The Latest News from YKK

Being detail-oriented is described as a character trait that means being able to pay close attention and notice minor details. Paying attention to the details allows us to catch mistakes or defects before they become bigger problems. A few years ago, I took a trip to The Azores. While planning my trip, I researched the […]

  pro·ac·tive      /prōˈaktiv/ adjective: proactive; adjective: pro-active (of a person, policy, or action) creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened. Active means doing something / prefix pro means before. Habit #1 as outlined in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is BE […]

Frito-Lay is the current worldwide leader in snacks, controlling over 35% of the world market and more than 60% of the US market.  In the late 1980’s however, Frito-Lay was in serious financial trouble.  The company had introduced numerous new products to the market and all had failed in fairly short order.  The CEO at […]

The main thing we do at work is solve problems. We come in, start with the most important one, make some progress, hopefully solve it, then we move on to the next one, and repeat. It’s our job to bring our own little piece of the company from an undesirable state to a better one. […]

    Take a moment and think about a time when you received what you’d consider meaningful appreciation.  What did it look like?  For some, it is simply kind words given at the right time, for others it may be a token of appreciation or some level of public recognition.  However expressed, it is important […]

I am a strong promoter of the YKK Core Value “Build trust, transparency and respect.” I think this is the most important value when working with other people including customers, co-workers and different stakeholders.  This week’s Fundamental Behavior, “Listen to Understand,” is a key action which will contribute to a relationship based on trust and […]

Tomoko Stoss, Sr. Manager of Sales & Marketing at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Snap and Button Products, describes some of the steps YKK Snap and Button Products is taking to promote circularity in the fashion industry. What is Circular Fashion? Circular fashion is fashion that is designed and manufactured in ways to minimize waste, with the […]

“Strong relationships enable us to more successfully work through difficult issues and challenging times,” but there is even more that good relationship will bring to us. A couple of weeks ago, our YCA colleague David Bethea was talking to the YCA team about “Tips for boosting our moods” and he introduced an interesting video from […]

Since I was a child, my parents encouraged in me the love for sports, especially those in which I was part of a team, from basketball or volleyball to soccer.  Although I never excelled in any of them, we achieved some triumphs and trophies in school. The reason was because even though we didn’t have […]

I read an article last summer (mid pandemic) and there was a statement: “If you make it out of this pandemic without learning something new (skill, etc.), then you are failing at life.” At first, I chuckled to myself (and probably rolled my eyes) and thought, “Not failing at life?” Once my sarcasm subsided…I recognized […]

To innovate is an action directed to create something new. So it has three moments: 1) the awareness moment in which something is telling us, reality is telling us a change must be made, 2) the thinking process moment where ideas are discussed and 3) the moment in which actions are taken to innovate, to […]

In our careers all of us are faced with the challenge of improving the status quo.  Manufacturing must improve efficiencies, scrap ratios, and other facets of manufacturing.  Sales is faced with improving order entry processes and forecasting models.  In fact, no matter which area we touch, we are all challenged to seek improvement to increase […]

I would like to share with you the most powerful personal example in my life of FB #9, “Honor Commitments.”  My dad cared for my grandfather every day for 10 years while in the nursing home until his death (and there were many challenging years before the nursing home was the last resort).  Every day, […]

How do we make our customers our priority? It’s so easy to do and say yet so many companies fail at it every day; we all have experienced it in our daily lives. It was such an honor when I was asked if I would like to give my perspective on one of our weekly […]

This fundamental behavior says “Avoid misunderstanding by discussing expectations upfront.” Make notes when visiting customers and during meetings and discussions to avoid misunderstanding. At the end of the meeting, confirm with each other what and by when we have to complete items discussed. If you are the meeting requester, you should clarify the request and […]

I am excited for this opportunity to talk about this week’s Fundamental Behavior and I hope you will be excited too to get your week going. Why am I excited? It is because of the possibility of this Fundamental Behavior – if we all really make a point to practice “Lead by Example” this week, […]

Since joining YKK Japan in 2004, I have worked in various countries and regions, starting in China in 2007, Vietnam and Cambodia in 2012, India in 2016, and the United States in 2018. I have come into contact with a wide variety of people of different races, cultures, and ideas. It has repeatedly made me […]

The first thing that comes to mind as soon as I see the word “quality” in the title is to talk about our products and the amazing reputation they have worldwide. We are certainly very proud of it, but quality goes much deeper. It is also one of our core values. I grew up in […]

Ever since establishing the company, YKK founder Tadao Yoshida left us many quotable sayings. These sayings have been discussed in various business situations and locations based on the YKK Philosophy of the “Cycle of Goodness.” Many of the sayings relate to things Tadao Yoshida learned from nature and the climate of his hometown when he […]

During this winter vacation, I inadvertently had time to talk with my younger son about environment because his textbook was asking him what he can do in order to protect environment. Not a day goes by when we don’t hear news related to environmental issues. When I was child, I remember that an industrial area […]

So, what’s been going on in the world since the last time we discussed being vigilant about safety?  While we usually discuss YKK’s corporate safety policies and ways to keep our employees safe on the job, the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges.  As our response to the situation has evolved, our workplaces have become […]

Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing in every action you take and in every decision you make, especially when no one’s looking. Always tell the truth, no matter the consequences. As I sit here writing this, trying to meet the inspiring-quote quota, I begin to think about the significance of this phrase. […]

We have lots of excuses to NOT follow this last Fundamental Behavior, but that is when it is most necessary. It is old-fashioned, but ‘counting your blessings’ is a great way to create a positive outlook. Here is what I came up with: I am alive. I can breathe without difficulty. I feel like my […]

Fundamental Behavior 24 is “Be an Ambassador” of the company. What do you think of when you hear the word “goodwill ambassador”? You might think that you need to do something special or that it has little to do with you. I believe that the daily actions of each and every employee of the YKK […]

The end of the year is fast approaching, and as I reflect back on 2020, I think about the challenges and hardships that have faced us this year, particularly those related to the global pandemic. I think that all of us have been personally affected, in one way or another, or know someone that has […]

Recently we have faced two different types of viruses. The first one is a physical virus, which tests our 6s discipline, activities aimed at order and cleanliness that we even carry out in our homes during the work-from-home period. We have also had the opportunity to share our space with our children in their daily […]

“Be A Lifelong Learner” seems to be a basic matter in our life, but on the other hand, when I think about it from my standpoint, I feel that it is a difficult topic from the point of view of “what/when to learn.” This is because our time is limited. I prefer to change myself […]

