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Advantest President Stresses Global Perspective, Implores New Recruits To Expand Their Horizons
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TOKYO, Japan, April 5th, 2006 - In his annual address to new employees, Toshio Maruyama - president and CEO of Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857, NYSE: ATE), the world's largest provider of test equipment to the global semiconductor industry - outlined his vision of the company's future.
Referencing signs that the Japanese economy is turning towards recovery, including the bottoming out of consumer prices, the end of deflation and the announcement by The Bank of Japan that it will lift its five-year policy of quantitative easing and shift its focus back to interest rates, Mr. Maruyama noted too that the global semiconductor industry - benefiting from increased consumer demand, among other factors - is on track for a record year, according to forecasters. In addressing the new recruits to his company, Mr. Maruyama greeted these trends with optimism, but also cautioned that competition among automatic test equipment suppliers continues to intensify.
In an affirmation of traditional Japanese corporate values, Mr. Maruyama reminded employees that above all, they must cultivate flexibility and an appetite for challenge. When people seek to contribute to overall corporate goals, rather than specializing too narrowly, they are rewarded with unexpected levels of satisfaction. The Advantest work ethic teaches the importance of team spirit as a key to personal growth.
At the same time, the CEO emphasized that employees must develop the broad perspective of global professionals. Approximately 70% of Advantest's sales come from outside Japan, and the company last year announced that it has expanded its R&D activities to the United States, as well. Employees now cannot afford not to be at ease in global settings. Speaking from experience, Mr. Maruyama - who spent almost two decades representing Advantest in the USA - told the company's new recruits that confidence comes from within. To show sincere respect for the cultures and customs of other countries, they would first need to understand and respect their own Japanese identities and history.
Lastly, the CEO offered a brief meditation on Advantest's corporate mantra, Quest for the Essence. "In this turbulent industry, it's all too easy to judge by appearances. But Quest for the Essence tells us to get close to the problem, walk around it, look at it from all angles, and ask questions relentlessly. At Advantest, we have a record of solving technological problems that other people thought were insoluble. That is because we look at the origins of problems and propose solutions that aren't just quick fixes, but address the fundamental issues at stake."
This approach to the increasing technical challenges of semiconductor test lends weight to industry insiders' forecasts that Advantest will keep its No. 1 market position in fiscal 2006, and possibly increase its lead over the competition.
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Advantest Corporation is the world's leading automatic test equipment supplier to the semiconductor industry, and also produces electronic and optoelectronic instruments and systems. A global company, Advantest has long offered total ATE solutions, and serves the industry in every component of semiconductor test: tester, handler, mechanical and electrical interfaces, and software. Its logic, memory, mixed-signal and RF testers and device handlers are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest established its first subsidiary in 1982, in the USA, and now has 43 subsidiaries worldwide. Among them, Advantest America, Inc. is based in Santa Clara, CA., and Advantest (Europe) GmBH is based in Munich, Germany. More information is available at www.advantest.co.jp |
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