18/11/2021
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
President: Norio Nakajima
In September 2021, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. appointed Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (located in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) Prof. Kazuhiro Yagita, an authority on circadian rhythms, as “Sleep Improvement Policy Advisor” as part of a new effort to improve the quality of sleep of shift workers at Murata factories. At its health management offices at all domestic locations, Murata has introduced “sleep quality charts” for visualizing sleep quality and “sleep diaries” contributing to the understanding of causes of sleep deprivation. In the future, the company will also install “MF100 Fatigue and Stress Gauges” that visualize fatigue and stress and support the health of its employees through sleep improvement.
To support its global business expansion, Murata has employees working night shifts at factories using shift work, as well as representatives in its business and staff divisions who need to be active during working hours in other time zones. Such shift work and abnormal working hours may disturb one’s circadian clock and manifest as sleep disorders, potentially leading to mental or physical issues. Murata Manufacturing holds ES (employee satisfaction through purpose and growth) and CS (client satisfaction through valuable manufacturing and supply) as its highest management values. Further, it aims to maximize employees’ sense of purpose in their work by ameliorating sleep disorders among its employees. As a result, employees can show their full potential, which contributes to the creation of value at an organizational level.
Through the introduction of sleep quality charts and sleep diaries, healthcare aides, nurses, and occupational health physicians who are being approached about sleep issues can understand the condition of their patients and propose specific counterstrategies. Furthermore, by using Prof. Yagita’s scientific expertise and conveying the importance of the proper timing of meals in accordance with work schedules and being exposed to light during night work as well, Murata will continue to protect the mental and physical health of its employees. During the second half of FY 2021, the company plans to create sleep education content under the supervision of Prof. Yagita for shift workers, edit the content in accordance with actual factory conditions, and develop it further.
About the sleep improvement efforts:
- Sleep Quality Charts
These charts combine several questions that evaluate the quality of respondents’ sleep, their sleepiness, and whether they are a morning or night person.
By asking questions about respondents’ sleep over the previous month, the charts provide an understanding of the extent to which a respondent is experiencing sleep issues.
- Sleep Diaries
These diaries sum up sleep patterns and such by recording sleeping and waking hours within a given day. By writing down the times at which respondents have gotten up and gone to bed over 14 days, it becomes clear how their lifestyle is influencing their sleep.
- MF100 Fatigue and Stress Gauge
The Murata Manufacturing MF100 Fatigue and Stress Gauge visualizes fatigue and stress, which have been difficult to evaluate objectively. The MF100 measures heartbeat changes with high precision based on vital data like heartbeat and pulse and displays information such as the balance of one’s autonomic nervous system. Murata’s sleep improvement efforts collect data from before and after the start of the efforts in order to measure improvement in the mental and physical health of Murata employees. The company also aims to improve awareness among employees regarding their own health by showing them objective data.
MF100 Fatigue and Stress Gauge
Sample use of the MF100 Fatigue and Stress Gauge
Since 2017, Murata Manufacturing has been certified as one of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s “Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations (White 500)” five years in a row. Valuing its employees’ growth and purpose, the company is engaged in the creation of an environment in which employees can continue working with vigor while protecting their health. Murata will continue to promote responsible corporate activities that respect its employees’ health, and to contribute to a healthy developed society.
About Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Professor Kazuhiro Yagita
Current post: Professor, Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.
Received his PhD in Medical Science from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in 2000. After positions such as Associate Professor of Medical Science at Osaka University, Prof. Yagita assumed his current position in 2010. His specialty is environmental physiology.
Prof. Yagita has received an honorable mention by the Japanese Society for Chronobiology, an honorable mention by the Japan Society of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, an Award for Young Scientists by the Asia and Oceania Society for Photobiology, and a research field award by the Kyoto Prefectural Public University Corporation, among other awards.
Prof. Yagita deepened his collaboration with Murata Manufacturing through the industrial–academic consortium “Kyoto Qualia Forum”＊1. He was appointed “Sleep Improvement Policy Advisor” in September 2021.
Regarding the current efforts, Prof. Yagita said the following:
“I appreciate that Murata Manufacturing has made it a goal to protect the health of its employees, which is the foundation enabling them to find purpose and growth in their work. I strongly agree with efforts to improve sleep based on people’s unique circadian clocks and was therefore glad to collaborate with Murata. I hope to work with everyone at Murata Manufacturing on issues common to global companies as one element in the Kyoto Qualia Forum’s principle of “solving social issues.”
＊1 In addition to Murata Manufacturing, seven companies headquartered in Kyoto and six universities, including Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, participate in this forum. The goals include the cultivation of global leaders through cooperation between companies and universities.
Murata in Brief
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.
For more information, visit Murata's website