I believe we have all had or seen situations in our work and home life whereby missing just one detail can have a large impact on the outcome of a situation with short term and/or long-term implications. We all must believe and implement attention to details in all aspects of our life. Paying attention to […]

I love to run, so I stretch and prepare my body every day, and I think ahead of time about how much I’m going to run each month and what course I’m going to run. This is something I’ve learned from my mistakes because I’ve had so many times where I didn’t stretch and my […]

  There is a story that I came to learn after I moved to America. It struck me hard, and it has stayed with me for many years since. Perhaps many of you have heard of it. Loren Eiseley, an American philosopher, wrote an original essay called “The Star Thrower” in 1969. Here is the […]

“Practice blameless problem solving.” At first glance, from the standpoint of a group of a company, this seems to be a Fundamental Behavior that everyone understands and implements as they work toward the same goal. But when viewed as an individual, out of the 25 Fundamental Behaviors, this is one that is difficult to consciously […]

I have been blessed to work with a tremendous number of talented people throughout my YKK career. I have been supported in every way imaginable, so as I sat down and started to think about how I have meaningfully communicated my appreciation – I felt inadequate. How do I explain it to others, when many […]

I think that understanding people’s stories is the basis of communication. Especially, showing interest in people’s stories is very important in deepening mutual understanding. When I used to work in the Product Planning Group in Japan, I had technical challenges in some product development projects. At the beginning, technical topics were difficult for me since […]

Building relationships is one of the things that everyone, not just countries and regions, experiences in the process of growing in society, and the process is endless. However, this process can be broadly divided into two types: “cases where you only build relationships with people whom you like” and “cases where you have to build […]

Shirley Chisholm said, “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining.” This quote speaks volumes of how individuals can impact their teams. You can either be that negative team member – always complaining about what is wrong; or the one that helps develop solutions. Over the last few months, many of […]

When I was first presented with the opportunity to put together a message for this week’s Fundamental Behavior, “Seek Improvement in Everything,” I thought of many different examples of how our Textile and Plastics team has benefited from this concept while working with our customers. Many of those examples share a common theme.  It revolves […]

Yesterday she was managing the office, and then COVID closed the office. Today she is working through unemployment claims. Yesterday he was helping colleagues in El Salvador improve their equipment, and then the governments closed the factories. Yesterday she was filling every minute with customer visits and putting out fires from the road or the […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world. In this installment, we’re highlighting Atlanta-based designer Corinea “Coco” Austin, founder of Fiibers Fabric, a marketplace for sustainable and upcycled fabrics. We asked her to share with us the importance of diversity and inclusion in sustainability and how she’s incorporating […]

A “process” is each thing that should be done to get closer to the ideal form (result) from the current situation. To be process-driven is to pay attention to each of these things, and to ensure that each process is executed reliably and quickly to reach the ideal form. Focusing on process has three benefits: […]

Please join us in congratulating this year’s Core Values Awards Winners. The Core Values Award winners are nominated by their peers within the North and Central America region for embracing YKK’s Core Values and Fundamental Behaviors on a daily basis. We challenged each winner to share with us what the Core Values mean to them […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. In this installment, we introduce you to 21-year-old fashion design student Lina Gómez from Bello, Antioquia – Colombia. Lina is a student at the Colegiatura Colombiana Institute where she’s pursuing a degree […]

When considering this Fundamental Behavior, the examples that came to mind were situations in my life where I stayed resilient in a tough situation or circumstance and persevered. However, after thinking about the topic further I realized that a commitment that seemed insignificant at that time ended up having an overwhelmingly positive change in my […]

Here at YKK we’re are constantly thinking about innovative ways to engineer products that are not only stylish but also functional. We were inspired by the work teen designer Leah Zelaya is doing to help make fashion accessible to all and wanted to share a few ways in which YKK is helping the fashion industry […]

This is, in my opinion, one of our most important Fundamental Behaviors. Customers are the lifeline of our existence. Being in sales for YKK for the past 48 years gives me an appreciation for this important aspect of my job.  The best part of being able to sell our products to our customers is the […]

This Fundamental Behavior teaches us, “Avoid misunderstandings by discussing expectations up front. Ask when you’re not clear on what is expected of you.” If you are not clear on the request was made and you proceed in the wrong direction, it is likely that the work you will do from that point on will be […]

The first thought for me on this subject takes me back to my childhood days when my parents would tell me ‘do as I say not as I do.’  Not exactly the best parenting approach, but it shows that people realize they are doing something they don’t want their children to copy. “Leading by Example” […]

As a bi-vocational pastor, I am often challenged on a weekly basis by words, phraseology, mannerisms and customs of people who lived long ago in an Eastern culture.  Why, you may ask?  So that I can understand the success in life they achieved and use that information to teach others who live in a Western […]

The first week that I started with YKK, I had the opportunity to visit each plant and walk each process.  It gave me a great insight into vertical manufacturing.  I saw each process, from PPD (yarn manufacturing) and Brass Wire Plant, through final assembly and shipping.  It also made me realize the steps each process […]

The environment is one of the key factors in the automotive industry. In addition to the laws and standards of the automobile industry for environmental protection, each automobile and parts manufacturer has their own guidelines to contribute to further environmental protection. Also, one of the major trends in the automotive industry recently is the increase […]

As I start to write this message the following thoughts come to mind: Do not cut corners; the short and easy path is not always better and safer. Rules and guidelines exist for a reason; they are implemented to prevent situations that most likely happened in the past, and created a negative impact. Learn from […]

This article will mark the start of the 7th cycle of YKK’s 25 Fundamental Behaviors. “Do the Right Thing, Always” had to be at the top of the list since it represents the most important behavior we all should aim for each and every day. I grew up one of five children in a small […]

YKK El Salvador S.A. de C.V. recently completed a project supporting Tecpan School, a local school with a student population of 290, from kindergarten to 9th grade. The school needed support building a wall around the school to protect students from the crime that plagues the country. There have been many instances of violent confrontations […]

My grandmother had 12 children. When I was a kid, I loved going to her house because there were countless aunts, uncles, and cousins filling every room and my grandmother, always in the kitchen, smiling warmly and asking me if I wanted something to eat. I never gave a second thought to what it must […]

I feel truly blessed to a part of the YKK Group.  Having joined YKK AP just prior to the YGM and annual budget meetings in November 2013, I was immediately indoctrinated into the breadth and width of what is YKK in the Americas.   Two years later, I had the honor to participate in the 25th […]

