A lesson in global competitiveness

Any company wondering how to compete globally can learn a lot from NMB Corp. and its Japanese parent, Minebea Co., Ltd. The well-known manufacturer of high-precision mechanical and electromechanical components, with facilities on three continents, offers a great example of how concern for employees and the environment can lead to high-quality products, healthy sales, and a loyal work force. For example, here are just a few of the innovations at the Minebea operations in Thailand, where NMB produces bearings, motors, disc drives, and computer keyboards:

The vertical integration cuts man- ufacturing costs and delivery times, while the green manufacturing practices not only help improve quality of life for the company's neighbors, but also ensure clean water for washing the bearings that roll off the assembly lines. Further, both Thailand and Singapore have local-citizen factory managers and local citizens on their boards.

The payback is impressive. The ISO 9002-certified bearings operation, for example, is currently shipping about 120 million bearings a month.

Underlying this success is a simple tenet NMB and Minebea hold dear: cause no disturbance to the environment and contribute to the development of Thai society. "You are on someone else's soil," says Sarah deRosier, marketing administrator for NMB. Adds Chuck Carlson, marketing/administrative manager, "you have to keep asking yourself what you are doing for the people."

No rocket science there, just plain old common sense and good citizenship. It pays off handsomely for NMB Corp., and can for all manufacturing companies.