Sony UK Technology Centre
During a conversation in Japan between HRH Prince Charles and the Sony Founder Sir Akio Morita, a decision was made and in 1973 Sony opened its Colour Television and later it’s Cathode Ray Tube Manufacturing Factories in Bridgend, South Wales.
The facilities proved to be highly successful attaining three Queen’s Awards for Export achievement. In 1992, Sony Bridgend’s success led to the opening of a second Welsh plant at nearby Pencoed and links with the Royal family continued with the official opening of the factory by Her Majesty the Queen.
The heart of today’s operation at Pencoed is centred on the manufacture of high technology Broadcast and Professional Cameras and Camera Systems for world-wide markets. Cameras and equipment produced in Pencoed can be found in sports stadiums, in studios and outside broadcast units around the world.
With a totally focused team of highly capable people, quality is at the forefront of everything produced at Pencoed. The transition from the early days of high volume analogue mass production, to highly complex technology production has been accelerated since the introduction of camera manufacturing at Pencoed in 2000.
Sony UK Technology Centre is the only facility outside of Japan to produce High Definition Camera units, which include the latest Blue Ray Disc technology. The Pencoed team prides itself on being part of a global organisation, which produces the “Highest” definition products of the most innovative design and of the “Highest” quality and reliability.
All materials used in the processes are subjected to rigorous testing and measurement to ensure quality is “built in” upstream. When any product is deemed complete the testing continues. To support absolute compliance, Pencoed has its own EMC & Product Safety Laboratories, adding test facilities for both Sony & third party manufacturers.
Constantly expanding its range of services and products, the Pencoed Service Centre offers fast and reliable repair of both high street consumer and professional products.
In addition to the vitally important direct customer support, the on-site Technical Information Call Centre enables Sony Pencoed to get as close as possible to the end user. Innovative techniques, such as sending SMS text messages to customers with updates on their product repair progress, ensures wherever possible that market problems move from potential negative experiences to positive experiences for the customer, whilst also providing a valuable quality feedback route to the Sony Business Group, to ensure continuous improvements in market quality.
As the PlayStation markets grow, so does the need for product servicing. Sony UK Technology Centre Customer Service Centre provides a highly effective repair solution for this market, with purpose built product repair stations and highly trained operators. Further development opportunities have recently arisen for Sony UK Technology Centre’s highly skilled employees in this exciting product market area.
Since its conception, Sony in Wales has constantly developed a strong relationship with Government and the local agencies, to promote new business creation and to stimulate the local economy. The Contract Manufacturing Services Group take this philosophy further by actively encouraging entrepreneurial companies to join us in partnership, thus allowing business to grow and allowing new technology and manufacturing processes to be captured, enhancing yet further the capabilities of the staff employed at the site.
The complete business solution is available to customers from all sectors of the electronics industry. The Contract Manufacturing Services Group utilise all of the Sony UK Technology Centre’s facilities and expertise, to bring design for manufacturing services, procurement, circuit board manufacture, product assembly, product testing, logistics and after sales customer service, to company’s who wish to enter into a value adding manufacturing partnership.
Corporate & Social Responsibility
Sony in Wales has for a long time taken it’s social responsibility very seriously. Giving priority to any activities which benefit the young including disadvantaged young people.
On site we have constructed a Nature Study Environmental Centre, which is in constant use by local primary schools. Also on site we have commissioned a bespoke editing suit for “Media 4 Schools”, an organisation sponsored by Sony and using Sony camera equipment with the sole aim of teaching “Media” in both Primary and Secondary schools in the area.
Together with the Education Business Partnership (Local Education Authority) we sponsor the yearly “Sony Small Business Challenge” involving the seniors at 11 secondary schools. These activities are in addition to the numerous donations made to local charities and organisations and not least our own internal fundraising events in aid of charity in the form of raffles and competitions.
Environmental, Health & Safety and Energy Saving Commitment
The Sony operation in Wales takes the Sony Corporate Social Responsibility mission very seriously. The corporate directive requires all Sony Operations world-wide to achieve the Sony Green Management 2010 targets. The GM2010 directive lays down very specific objectives to ensure that Sony constantly reduces its impact on our environment in terms of CO2 emissions, the consumption of water, the reduction of waste generation, whilst increasing material recycling ratios. In terms of manufacturing design, all products are expected to have lower power consumption when both in use or when in standby mode.
