Solid Gold@50: PMPC celebrates Golden Anniversary
Crowning five decades of being a global leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and consumer electronics solutions, Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC) proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Philippine mark
The celebrations marks exactly 50 years after the joint venture agreement between Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (MEI) of Japan, which is now Panasonic Corporation, and Precision Electronics Corporation (PEC), now known as PMPC.
A BETTER LIFE, A BETTER WORLD
For fifty years now, Panasonic has continuously been introducing new technology to make the consumer’s daily life much easier while elevating the lifestyle of the product users — “A Better Life, A Better World” for each individual customer. This is part of the company’s plans and many innovations that aligns with its commitment to create a better life and a better world, contributing to the evolution of society and the happiness of the people.
PMPC VP for Sales and Marketing Masaru Toyota expresses his congratulations for this monumental milestone in the company’s history. “The celebration of our 50th anniversary is not of a festivity, but more of a solemn reflection and re-confirmation of our corporate mission to serve society and improve the well-being of people. The products of PMPC are of Japan Quality that are Made in the Philippines. Our company is privileged to have this powerful combination of uncompromising technology, ingenuity, and service through the years.”
Panasonic Executive Officer, Panasonic Appliance Asia Pacific (PAPAP) Managing Director and VP for Appliances Company Hiroyuki Tagishi also agrees. “Fifty years is indeed a milestone… and it is a significant occasion to celebrate it as an opportunity for all the members of PMPC Family to look back and reflect, and eventually draw its exciting journey towards a better and rewarding future. The Philippines is always an important component of our Panasonic business operation in the region. PMPC for instance, along with the integrity it has established for the past 50 years has contributed much in gaining loyal customers and Panasonic fans.”
PMPC President Shinichi Hayashi reiterate the commitment for a better world and better life — the secret that has made Panasonic a superior brand through the decades. “Panasonic remains strong in the Philippines because we never do something for the sake of basic functionality. It has to be excellent. It has to be innovative. It has to serve its purpose and over-all, improve the life of consumers. We have always provided exceptional quality and technology to our customers but it will not be possible without our people. Our people is our greatest asset. This has been the absolute truth since PMPC started.”
THE BEGINNING
On September 14, 1967, MEI (led then by Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita) and PEC (led then by Jesus V. Del Rosario of Precision Electronics) formalized their collaboration with the signing of the joint venture agreement.
Shortly after signing the joint venture, the first television set in the Philippines came out of its assembly lines. In the succeeding years, PMPC started to manufacture audio equipment, kitchen appliances, and other products.
It was able to produce many firsts in the country: including the first National television set, the first single-tub washing machine, the first non-CFC refrigerator, the first non-mercury added batteries, and recently, the first direct cool inverter refrigerator.
STAYING AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION
Though the consumer electronics industry is competitive in nature, PMPC has managed to remain in its top spot as an industry leader. For the 2016 fiscal year, it posted record-high sales of P10 billion — marking more than 10 percent of the industry growth and increase the market share — a testament to the brand’s unwavering strong presence in the country.
“The Philippines is always an important component of our Panasonic business operation in the region. For two consecutive years now, our Panasonic Appliances Asia Pacific business managed to attain a double digit growth in our VIPs (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines), and we owe this to all our customers,” states Tagishi.
“We all know that the world is changing and the market is changing; and that means constant adaptation to the changing world. As we create stronger connections with our customers, we will do our very best to meet if not exceed their expectations,” exclaims Toyota.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS
Today, the manufacturing lines of PMPC in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna produce refrigerators, electric fans, washing machines, and air-conditioners of outstanding Japan Quality. It is a part of a global network of almost 500 Panasonic companies. And next year, Panasonic Corporation (Japan) is set to mark its 100th year and hopes to strengthen merchandising and marketing strategies in Asia that will include the enhancement of premium products and strengthen the alliance with partners and dealers.
In its 50 years of operations, the decades were not always smooth sailing for PMPC. The company also had its share of challenging years. But by sticking through company values, philosophies and principles, PMPC was able to overcome and march on towards new successes. These successes will be the fuel that will drive the company forward unto new horizons, in the next 50 years.
“Revisiting our core values from time to time offers us some refreshing motivations to exert more efforts to move forward and continue to meet the challenges that will come before us,” concludes Toyota.