We’re excited to announce that YKK Corporation of America’s campaign “One Conversation at a Time” has been selected as one of Ragan Communications and PR Daily‘s 2020 Digital Marketing & Social Media Awards finalists. This campaign was created to showcase YKK’s corporate culture while highlighting our talented and diverse workforce. We’re honored to be in […]

“No one prospers without rendering benefit to others.” -Tadao Yoshida As I was thinking about this week’s fundamental behavior GIVE BACK, I began to ponder many of the lessons learned, or if you will prosperity realized, through giving back. Giving Back is good for you. It is easy to see how giving back is good […]

This week we’re discussing “Take Pride in Our Appearance.” We must understand that “Taking Pride in Our Appearance” is our reputation. Our reputation is the hardest thing in life to KEEP and the easiest thing to LOSE. We all have cleaned up our house or work area for weeks preparing for visitors, and the day […]

We are proud to join more than 150 companies — with a combined market capitalization of over US$ 2.4 trillion and representing over 5 million employees — in signing a statement urging governments around the world to align their COVID-19 economic aid and recovery efforts with the latest climate science. As debates on recovery packages […]

This is one of my favorite Fundamental Behaviors because it takes me back to when I first came to America.  My father and I escaped Vietnam in 1980, huddled in a small boat with a few others.  Some of us didn’t survive the journey, but my dad and I were fortunate enough to make it […]

This year, YKK began manufacturing and selling a new type of VS hook for diapers. This product uses a technology called sleeve manufacturing, which is different from existing technology, and is a product that was fully developed six years ago. When we started development, we made various prototypes with prototype molds and tested them dozens […]

In this installment of “A Journey Around YKK Global Facilities,” we take you to YKK Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. where our team is doing incredible work to help reduce plastic waste. Current situation with plastic waste in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is an island, with water rich rivers flowing to the Indian ocean all around the […]

When we talk about the Fundamental Behavior “Be proactive,” we always refer to all the daily or planned activities where we finish on time or before the agreed deadlines. We also anticipate situations that we know from experience can happen to us, and we feel proud of this achievement. However, when the situation is not […]

I am very honored to be asked to talk about this important Fundamental Behavior, “Take Ownership,” as it is very near and dear to my heart.  As a young manager within YKK many years ago, we learned this Fundamental Behavior very early in our careers because it was taught to us by our experienced and […]

How many of you have ever heard the expression, “Feeling like I have been thrown under the bus?” For those of you who are not familiar with this term, it means that someone has given you full credit for something that has gone wrong either at work, home or outside the organizations. I’d like to […]

We asked Lee Smith, vice president manufacturing operations  at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc., to talk about his 40+ year career with YKK and to share his advice for people wanting to start a career in this industry. Tell us about how you started your career at YKK: My career at YKK started due to my desire […]

We must begin by asking ourselves: What is meaningful appreciation? And why is it important to have it in the workplace? Then, we could say that meaningful appreciation is when we give value to someone or something. Based on our environment, we find that employees who feel valued at work are more likely to stay […]

In this installment of “A Journey Around YKK Global Facilities,” we introduce you to YKK India’s Social Development and Vocational Training Center. According to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals “Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the […]

My husband calls me “the interrupter.”  I have a bad habit of interrupting people while they speak.  (At least I know I do it and try very hard not to do it now.)  I am not trying to be rude.  I just get very excited about a conversation and want to add to it.  I […]

Meet Kozue Childress, director-supply chain management at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. She’s been with the company 30 years. We asked Kozue to tell us how her journey at YKK got started and to share her best advice for the next generation of YKK employees. Tell us about how you started your career at YKK Since I […]

During this challenging time, as companies are called upon to respond to the outbreak, YKK is pleased to be able to assist our valued partners in the medical community with key fastening components for medical devices, personal protective equipment (PPE), hospital bed covers, tent shelters, and many other equipment & supplies. Our fastening products, including zippers, […]

We’re inspired by the work of many companies and independent designers that have come together during these difficult times to help their community members, especially those in the healthcare industry. In this installment of our Women Designers Series, we’re highlighting the work of women designers who have shifted their production and business model to lend […]

We continue to celebrate the innovative minds behind our products. Meet 2020 Patent Award Winner George Wilson, progressive die engineer at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Snap and Button Products. George has been working at YKK for 7 years. He became an engineer because he was born with  “The Knack” and wanted to invent things ever since […]

Chuck Lacompte, manager of new product development engineering at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Snap and Button Products, has been working at YKK 36 years. His love for sketching/drawing and working on anything mechanical led him to pursue a career in engineering. “I always thought the engineering hand drawings were a form of artwork. Through my technical […]

Jonathan Sharpe, product design engineer at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Snap and Button Products, has been working at YKK for 13 Years. He has always enjoyed figuring out what makes mechanical things work and drawing them. He’s been able to make a career out of engineering and design, two things he’s very passionate about. One of […]

YKK has a great corporate culture. The “Cycle of Goodness,” “Management Philosophy,” and “Core Values” clearly show the importance of enhancing long-term relationships based on our Fundamental Behavior “Invest in Relationships.” When I think about “Invest in Relationships,” I remember two things. The first was a question and answer session with Mr. Nishizaki and Transportation […]

    April 3, 2020 Dear Valued Customers, We want to provide you with an update on our situation today. On April 2, 2020 Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order requiring Georgians to remain at home unless participating in essential services, performing necessary travel, or if they are part of the workforce for […]

Meet Thanh Nguyen, director, Transportation Fastening Group at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Thanh has been working at YKK for 13 years and is one of the recipients of the 2020 YKK Patent Awards. He’s also currently working with our customers in the transportation industry to come up with new solutions to address the COVID-19 challenge together.  […]

Being born and raised in metro-Atlanta, I am a die-hard Atlanta sports fan.  For me, the professional teams that I root for are the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, and the Atlanta United.  Unfortunately, I’ve had an abundance of heartbreak at the end of seasons.  Some seasons are much more painful than others (don’t dare mention […]

Here at YKK, we are guided by our founder’s Philosophy of the “Cycle of Goodness,” the idea that no one prospers without rendering benefit to others. We are tirelessly working alongside our partners to come up with solutions to help the medical community in these unprecedented times. But we know that it’s times like these […]

As COVID-19 strains the healthcare and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) industries in the United States, YKK is proactively partnering with existing customers in these industries as well as reaching out to new partners to seek creative ways to address the COVID-19 challenge together. YKK’s four main U.S. manufacturing facilities in Georgia, California, Alabama and Kentucky […]