Sony UK Technology Centre has actively tackled the question of energy saving and has pursued a high profile campaign within the company to reduce the energy that we use and reduce our carbon footprint. Throughout the site, we have challenged each area to reduce their own energy consumption levels by switching off lighting, machinery etc. that is not in use and to enable us to monitor those targets daily. We have also invested in new energy efficiency saving technology to help reduce our Electricity & Gas usage.
- New efficient compressed air compressor/dryer
- Variable Speed Drives (VSD) to ventilation fans and pumps-running a fan at 50% speed only uses 13% electrical power
- Building Energy Management system (BEMs) to efficiently monitor and control conditions
This hard work has led to a reduction in electricity usage of 25% & gas usage of 47%. It has also led to a massive carbon level reduction of 1143 metric tonnes for the site.
For our energy saving program and carbon level reduction, we were recognised within the Sony Corporation and were awarded the Helios Award 2007.
Sony has announced new initiatives in the area of long term environmental commitment, co-hosting the Climate Savers Summit 2008 with the WWF on 15th February 2008. Sony came together with 11 other international companies to sign the “Tokyo Declaration”, aimed at tackling global warming and enacting industry-wide change. This declaration sees the most far-reaching initiative by leading global companies to date, calling for action on climate change.
This initiative includes the promotion of a low-carbon lifestyle to our consumers and customers and aims to make a company’s carbon footprint more transparent by highlighting related reduction activities.
The health, safety and welfare of all company employees and the protection of the environment in harmony with advancing developments in all fields of technology is one of our basic management goals and corporate priorities compliant with EU regulatory requirements and Global Environmental Management System (GEMS).
Sony recognises the importance of preserving the natural environment that sustains all life on the earth for future generations and thereby ensuring that all humanity can attain the dream of a healthy and happy life. Sony will do this by combining ongoing innovation in environmental technology with environmentally sound business practices.
Sony aims for greater eco-efficiency in its business activities through maximizing the efficiency of nonrenewable energy and resource use and providing products and services with greater added value. Efforts will focus on reducing environmental pollution by complying with all applicable environmental regulations and reducing the environmental impact of energy and resource use on a continuing basis. Steps will also be taken to find solutions to complex environmental issues through closer cooperation and enhanced information sharing with the broad spectrum of Sony stakeholders.
To realise the Sony Group Environmental Vision, Sony has established Green Management 2010, a new set of medium-term group environmental targets to be achieved by fiscal 2010. The targets will guide the Sony Group in its efforts to help prevent global warming, to conserve resources, waste generation reduction, to ensure appropriate management of chemical substances, and to address a broad range of other complex environmental issues. Green Management 2010 encompasses general environmental indicators as well as individual targets.
People and Organisational Development
Sony UK Technology Centre has made a conscious drive to invest in unlocking the potential of it’s workforce. We have introduced a range of employee involvement initiatives that have enabled the workforce to generate ideas by thinking creatively and allows for participation in improvement projects that will help to shape the future of the organisation changing the way we think and work. In order to support this change, we have focussed on the behaviours of our people in particular our leadership group. All leaders have attended ILM courses in Leadership and Coaching techniques, which have given them new techniques to work with and a common understanding of what is expected of them in terms of behaviours. In addition to this, there have been N.V.Q. Management training and investment in higher education technical training at local universities in order to build our technical capability. This development has resulted in significant improvements in performance, innovation, training participation, customer service, work in the community and much more.
We have also developed a communication forum to allow for open dialogue between the senior management team and the workforce called ICF (Information & Consultation Forum). The forum meets regularly to discuss business related issues that affect the workforce and allows for the suggestion of ideas and develops business understanding.
Winners Wales Quality Award 2007-Leadership Prize
In December 2007, Sony UK Technology Centre won a prize for Leadership from The Wales Quality Award. The award is based on the internationally respected European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model, one of the worlds most rigorous frameworks for measuring the quality of an organisations operations.
The award enables organisations to put all aspects of their operations under the microscope, from Customer Service and Skills Development through to Financial Management, Environmental Performance and Corporate Social Responsibility.
