People-friendly manufacturing

People-friendly manufacturing has always been at the heart of Panasonic's business operation. We take pride in this tradition and make this theme a part of all our manufacturing activities.

Founder Konosuke Matsushita proclaimed in 1942 that "our fundamental commitment is to please consumers by fabricating products that incorporate an abundance of kindness, warmth, depth and fulfillment."

Since its inception, Panasonic has retained an uncompromising dedication to people-friendly manufacturing, constantly refining this principle to reflect changes in society and markets over the years. To provide the greatest possible comfort, Panasonic in the early years developed a woodworking machine specifically to make a kotatsu (electric heated table) with a rounded profile. This same devotion to the spirit of people-friendly manufacturing still pervades all of our products today. For example, our VIERA Link audio-visual networking and control system makes it easy to interconnect a television and other audio-visual equipment and use a single remote control for every device. This spirit is also evident in our tilted-drum washer/dryer, which permits a comfortable loading and unloading posture, and our Otakkusu personal facsimile machine with audio notification of names of incoming callers, a feature requested by people with impaired vision.

The spirit of people-friendly manufacturing was encapsulated in the Basic Rules for Universal Design that we established in 2003. These rules make it possible to apply the same fundamental approach to manufacturing throughout the Panasonic Group.

Our Universal Design Policy has six basic elements, including ensuring that the operation of products can be easily understood. Universal design is an essential part of our V-products, which are the nucleus of our growth strategy. We are increasingly incorporating universal design principles in all other Panasonic products, too.

Two types of research are essential to creating universal design products. First is "human research," which studies the characteristics and behavior of people. Second is "lifestyle research," which studies needs involving our daily activities where improvements are required. We want to know how to lower stress associated with using a product and have consumers feel that a product perfectly fits their needs. We believe the ultimate goal of universal design is the creation of products that can be operated with ease and convenience by our customers, regardless of how each individual uses our products.

Our "human lifestyle research" seeks to accomplish this goal. Knowledge gained from this research is incorporated in the universal design rules and design standards used by the entire Panasonic Group. We use these rules and standards to conceive and design new products as well as to develop technologies for universal design functions.

Universal Design Policy

Panasonic will use products and services to express its dedication to meeting the needs of everyone with the aim of making our lives more enjoyable, comfortable and fulfilling.

The six basic elements of universal design

1. 1.Easy-to-understand operation
2. 2.Uncomplicated displays and indicators
3. 3.Natural posture and ease of movement
4. 4.Space to support easy access
5. 5.Peace of mind and security
6. 6.Consideration of how product is used and maintained

Panasonic's Universal Design Policy has six elements to provide specific guidelines for applying this concept to products, instruction manuals, packaging and catalogs. When creating a new product, we take the customer's viewpoint at every step, starting with conception and development. Our objective is to improve all aspects of satisfaction, including a product's ease of operation, efficiency, comfort and convenience. This program was extended to include joint effort with Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Electric Works) in fiscal 2006 and PanaHome Corporation in fiscal 2008. Currently, the universal design system is being promoted on a group-wide level.