Generosity is not an act of charity; it is a mutual aid between forces that fight for a common good, which is why YKK Colombia S.A.S. is proud to partner with Vira, a local non-profit organization that supports the elderly by providing them with comfortable housing where they can feel safe and loved. Elisabet Osorio […]

Tim Harvey, director of finance at Tape Craft Corporation, shares a heartfelt message about the importance of giving back in times of crisis. I have the privilege of writing about YKK Fundamental Behavior #23 Give Back, due out in a couple months. However, recent events and changes to our lives and lifestyles related to COVID-19 […]

The picture above reminds me of my hobby – trail running. What it takes to be an Ultrarunner is whether you can “challenge yourself to take that one extra step,” which is my favorite part of this week’s Fundamental Behavior! When running up a hill, sometimes you want to slow down to walk or even […]

Rencontrez Paige Plaskonos, superviseur du laboratoire de teinture chez YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. à Macon, GA. Elle travaille chez YKK depuis août 2019. Nous avons demandé à Paige de nous parler de son expérience en tant que jeune diplômée et de sa transition de l’université à l’industrie manufacturière. Quelle est votre définition personnelle du succès ? Le […]

Conoce a Paige Plaskonos, supervisora del laboratorio de tintes en YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. en Macon, GA. Paige ha estado trabajando en la compañía desde Agosto del 2019. Le pedimos a Paige que nos contara acerca de su experiencia como recién graduada de la universidad y la transición a la industria manufacturera. ¿Cuál es tu definición […]

Meet Paige Plaskonos, dye lab supervisor at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. in Macon, GA. She’s been working at YKK since August 2019. We asked Paige to talk about her experience as a recent graduate and about her transition from college to the manufacturing industry. What is your personal definition of success? To me, success is anything […]

    March 16, 2020   Dear Valued Customers, We want to thank you for your patience during this very challenging situation and provide you with an update on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aligning with public health authorities The YKK COVID-19 Task Force has been in place since February. Every day we monitor […]

When we stop to think about how to innovate, the majority of the time our mind leads us to think about big changes or big things, but in the dictionary the definition of “innovate” is to introduce new things to create change, meaning that small changes can make a big difference. But then, why is […]

The great accomplishments in arts, sciences, social accomplishments, and civilization growth have been the result of long processes. Basically, our entire civilization rests upon the basis of thousands of years of processes. Unfortunately, there is a strong tendency nowadays to oversimplification that could impact our businesses, accomplishments, and our lives. This oversimplification could be dangerous, […]

  At YKK Mexicana S.A. de C.V., we promote our Core Values ​​every day and we believe in the Cycle of Goodness, the idea that “No one prospers without rendering the benefit of the others.” That is why we share a deep concern about the situation of violence against women in Mexico and by the […]

YKK Corporation proudly announces that it has become a signatory to the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. The Fashion for Global Climate Action initiative calls on the fashion industry to acknowledge the contribution of the sector to climate change and its responsibility to strive towards climate neutrality for a safer planet. YKK joins more […]

      Okay, let’s be honest.  Not all commitments are fun. Have you ever committed to something, only to find out it turns out differently than you thought and has you thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?” It’s in these situations where honoring a commitment can be difficult. Those who know my husband […]

YKK Corporation’s educational foundation, The Yoshida Scholarship Foundation, is currently seeking Japanese nationals to participate in a 9-12 month paid internship at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Candidates with background in African Studies, Humanities, Law, Political Science or a related field are encouraged to apply. Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter […]

      Who is the customer? A customer is an individual or business that purchases another company’s goods or services. Most public-facing businesses compete with other companies to attract customers, either by aggressively advertising their products or by lowering prices to expand their customer bases. My personal definition of a customer is when you […]

YKK has developed a new VISLON® magnet type zipper that closes using magnetic force. We aim to begin mass production in 2021. Magnet type zippers are open-end zippers[1] designed to be closed easily using magnetic force between the left and right sides. Conventional zippers require engaging the insert pin and retaining box to close, but […]

Market conditions affecting our business are rapidly changing. Technological innovation, globalization, and the diversification of customer requirements make it difficult to achieve consistent results. This constant change generates healthy discomfort in the status quo and requires us to detect new trends faster than the competition, make quick decisions, and seek new ways of doing business. […]

Why is “Leading by Example” so important? Because like it or not, you are ALWAYS leading others by example! Our behaviors are a result of many factors, including how we were influenced by others.  We, in turn, help shape or modify the behaviors of people around us by our behaviors and actions.  It is difficult […]

Meet Shadé Olabisi, the designer keeping inclusivity at the forefront of her fashion line

Growing up, I tended to think that my life story was unique and absolutely no one else could ever relate to what I experienced.  I moved around a lot as a child and lived in California, New Mexico, Texas, and New York.  I went into college thinking that only I had lived a colorful life.  […]

“Make Quality Personal.” Is there any saying deeper than this? In particular, “combat complacency” and “good is NOT good enough” are harsh words. It’s saying that instead of being complacent, you must always aim for further growth, no matter how big a problem you face or how under the weather you might feel… Conversely, if […]

Environmental Conservation versus Preservation In today’s era, many people see the need to protect the natural environment. This is common sense in the modern world, and there are four major themes that aim for a future in which people and nature can live in harmony: Reducing global warming Protecting the oceans and forests Sustainable use […]

Working to address the problem of marine plastic, we are proud to announce our new NATULON® Ocean Sourced™ collection of zippers made from ocean bound plastic. This premium collection of zippers is made from plastic waste that has been collected within 50 km of the coastline of Sri Lanka. The NATULON® Ocean Sourced™ collection will […]

    Last week we began our sixth round of Fundamental Behaviors.  As we turn to Behavior #2, Be Vigilant About Safety, I re-read the previous five installments on this particular behavior.  Alex Gregory instructed us to take care of ourselves and others.  Jim Reed reminded us there are no little things when it comes […]

He was smart and hardworking. But as a young black man growing up in Atlanta in the ‘40’s, Herman Russell could not rely on the kindness of others, or even luck, to make a better life. Opportunities were few and far between. He shined shoes as a child, and then worked construction with his father. […]

La plataforma digital le permite crear a los diseñadores nuevos diseños que incorporan los cierres de YKK® y enviar a producción instrucciones libres de errores, reduciendo así el desperdicio y el tiempo para la comercialización. Browzwear y YKK Corporation han anunciado que los productos de cierres de YKK serán integrados con las soluciones innovadoras en […]

