Nidec confirms 844 manufacturing process irregularities, president apologizes

Japanese motor manufacturer Nidec has confirmed 844 instances of unauthorized and improper alterations to its manufacturing processes. The company released findings today from an investigation committee, revealing serious quality issues and irregularities that date back to 2012.

The report indicates that over 90 percent of the cases involved unauthorized changes to components and manufacturing procedures without customer consent. Furthermore, falsification and tampering of test and inspection results were identified. Six cases have been classified as major irregularities, involving Nidec's senior management and site managers, and potentially violating laws.

Company president Mitsuya Kishida issued an apology during a press conference. He emphasized that product safety has not been compromised and stated that no recalls are planned at this time. The report attributes the irregularities to the company's rapid expansion through mergers and acquisitions without commensurate improvements to its management systems, pressure to meet short-term performance targets and cost reductions, and insufficient resources allocated to quality assurance.

Nidec is a major global supplier of electric motors and other components, serving industries such as automotive, electronics, and industrial equipment. The scale and nature of these confirmed irregularities raise significant questions about the company's internal controls and quality management frameworks.