Business Continuity Initiatives

This page introduces the measures taken by the Risk Management Group in dealing with disasters and incidents.
Please refer to Supply Chain Management for information on our efforts to address parts procurement risks.

Systems for Disasters and Other Emergency Situations(Risk Management Group)

In December 2001, Advantest established the Risk Management Group, wherein the president assumes the position of general manager. In the event any of the following crises occurs, the Risk Management Group will centralize collection of information, conduct an initial assessment, direct the initial response, implement planning for recovery, etc., by acting promptly and appropriately until recovery is complete:

  1. If damage is caused to buildings or facilities, or if networks and systems stop functioning, thereby making it difficult to continue our business operations, or if there is the possibility of this type of situation occurring due to a disaster or accident;
  2. If our executives or employees are in danger or possibility of danger of death or bodily injury due to a disaster or accident;
  3. If there is a scandal or incident that may to become a matter of public concern; or,
  4. In addition to those described above, if there is any event, which may cause a significant impact on the business of the Advantest Group due to a disaster or accident.

Business Continuity Plan

The Advantest Group established the following basic policy in fiscal 2007 for large-scale natural disasters. We have devised our business continuity plan based on this policy.

Business Continuity Plan (BCP) – Basic Policy

  • We will place top priority on ensuring human safety should a major disaster strike.
  • We will minimize the adverse effect to our suppliers and other stakeholders, and fulfill our corporate responsibility.
  • We will cooperate with local society in regular disaster prevention activities, and will assist the recovery of local society in case of disaster.

Determining specific measures for BCP

After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, we reviewed our disaster prevention arrangements. In fiscal 2012, we rebuild our Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to take into account the possibility of an earthquake in Tokyo and flood along the Tone River, and to ensure the integrity of our supply system even in the event of such disasters. Under the BCP, the following measures are stipulated in line with the basic policy.

Basic Policy Specific Measures
1. Ensuring human safety In addition to the regular disaster prevention and safety confirmation drills, we will strengthen crisis management and business continuity systems, making human safety the top priority.
2. Fulfillment of supply responsibilities In case of an earthquake, we will continue to supply systems from our main manufacturing plant (i.e. the Gunma Factory) . In the case of a flood, we will continue to supply systems from alternative 3rd party manufacturing sites.
In preparation for cases where workplace attendance is temporarily impractical because of damage to offices or infrastructure, we will establish remote work environment.
3. Contributions to local society Our Gunma R&D Center has been designated by Meiwa Town as an evacuation shelter in case of flooding, and we contribute to the area by keeping the site ready for flood evacuees.

Measures Implemented in Fiscal 2022

In April 2022, with the support of an external consulting organization, we initiated a project to rebuild the business continuity plan for the entire Advantest group. As the first phase of the project, from April 2022 to October 2022, we developed a Crisis Management Plan, which provides guidelines and responses in the event of a major crisis, and a Business Continuity Plan, which describes the organization and activities necessary for the continuation of our business and for early restoration. As the second phase, from November 2022 to May 2023, we worked on the formulation of BCPs for each department at major business sites in Japan that stipulate measures for the continuation of operations and early restoration, as well as response plans presupposing the loss of functions (infrastructure) necessary for the operation of these business sites.

Disaster Responses

May 2023 Noto region of Ishikawa Earthquake: All companies in Japan carried out safety confirmation.

COVID-19 Countermeasures

The Risk Management Group is making efforts to collect information on the pandemic situation both in Japan and overseas in order to inform employees of COVID-19 countermeasures while reporting to management as necessary.

In Japan

In Japan, telecommuting has been recommended since February 2020 as a safety consideration for employees. As a general rule, during the state of emergency periods, employees of offices in applicable regions and residents of applicable regions were required to telecommute. In addition, business trips and visitors were prohibited as a general rule. Furthermore, we conducted e-learning activities to educate employees about COVID-19, and we had employees with symptoms (e.g., fevers) report their conditions to the Risk Management Group through their superiors, enabling us to respond promptly in the event of COVID-19 infection.

Countermeasures implemented in offices have included installation of thermal cameras at regular entrances and service entrances, taking of body temperatures, and confirming wearing of masks upon arrival at work. Employees with fevers are required to stay home, and masks are provided for employees who need them. Hand-sanitizing stations have been installed at company entrances, and some office areas where employees are in close proximity have installed acrylic plates. Antiviral coating has been applied to common spaces (e.g., meeting rooms) to reduce the risk of infection through contact. Offices with cafeterias have changed their hours to disperse crowds and have reduced the number of chairs available to ensure social distancing.

In the event that an individual is confirmed to have COVID-19, temporary office closures and disinfection of areas used by the infected individual are implemented in accordance with the infected individual’s commuting status.

From the beginning of 2023, when human traffic was gradually easing, COVID-19 antigen test kits were distributed in the event of face-to-face meetings with more than a certain number of people, as measures to prevent the spread of infection.

The utmost care is being taken so that nothing interferes with production at the Gunma Factory, which is the main production factory for semiconductor test equipments. As a countermeasure in the event that someone becomes infected, workers are provided with smartphones that have the contact-tracing app released by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare installed to enable them to confirm whether they have had any contact. We have also recommended installation of this contact-tracing app on employees’ personal smartphones and requested employees’ cooperation in confirming any contact with infected individuals.

Overseas

Our overseas Group subsidiaries follow government ordinances for commuting in their respective countries.

Each business base has been providing education on COVID-19 through informational posters in addition to providing masks and hand sanitizer; reviewing the scope of cleaning; ensuring regular disinfection, ventilation, and social distancing; and enhancing IT infrastructure to boost telecommuting work efficiency.
Furthermore, business trip schedules are prepared in consideration of quarantine periods so as to ensure appropriate response to customer requests.

When a COVID-19 infection is confirmed at an overseas Group subsidiary, countermeasures similar to those taken in Japan are implemented to prevent the spread of infection, and the risk management leader of the subsidiary makes use of the notification/information sharing systems to inform the Risk Management Group at the Head Office.