake data

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TOKYO: Japan’s industrial standards inspection agency is searching offices of metals maker Kobe Steel as investigations into falsified data on its products widened.

Japan’s national broadcaster NHK and other media reported that officials from the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee were conducting two days of onsite inspections at the company.

The investigations by regulators and by automakers, aircraft manufacturers and other customers of Kobe Steel followed the company’s disclosure earlier this month that inspections data on a slew of products was faked or manipulated.

The admissions of misconduct by Kobe Steel and other manufacturers are raising worries over the impact on Japan’s image as a top quality manufacturer.

“These exceptions are extremely regrettable,” said the trade and industry minister, Hiroshige Seko. “Most manufacturers are really exerting themselves to ensure their products are of the highest quality.”

The exact extent of the problem is unclear because Kobe Steel has not identified the customers affected. It is still investigating the problem.

Seko said the government was prepared to intervene and urged the company to put priority on confirming the safety of its products.

“We want them to quickly identify the problem and put preventive measures in place,” Seko said.

Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry said it was investigating environmental impact data from Kobe Steel for a coal-fired power plant in the city of Kobe in western Japan. — AP