Strengthening of BCP (Business Continuity Plan)

For the Company, which handles customers’ precious goods, continuing business in the event of an emergency such as a natural disaster is recognized as being directly connected to customers’ business continuity.

For this reason, Sumitomo Warehouse is implementing a variety of measures related to business continuity.

Response to Natural Disasters

Sumitomo Warehouse has established manuals in each of its business locations based on the experience of past disasters and updates them as needed. Furthermore, the Company has established an earthquake response manual assuming the occurrence of a massive earthquake, and distributed and disseminated it among all employees, in addition to periodically implementing safety confirmation training using a safety confirmation system.

Apart from these, we have installed emergency power supplies and battery packs and stockpiled emergency supplies and food, etc. in all business locations including the administrative division such as the head office.

Furthermore, from the perspective of supporting customers’ supply chains, we take action such as establishing appropriate inventory sites and proposing transportation routes.

Strengthening of Facilities and Equipment

In terms of hardware, we have introduced seismic isolation systems and emergency power generation facilities in our warehouse facilities, and also prepared for natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons through planned renewal of rooftop waterproofing and reinforcement of folded-plate roofing.

At the Kobe Port Island L-6 New Warehouse launched in January 2021, we installed emergency power generation facilities and shutters reinforced against strong winds, in addition to placing the vehicle passages and vehicle berths that are normally placed under the eaves in many cases in the center (indoors) of the first floor of the warehouse. It is necessary to work with even more consideration for safety in the event of strong wind and rain, but there are no such concerns when the vehicle berths are located indoors using a design enabling workers and truck drivers to safely handle freight.

Designation as a “relief supply hub facility” by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism established the “Basic Concept of the Relief Supply Logistics Systems” for the purpose of smoothly delivering relief supplies to affected areas in the event of a disaster. It states that the facilities and expertise of private-sector logistics operators are to be used for relief supply logistics in the event of a disaster, and eight of the Company’s warehouses have been designated as relief supply logistics sites to serve as facilities for storing relief supplies.

Measures to Address Infectious Diseases

An action manual was established and disseminated to business locations in Japan and overseas when there was an outbreak of a new strain of influenza. When the COVID-19 outbreak occurred in 2020, business continued while taking steps to prevent the spread of the disease* in accordance with the manual. We will continue business and support social infrastructure while ensuring the safety of employees and partner companies.

*Gargling, hand washing, disinfecting with alcohol and coughing etiquette. We are also implementing measures with ensuring employees’ health in mind, such as checking temperature and health condition before starting work, ensuring social distancing, installation of partitions between desks in offices and on reception counters, promoting working from home and staggered commuting hours, restriction of business travel and restriction of meetings involving meals inside and outside the Company.