Hitachi Metals inspected fraudulently rewriting numerical values such as automobile parts and uninspected shipment April 27 21:14
A major metal maker, "Hitachi Metals," has revealed that some products used in automobiles and electrical products were fraudulent, such as rewriting numbers with documents that guarantee quality. We have a total of about 170 companies that deliver products, but at the moment we do not report any safety issues.
According to Hitachi Metals' announcement, special steel used for automobile parts, magnet products used for electric products and motors for robots, etc. can be rewritten in order to guarantee quality and to rewrite the numerical values in the required documents. It means that there were fraudulent shipments without inspection.
As a result of investigating by receiving anonymous information this January, fraud has been occurring for at least 10 years or more, and several employees including managers were involved.
The total number of customers is 170, but Hitachi Metals has submitted the correct documents to customers, and at this time there are no reports of product safety issues.
“We are very sorry for the great inconvenience caused to many people,” said Hitachi Metals Chairman Mitsuaki Nishiyama, who had a telephone interview.
The company has set up an investigation committee formed by an outside lawyer to quickly investigate the cause and consider internal disposal.