Revival of Matsushita
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Case Code: BSTR101 Case Length: 11 Pages Period: 2000 - 2004 Pub Date: 2004 Teaching Note: Available |
Price: Rs.300 Organization: Matshushita Electronics Industry: Consumer Electronics Countries : Japan Themes: Corporate Restructuring |
Abstract Case Intro 1 Case Intro 2 Excerpts
Background Note
In 1918, at the age of 23, Konosuke Matsushita (Konosuke) started 'Matsushita Electric Devices Manufacturing Works' with the aim of manufacturing electrical components that he had designed. The company was started in Osaka, Japan, in a rented two-storey apartment with a starting capital of less than ¥100. The innovative products, improved attachment plug and double cluster socket, soon became popular because of their high quality and low prices. By 1927, the company became popular with its reliable and low-priced products such as the 'bullet-shaped battery powered bicycle light', 'super electric iron' and '3-tube radio.' All these products were marketed under the brand name 'National'. Konosuke soon realized the potential of export business and in 1932, started an Export Trading Department. The same year he gave a mission statement to the company, which was followed for many years. By 1933, the company was producing more than 200 products.
The company was divided into three corporate divisions : Radio; Lamps and dry Batteries; and Wiring devices, synthetic resins and electro thermal products. In 1935, Matsushita Electric Trading Company was established to devote more attention to the overseas business. In the same year, the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (Matsushita) was incorporated and Konosuke became president of the company. In 1938, Matsushita established an Import Department to import the raw materials needed for electrical goods production. During the same time, it decided to venture outside Japan. In 1939, it started its first overseas factory at Shanghai, China, to produce dry batteries for communication equipment. In the same year, World War II began. Matsushita manufactured products like wireless equipment and vacuum tubes for communication. These products were popular because of their utility. Matsushita also manufactured military vessels and aircraft during the war...
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