La plate-forme numérique permet aux concepteurs de créer de nouveaux modèles intégrant des fixations YKK® et d’envoyer des instructions sans erreur à la production, réduisant ainsi les pertes et les délais de mise sur le marché. Browzwear et YKK Corporation ont annoncé que les produits de fixation de YKK seront intégrés aux solutions 3D pionnières […]

Digital platform allows designers to create new designs incorporating YKK® fasteners and send error-free instructions to production, reducing waste and time to market Browzwear and YKK Corporation have announced that YKK’s fastening products will be integrated with Browzwear’s pioneering 3D solutions for the fashion industry. The integration will enable designers to easily incorporate 3D models of YKK® products into […]

    The descriptive for this week’s Fundamental Behavior, “Be Positive,” is exactly right. “You have the power to choose your attitude.”  Our lives are constantly changing, and for sure the circumstances of each day may not always be pleasant or motivating, but how positively we approach each day or individual circumstance is a conscious […]

As I contemplated what to write about this week’s Fundamental Behavior of “Be an Ambassador,” I began to consider the specifics of how an “ambassador” is defined. In my journey, I came across a quote from Bernard Kelvin Clive, a well-known international branding expert, that struck me. It said, “Everyone has a level of influence […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. In this installment, we introduce you to Alia White, founder of Ashe and Irys, a new line of nursingwear for moms searching for chic and affordable options. Alia was born and raised […]

When I think about the approaching holiday season, and the theme of “giving back,” a familiar scripture verse comes to mind. “To whom much is given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48) Living in a country such as the United States affords Americans an abundance of gifts and blessings that we are expected to share […]

The Arts of Fashion Foundation will welcome guests to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco on Monday, December 16, 2019 to view the grand finale of the annual Symposium, the International Fashion Competition Runway Show, a presentation of 50 finalists from around the world. The show begins at 7:30 pm. In the spring, the […]

  Our colleagues at YKK Mexicana S.A. de C.V. have been participating in a giving back initiative with the organization Banco de Tapitas. The organization partners with companies around the country to collect all types of plastic caps through authorized ambassadors and collection centers, the donations are recycled to generate resources for the care of […]

We are a manufacturing company. I often hear that good manufacturing is impossible if the manufacturing site is dirty. I personally have come across scenes within YKK factories about which one could say this. I still clearly remember one of the employees in one plant saying, “The reason employees don’t care if the manufacturing site […]

I’m a big believer in the importance of lifelong learning.  There is always something new to learn and our learning journeys should never come to an end.  To prepare for this opportunity to write this message, I read the previous four messages about this Fundamental Behavior.  All had great stories that made you reflect on […]

In the wake of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the YKK Group moved a portion of our headquarters’ function to Kurobe, Toyama. There, we planned a project to address energy issues and it took on the form of Passive Town.       The project is being developed on a 36,100㎡ land in Kurobe […]

YKK Mexicana S.A. de C.V. held a ceremony commemorating its 25th anniversary on November 12, 2019. YKK Mexicana was established in September 1994 as a small plant in Puebla that assembled basic coil and metal zippers. By 1996 sales had soared by more than 200 percent, far exceeding projections. By this time, Mexico boasted three […]

    An excerpt from “The Organized Mind” by Daniel Levitin states, “The processing capacity of the conscious mind has been estimated at 120 bits/second. That bandwidth is the speed limit for the traffic of information we can pay conscious attention to at any one time.”  It goes on to say that we need 60 […]

“Proactive” – Adjective – “Creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened.” When one of my sons played on a travel baseball team, one of the coaches introduced the 5Ps to the team.  Proper (Proactive) Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.  His message to the kids […]

On October 21, Navicent Health and Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia welcomed six physicians, one nurse, and one dietitian from Kurobe City Hospital for the sixteenth year of a unique medical exchange between Macon-Bibb County and its sister city of Kurobe, Japan. Each summer, between May and September, three physicians and two […]

In order to meet the West Region’s (Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, California, Arizona) speed to market demand, the YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Anaheim, CA manufacturing facility is now offering three to five day zipper delivery to all West Region customers, including West Region brand owners, designers, contractors, trim buyers, and distributors. Quick delivery is […]

      At first glance, “Take Ownership. Take personal responsibility for making things happen” seems to indicate people who are good at leadership and can face difficult things. In addition, you imagine someone who is positive, sets high goals, is charismatic and attracts people, is wide-ranging, thinks flexibly, has a strong sense of responsibility, […]

When a painted Slider is subjected to dry cleaning or a wet processing treatment, including washing a garment, the paint may chip off of the slider.  The reason the paint chips off of a slider is because the slider is being damaged when it hits a tumbler during the processing. Normally, paint will chip off […]

YKK Group’s Cafe Bonfino Co., Ltd. (*1) will switch from plastic straws to straws made from plant-derived materials in consideration of the environment. The coffee straw adopted by the company is an environmentally-friendly natural circulation resin product made from extracted coffee powder and plant-derived polylactic acid resin (*2). After being used as a straw, it […]

My responsibility today is to find a solution without assigning blame. When I was working in Japan, I was not particularly concerned about it, but when working overseas, I have had a hard time in this regard. I would like to share my experiences with you. The biggest difference between work in Japan and overseas […]

YKK’s GreenRise™ zipper has received the “2019 Good Design Best 100” award from the Japan Design Promotion Association. The “Good Design Best 100” recipients are chosen from among all 2019 Good Design Award recipients based on overall product excellence in terms of aesthetics, proposals, and possibilities. GreenRise™ reduces fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. Introducing Atlanta-based fashion designer, Brittani Bumb. Brittani’s love for vintage fashion has influenced her designs and inspired her to create a clothing line called Untitled Thoughts. We asked Brittani to share with […]

Every day, we are working towards achieving our plan. There are many challenges as we work towards achieving that plan. Challenges at the time of planning, unexpected challenges, challenges that can be solved immediately, challenges that should be addressed over the long term, challenges that are high difficulty but also high priority, challenges that cannot […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. Yoko Katz, a breast cancer survivor of 5 years, is on a mission to make a difference in the fashion industry for cancer survivors. Her personal journey through cancer treatment led her […]

With summer coming to an end, we thought this would be a good time to get caught up on some of the current and future trends in the outdoor apparel industry. In this installment of our “Interviews with the Experts” series, we met with outdoor industry expert, Jenni Sanders. Jenni, senior account specialist for YKK […]

In 1995, a YKK employee approached the president of YKK with a suggestion to establish a special subsidiary company. As a father to a child with Down Syndrome, he was worried that his son would have a hard time finding a job and building a career in the future. However, despite the challenges, his son […]

