In this page, you will find the interview with a business that has acquired JFS Standard, in which they describe their efforts toward acquiring JFS Standard and the effects they have achieved after acquisition.

This article was produced under a project subsidized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2022.

Tokyo Yushi Kogyo K.K. (Edible oil filling)

　Tokyo Yushi Kogyo K.K., headquartered in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, is a member of the Borsoh Oil Group and mainly fills edible rice oil, edible rapeseed oil, and edible blended oil. It was the first company in Japan to produce edible rice oil, and became a member of the Borsoh Oil Group in 2004. The Keiyo Factory, where the company's headquarters is located, is responsible for the very important process of filling edible oil into containers. The edible oil filled at the Keiyo Plant is shipped throughout Japan under the brand name of Borsoh Oil & Fat. As a member of a large corporate group, food hygiene is strictly enforced, and the company has earned the trust of numerous clients. Tokyo Yushi Kogyo acquired the JFS-B standard at its Keiyo Plant in February 2024. In this interview, we spoke with Mr. Kouhei Yamamoto and Ms. Mieko Nishizawa of the Quality Control Section, who led the efforts to acquire the JFS-B standard, about the purpose of the acquisition and their vision for its future utilization.

-What was the purpose of acquiring the JFS-B standard at the Kyoyo Plant?

Nishizawa: The Kyoyo Plant was newly established in 2018, and none of the employees, including myself, had previous experience in the edible oil filling business. Therefore, there were no written company rules for food sanitation in oil filling operations. The Quality Control Section felt that something had to be done. When we thought about what was needed at the Keiyo Factory to earn the trust of our customers, we came to the conclusion that we needed to obtain a highly reliable certification (letter of conformance).

-Why did you choose the JFS-B standard from among the many certifications (letter of conformance) available?

Nishizawa: The Keiyo factory has been contracted to manufacture private brand (PB) products since it was newly established. The customer had shared with us a checklist for making PB products, which was based on the JFS-B standard. When it was decided that the Keiyo Plant would obtain some kind of certification (letter of conformance), our parent company, Borsa Oil & Fat, suggested that the JFS-B standard would be easier to obtain. We started our efforts to acquire the standard.

-What were the key points in your efforts to obtain the JFS-B standard?

Yamamoto: As expected, it was difficult to clearly state the rules regarding food sanitation. We didn't have any reference materials to refer to, so we had to work with various people to make it happen. It was not enough just to clearly state the rules, but it was necessary to make the text easy to understand for the employees on site, so we had to revise the text many times. Although it was sometimes very difficult, I believe it was a great opportunity for me to grow as a person. In the end, I was satisfied with the result, and I think it was worth all the hard work I put into it.

-Frankly speaking, it was quite easy to understand. Yamamoto: Frankly speaking, it was quite easy to understand. There are a number of requirements written in the standard , and I thought it was very helpful that there are guidelines for each requirement. The guidelines are very detailed and easy to understand, and even though I have no experience in obtaining certification (letter of conformance), I was able to proceed with my efforts with ease. If you have experience in obtaining some kind of certification (letter of conformance), I think you will be able to proceed with your efforts very smoothly.

-How did the employees on site react to the acquisition of the JFS-B standard?

Yamamoto: We had been filling edible oil without certification (letter of conformance), and that had become the norm, so the employees onsite were surprised to hear that we had obtained something so difficult. The employees onsite were surprised that we had obtained such a difficult standard. Filling according to the certification (letter of conformance) inevitably involves more time-consuming processes, which may put a burden on on-site employees until they become accustomed to the process. However, I am sure they will get used to it because all of them are very dedicated to their work. It is meaningless without the cooperation of on-site employees, so the Quality Control Section is increasing communication with on-site employees and carefully communicating the benefits of the standard to them.

-How do you plan to make use of the JFS-B standard in the future?

Nishizawa: We would like to utilize the JFS-B standard to gain the trust of our customers. In the past, we have often been asked by our parent company's business partners (customers) whether we have some kind of certification (letter of conformance). We have only been able to reply, "We do not have any certification (letter of conformance), but we are strict about sanitation. We are now planning to emphasize that we have obtained the JFS-B standard. It also reduces our communication costs in responding to customer inquiries, and we are convinced that acquiring the JFS-B standard was a great decision.

-Yamamoto: Do you have plans to obtain other certifications (letter of conformance) in the future?

Yamamoto: In the future, we are considering acquiring the JFS-C standard, as we have accumulated the know-how to obtain some kind of certification (letter of conformance). If we can make good use of this know-how, we believe it will be possible to acquire the JFS-C standard relatively smoothly.

-Does the acquisition of the JFS-B standard have a significant impact on the entire Borsa Oil Group?

Nishizawa: We are proud of the positive impact it has had. It is the sales staff of our parent company, Borsoh Oil & Fat, who expand the sales channels for edible oil filled at our Keiyo Plant. Since we are the first company in the group to acquire the JFS standard, we intend to share information with other companies when they do so. I believe that this will contribute greatly to the growth of the entire group in the future.

-What is your message to companies that are considering acquiring the JFS standard in the future?

Yamamoto: We acquired the JFS-B standard, and it is not an easy thing to acquire. However, we believe that there is a great deal of merit in acquiring this standard. As we work toward the standard, we will be able to visualize "weak points" in our production lines, and we will steadily make improvements in these areas. As we repeat this process, the level of food sanitation will improve, and eventually we should be able to obtain certification (letter of conformance). There are no shortcuts to obtaining certification (letter of conformance), and it is best to proceed diligently. It will lead to more efficient production lines, and we believe that the company as a whole will benefit greatly. We hope you will positively consider acquisition.

-Thank you very much for your time today.

Company Profile
Company Name: Tokyo Yushi Kogyo K.K.
Representative: Jun Kumeida
Address: Keiyo Plant 15-10 Takase-cho, Funabashi, Chiba 273-0014, Japan
Founded in 1938
URL https://www.boso.co.jp/group.html

The Japanese version of the interview is available in the PDF below.

Disclaimer: The translation process used on this English website is partially offered by a "machine translation" for your convenience. This translated document is provided for information purposes only. In the event of a difference of interpretation or a dispute, the original Japanese version of this document is binding.