Nabeya Bi-tech Kaisha

NBK’s history dates to 1560,{{cite web |last1=Dooley |first1=Ben |last2=Ueno |first2=Hisako |title=This Japanese Shop Is 1,020 Years Old. It Knows a Bit About Surviving Crises. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/business/japan-old-companies.html |website=The New York Times |date=2 December 2020}} when Taro-Uemon-i Okamoto founded the company.{{cite book |last1=Poutziouris |first1=Panikkos |last2=Smyrnios |first2=Kosmas |last3=Goel |first3=Sanjay |title=Handbook of Research on Family Business |date=January 2013 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-78100-938-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GCYC0xo37jYC&q=Okamoto+nabeya&pg=PA574 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Fremy |first1=Olivier |last2=Cheffontaines |first2=Charles de |last3=Chassende-Baroz |first3=Eric |last4=Fontanille |first4=Olivier |title=Pratique du lean: Réduire les pertes en conception, production et industrialisation |date=10 March 2010 |publisher=Dunod |isbn=978-2-10-055073-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RRJ9XwbaNqIC&q=Okamoto+nabeya&pg=PR12 |language=fr}} In 1749, the Okamotos received from the Imperial Court a license as a caster. They presented the Kyoto Imperial Palace with a lantern and were given the trade name “Nabeya”, that means "Pan(Pot) shop or artisan".{{cite web |first=Michelle|last=Froese|title=From cast iron products to fasteners, NBK offers four centuries of experience |url=https://fastenerengineering.com/from-cast-iron-products-to-fasteners-nbk-offers-four-centuries-of-experience/ |website=Fastener Engineering |language=en |date=27 February 2020}}{{cite web |title=Corporate History {{!}} NBK {{!}} The Motion Control Components |url=https://www.nbk1560.com/en/company/history/?SelectedLanguage=en |website=www.nbk1560.com}} The Okamotos produced many temple bells in Japan.{{cite web |title=The Economist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ElgsAQAAMAAJ&q=nbk+japan+1560 |publisher=The Economist Newspaper |language=en |date=8 March 2008}} The main branch of the Okamotos runs Nabeya Co., Ltd. while other branches use “Nabeya” as part of the name of the company which they run. "Bi-tech" stands for "Newest and Traditional 2-technologies", and "Kaisha" means "Company or Corporation".

The company in its current form was incorporated by Tomokichi Okamoto in 1940.

NBK's head office and main factory, NBK Seki Plant, are located in Seki city, Gifu prefecture.{{cite web |title=About the Museum {{!}} Gi-Co-Ma Gifu Collection of Modern Arts |url=http://www.gi-co-ma.or.jp/en/about/ |website=www.gi-co-ma.or.jp}} The former President, Taichi Okamoto, wanted the site to be a “garden factory” so it is surrounded by a swimming pool, art museum, bar, sports gym, concert hall and training and conference rooms.

Okamoto believed that management concepts such as management by objectives and pay for performance were contrary to the maximization of creativity and productivity, therefore all employees are not bound by any revenue goals and are allowed to act freely.

In 2007, Okamoto resigned his position as President and became the Chairman of NBK. Mitsuo Kaneda was appointed as his successor. Kaneda is the first ever non-Okamoto family member that has been appointed President since the company was established in 1560.

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• {{Official website|http://www.nbk1560.com/index_en.html}} {{in lang|en}}

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Category:Manufacturing companies of Japan