YKK has teamed up with Ubuntu Life on its Fall 2019 line of bags handmade by their Maker Mums in the Maai Mahiu region of Kenya. One hundred percent of Ubuntu Life profits support social impact programs in Kenya that are empowering the communities they work in through job creation. Beyond simply meeting needs, Ubuntu […]

To celebrate National Manufacturing Day, we asked Jim Reed, president of YKK Corporation of America, to share with us some of the reasons why YKK is such a unique brand. 1. We are driven by innovation. I recently had the pleasure of accompanying Lee Smith of YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. as he toured Georgia’s Governor Kemp […]

How many times have we told our children, “It would be a lot easier if you would just learn to listen?” I remember a children’s book by Howard Binkow titled, Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen. Howard was a rabbit, and he was always getting injured at school because he “just wouldn’t listen.” The teacher […]

On September 30, 2019, William Beresford Palmer III and his daughters, Marlene Palmer Lawrence and Valerie Palmer Albright, visited YKK (U.S.A.) Inc.’s Lawrenceburg facility, the company that his grandfather, Dr. Howard W. Longyear, and his uncle, John M. Longyear, originally founded in 1895 in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Howard Longyear had the responsibility to oversee the […]

As I reflected on what to write about Fundamental Behavior 14, “Invest in Relationships,” I spent weeks trying to find some snappy life experiences in relationship building to put into this article; unfortunately I could not find one! So where could I find some meaningful message or knowledge to share on the topic of relationship […]

  YKK presented its latest collection AW 20/21 at Premiere Vision between 17th and 19th September at Paris Nord Villepinte. A wide range of zippers including a selection of Excella® items in various functions, finishes and lengths together with snap and button (S&B) products were featured at the YKK booth during the event. This year a special gift, a […]

I love sports!  I grew up playing team sports and learned valuable lessons that can be applied to life after sports, especially in the workforce.  Team sports shaped who I am today as an employee.  I’d like to share my experiences related to #13 BE A TEAM PLAYER: (1) Training, practice and discipline.  Athletes go […]

YKK, which has saved millions of plastic bottles from landfills in the past five years with its materially recycled NATULON® zipper, announces that it will begin production of NATULON® in Macon, Georgia, further reducing the environmental impact from sourcing the products overseas and reducing lead time. NATULON® zippers are resource-conserving, recycling-oriented products made from PET […]

A few  years  ago (not many), I started working in one of the largest banks in Colombia as an assistant controller. This was the job I was targeting when I was in college. After a few years, I understood that to move forward in my career I needed to offer something else to the bank. […]

YKK hosted a Tech Talk by John Holliday, Senior Product Development Manager, and Terry McCullough, Sales Engineering Manager at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver, Colorado. The experts discussed various aspects and advancements of some of YKK’s latest sustainable and technical products. They also discussed their differing approaches to solving their customers’ challenges through innovation.

Innovation and change are the forces that move society forward and allow us to overcome the challenges of everyday living.  Just think of all the advancements in the medical field, housing construction methods, agriculture and food distribution methods, transportation, clothing manufacturing methods, IT advancements and all the other products and services that affect our daily […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations.

Let’s check the definition of “Process” in the dictionary. I found the definition below in the Cambridge Dictionary and found significant meaning in it. It says, “Process: a series of actions that you take in order to achieve a result.” This means that we should always follow a “process” if we need to achieve a […]

This summer YKK AP America Inc. hosted 5 interns at their Dublin manufacturing plant through the Summer Youth Works program. This initiative came together in partnership with the City of Dublin, Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce and the Heart of Georgia College and Career Academy. The program’s objectives include increasing internship, apprenticeship and mentorship opportunities for students in and around the City of Dublin.

On August 19 and August 26, a total of twenty-three participants in YKK AP Corporation’s program to improve the business English competency of YKK AP employees in Japan visited YKK AP America Inc. The delegates were selected from a group of 258 participants in a six-month online English language program. Only those who completed 100% […]

This is a behavior which we must truly understand. Whenever we make a deal or we commit to perform a certain task, it is very important to comply, since that creates trust. When we fail or we do not comply with what we agreed upon, this important link is broken and it is more complicated […]

YKK and coffee? You may think YKK and coffee is a strange combination. But did you know that YKK in fact grows coffee beans in Brazil? In this installment of our “A Journey around YKK global Facilities Series” we take you all the way to the 1980’s in the Central Highlands region of Brazil. The […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. Today we’d like to introduce you to designer Kate Cusack. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Kate earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA from the Yale School […]

Within our Core Values, there are three key areas: Employees, Society, and Customers.  When focused on customers, our Core Values direct us to “Insist on Quality in Everything.”  This holds true for both internal and external customers. There’s no question that we would not survive without our customers.  In this week’s Fundamental Behavior, the key […]

This summer we welcomed several interns to different offices within the North and Central America region. In this installment of our “Meet the Interns” series, Rosa Zavala Castillo shares her experience working in Medellin at YKK Colombia S.A.S. -Tell us about your experience working in Colombia. My internship at YKK Colombia has been one of […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. Angela Luna is the creative force behind ADIFF, a fashion brand that aims to bring circularity to the forefront of the fashion industry, setting an example for upcycling + sustainability. ADIFF develops […]

Summer season is travel season! As a global company operating in 72 countries, we take pride in working alongside our local communities as we fulfill our founder’s philosophy of The Cycle of Goodness™. In this series, we thought we’d give you a behind the scenes look at some of the most impressive YKK facilities around […]

Summer season is travel season! As a global company operating in 72 countries, we take pride in working alongside our local communities as we fulfill our founder’s philosophy of The Cycle of Goodness™. In this series, we thought we’d give you a behind the scenes look at some of the most impressive YKK facilities around […]

This important Fundamental Behavior reminds us to take a proactive step towards enhancing the probability that our personal service will meet (and hopefully exceed) the expectation of our internal and external customer.  Timing is critical in this case, as this action should occur at the beginning of the request and/or service agreement.  This is when […]

Finding the right suitcase is an essential part of a successful travel experience.  When you are traveling, the last thing you want to worry about is a broken zipper or not meeting the airlines’ size restrictions. With the travel season well underway, we thought it would be the perfect time to explore this year’s travel […]

I’ve been assigned to share with you Fundamental Behavior #6 “Lead by Example.” The concept is very easy to explain with words but the difficulty is to practice it with the people we deal with on a daily basis, whether at work or in personal matters. That’s where our challenge lies. To begin, I’d like […]

