Takashi Shigemori , Senior Managing Executive Officer of IT Innovation , explores Sumitomo Chemical ’ s digital transformation
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL
Takashi Shigemori , Senior Managing Executive Officer of IT Innovation , explores Sumitomo Chemical ’ s digital transformation
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T he Sumitomo Chemical Group was established in Japan in 1913 as a manufacturer of fertilisers to eliminate pollution from copper smelting facilities and help increase crop yields . Fast forward to 2019 , and the Group includes more than 100 subsidiaries and affiliates that operate in five key sectors : petrochemicals ; energy and functional materials ; IT-related chemicals ; health and crop sciences ; and pharmaceuticals . Masakazu Tokura , Chairman of the Board , strives to continue to “ contribute to solving problems facing the global community ” through technological prowess and the trust of Sumitomo ’ s stakeholders .
In order to remain relevant in the increasingly digital world , Sumitomo Chemical has had to digitally transform its operations , renaming its own IT Department to IT Innovation Department in 2016 to redefine its responsibilities . One of the main aims of this rebranded department is to promote digital transformation across the entire organisation through a number of proof-of-concept ( POC ) projects . Overseeing the department is Takashi Shigemori , Senior Managing Executive Officer for
APRIL 2019