I have been blessed to work for a company that I feel truly does embrace diversity and has done so since its humble beginnings. While the word “diversity” can be and has been analyzed thoroughly for all the many aspects it can represent, I would like also like to focus on the word “embrace.” “Embrace […]

In honor of National Intern Day, Jim Reed, president of YKK Corporation of America, answers questions from our summer interns. This summer we had the pleasure of welcoming three summer interns to our office in Marietta, GA and one intern to our office in Medellin, Colombia.   Reza Talebzadeh: In your opinion, what are the key […]

When you stop and think about Fundamental Behavior #4, “Make Quality Personal,” you have to realize this had to be the most important character trait of Tadao Yoshida. This was what inspired him to create an organization built on the foundation of the highest levels of quality. His motivation wasn’t just about quality in the […]

Since this month we’re highlighting our company’s sustainability practices, we thought we’d share how our employees are taking it upon themselves to be kind to the environment and others. Rhonda Searcy is this year’s Core Values Awards winner from YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Snap and Button Products in Lawrenceburg, KY. Rhonda has been working at YKK […]

We are proud to announce the new YKK Group Environmental Vision 2050, “Towards a brighter future for nature and humanity,” in response to the great need for environmental actions on a global scale. The Environmental Vision defines the long-term direction for environmental initiatives that the entire YKK Group must take in order to realize a […]

We all have choices in life and the ones we choose mold us into who we are today. The choice to protect our environment is one of those choices that people can make with no monetary cost involved but we gain a fruitful, life-changing experience when we make the correct choices. Those of us who […]

The health and safety of each employee is our first priority. We have policies and work instructions to help ensure that tasks are being done safely, but to be best in class and ensure no one is hurt, we must take this to the next level. Every employee has a responsibility to themselves and to […]

This summer we welcomed four interns to different offices within the North and Central America region. Throughout the next few months we will be sharing interviews with them as they tell us about their experiences working at YKK Corporation of America. Meet Cosmos Cha, one of our summer business development interns. He is a senior […]

This summer we welcomed four interns to different offices within the North and Central America region. Throughout the next few months we will be sharing interviews with them as they tell us about their experiences working at YKK Corporation of America. Meet Koei Howell, one of our summer business development interns. Koei interned at YKK […]

I am responsible for kicking off the 5th round of the NCA Group’s 25 Fundamental Behaviors, and I thought about what kind of message I can share with you from my experiences. With nearly 20 years of experience with YKK, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work in 7 companies in 6 […]

This summer we welcomed four interns to different offices within the North and Central America region. Throughout the next few months we will be sharing interviews with them as they tell us about their experiences working at YKK Corporation of America. Meet Reza Talebzadeh, our summer business development intern. Reza interned at YKK Corporation of […]

YKK announces the launch of click-TRAK®, a zipper that makes opening and closing operations easier by replacing the insert pin with a snap button that you press together when closing the zipper. The zipper, which has been under development since 2015, was created with the aim of enabling the elderly, people with disabilities, and others […]

Family, customers, and employees easily represents and describes YKK! These principles and foundations were and still remain the heart and soul of what our founder Tadao Yoshida visualized for current and future generations. It’s expected and up to each of us to willingly carry this torch and pass it on each day with the same […]

YKK  announces the launch of GreenRise™, a new partially plant-derived zipper. The launch of this product signals YKK’s commitment to the development of environmentally friendly products aimed at contributing to a sustainable society. GreenRise™ replaces polyester made from conventional fossil fuels with a plant-based material, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in the […]

YKK is tackling the plastic waste issue with its materially recycled NATULON® zipper, which has saved millions of plastic bottles from landfills in the past five years. This is just one of the many environmentally friendly products we will showcase at the 2019 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, to be held June 18 – 20, 2019 […]

In order to “Be an Ambassador,” let’s see what an ambassador is based on the Dictionary by Merriam-Webster.  “Ambassador” is defined as “a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity or organization.”  This definition refers to the verb “act,” but an action can be simply wearing a YKK shirt, jacket […]

YKK will showcase its expertise in zipper innovation at the 2019 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, to be held June 18 – 20, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. On Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00 AM in booth 56030-UL, YKK will host a Tech Talk by John Holliday, Senior Product Development Manager, and Terry McCullough, Sales Engineering Manager.  […]

Our Fundamental Behavior this week instructs us to express gratitude for the help we’ve been given by reaching out and helping others. Jim Reed asked me to prepare this message to all of us during the 2018 Thanksgiving Holiday season. All of us enjoyed this season of time to reflect on how we have been […]

The workplace has changed a great deal since I started my legal career years ago.  When I first started out as a young lawyer, at the law firm I worked for, and at most other law firms and banks, and many other work places at that time, men wore a coat and tie and women […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. Meet Ndeye Gueye AKA The Zipper Queen! Ndeye specializes in crafting jewelry made out of zippers. As a young woman, Ndeye spent most of her time between New Orleans and Senegal and […]

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” This quote was said by one of the most creative and curious people to have ever lived – Walt Disney. The Walt Disney Company has created entertainment since 1923. That entertainment (movies, theme […]

I have always enjoyed trying to figure out ways to do things more efficiently. As a child, whether unloading the dishwasher, or doing laundry, or weeding the garden, I always tried to get my work done faster. My favorite book in elementary school was Cheaper by the Dozen, the tale of a family with 12 […]

Our women designers series is an on-going project to highlight innovative designers across the world that incorporate YKK® products into their unique creations. We were first introduced to Debora Crichton’s designs at the American Craft Show in Atlanta, GA a few months ago. Her unique cork origami handbags are the perfect marriage of functional design […]

Suppose that you are going to Japan for the first time. Do you go with no plan? Or do you do solid research in advance? When you want to get a fresh viewpoint or give priority to the impression of encounters, you may go with no plan. You can enjoy the risk and face some […]

A strong “sense of ownership” is essential to showing initiative and taking responsibility. Today I would like to think about this “sense of ownership.” A “sense of ownership” is one of the following three important types of awareness: (1) Problem awareness:  A state where we always keep our attention on the environment surrounding us, assessing […]

As a manufacturer of heat and fire resistant NFPA compliant fasteners, YKK understands the importance of taking preventative measures to protect firefighters.  We thought you might find the following articles to be helpful in terms of identifying potential hazards and protecting firefighters. In the article, “How to conduct a firefighter PPE risk assessment, “ written […]

It’s only human nature that when something goes wrong, our first instinct is to look for where the blame should be placed and who is at fault.  Personally, I give 100% of the credit to my parents for instilling this negative attribute in me at a very young age. (lol) I think back to when […]

For decades, YKK has been supplying jeans manufacturers with zippers as well as other fasteners.  As a major supplier to this industry, we thought you would find the following articles concerning myths about jeans to be helpful in caring for your jeans and ensuring that they last a long time. According to the article, “5 […]

Did you know that metal zippers can change color when they come into contact with any chemicals remaining from a leather tanning process? During the leather tanning process, tanning agents such as sulfuric acid, mineral acids, chrome compounds, tannic acid and aldehyde compounds are commonly used.   When those tanning chemicals that are used on leather […]

Dear YKK NCA Group team, “Bless your heart.”  It’s a phrase used in the Southeast U.S. that has multiple meanings.  It can be used as a sincere expression of sympathy or genuine concern.  It can be used as a precursor to an insult to soften the blow.  It can also sometimes be used to mean, […]

Alexandre Saade, assistant project manager at YKK Canada, is a member of Club Lions Laval Renaissance, an organization that raises money through volunteer activities to benefit people in the Laval community in Quebec, Canada. Commenting on what he does for the Club Lions Laval Renaissance, Saade says, “I search for organizations in our community that […]

Like YKK’s other manufacturing companies in the North and Central America region, YKK Mexicana, YKK’s zipper manufacturer in Mexico, and YKK Snap Fasteners Manufactura Mexico, YKK’s snap and button company in Mexico, are determined to become a more sustainable company.  They have a reuse-recycle program where a certain percentage of every kilogram of their waste […]

When I was asked to pick the Fundamental Behavior for this message, there was no hesitation on my part. This week’s Fundamental Behavior, “Listen to understand,” is the one that those who work close to me around the office know is my favorite. Why? Because, admittedly, I have a bad habit of interrupting others or […]

During a garment dyeing process, different types of dyestuff and auxiliaries are used depending on the nature of the garment fabric.  For example, a sulfur dye, reactive dye or a direct dye is usually used for cotton fabrics, while an acid dye is used for dying nylon products.  Moreover, the usage of various chemicals such […]

As we go about our daily lives, it’s easy to think that we would be happier if only we had more money, a better car or a bigger house. But in fact, scientific research tells us that it’s not money that makes us happy.  Psychologist Martin Seligman’s model of happiness (PERMA) concluded that there are […]

YKK Colombia joins other YKK companies in an effort to protect the environment.  By implementing good environmental practices, the company benefits society, as well as its local community, the environment and its staff.  In its operations, YKK Colombia applies measures to classify solid waste, reduce its use of electricity and to properly use water. “Our […]

When I was young, I thought working with friends would be the best. In my imagination, if I worked with my best friends and we had a great time every day, and if the work was fun, there would be a good atmosphere of teamwork. But lately, I’ve started to change my thinking. I realized […]

This week’s Fundamental Behavior is “Seek Improvement in Everything.”  Like most of the Behaviors we touch on each week, this week’s Behavior is connected to our other Fundamental Behaviors. My favorite part of the description for Seek Improvement in Everything is, “Don’t be satisfied with the status quo. ‘Because we’ve always done it that way’ […]

Today and everyday we honor the work of our female colleagues around the world. To celebrate, we are joining the International Women’s Day organization as they explore this year’s theme #balanceforbetter. Join us this month as we showcase our colleagues from the North and Central America region and share their thoughts about this important topic.

Innovation is the backbone of any successful company. YKK has strong traditions and those should be respected, but we should not let those traditions hinder innovation. The goal of innovation is to create value for our external customers, internal customers (i.e., employees), and society. The business world is full of companies that have thrived on […]

Today we continue our series on International Women’s Day with an article about Margaret Mimbs, a 44 year veteran with YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. at its manufacturing center in Macon, Georgia. Since March of 2018, Mimbs has been working as the senior training supervisor at the YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Talent Education Center at its facility in […]

According to the Occupational Health & Safety Association (OSHA), every year in the U.S., workers are killed or permanently injured by arch flashes, fiery explosions that can result from short circuits in high power electrical devices. Not only can these explosions be deadly, but they can also result in serious financial losses including fines, lawsuits, […]

In December 2018, YKK Bangladesh Pte Ltd became the only zipper manufacturer in Bangladesh to be certified by the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (“Alliance”), formed in the immediate aftermath to the Rana Plaza building collapse on April 24, 2013, which killed 1,134 workers and critically injured thousands more, […]

  I would like to start off this week’s Fundamental Behavior, “Be Process Driven,” with a few profound thoughts: The workplace is a teacher. You can find answers only in the workplace. Waste is hidden. Do not hide it. Make problems visible. These two statements came from Taiichi Ohno’s “Ten Precepts” to think and act […]

Imagine you have created a whole new line of jackets for your brand that are bluish gray in color, and you have installed zippers into these jackets that you thought were the same bluish gray color.  However, when you take one of those jackets outside into daylight, the zipper inside of the jacket appears to […]

As I write to you this week I am coming up on my two year anniversary of joining YKK. One of the many things that I have come to appreciate working here has been the fact that the company’s Core Values and Fundamental Behaviors align with those that my parents have instilled in me since […]

YKK El Salvador is another YKK company within the North and Central America region that has implemented several environmental practices to help protect the environment.  One activity of great importance for YKK El Salvador is its tree planting day, which takes place annually involving employees and its neighborhood to which the company belongs.  This core […]

Who is a customer? I have always been fascinated by this question and the overall concept of customer. To me, it is really a philosophical question and a matter of perspective that is hard to conceptually define. While Merriam-Webster dictionary defines customer as “a person or organization that buys goods or services from a store […]

YKK Corporation’s educational foundation, The Yoshida Scholarship Foundation, is currently seeking Japanese nationals to participate in a 9-12 month paid internship at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Candidates with background in African Studies, Humanities, Law, Political Science or a related field are encouraged to apply. Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter […]

In today’s fast-moving world, this Fundamental Behavior, which seems straightforward at first glance, has actually become a challenge for many of us. Email and other forms of constantly tethered communication have become so ingrained in our work and personal lives that we don’t always give it a second thought. However, whether via email, text, phone […]

This week’s Fundamental Behavior, Lead by example, is very personal to me. In 1994, as a young adult, I had the privilege to personally experience the end of apartheid in South Africa. When I think back to 1994 and the years following the democratic election of South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela, or more […]

Globally, the barriers to people moving across boarders are increasingly being lowered, and people from all over the world visit various countries and regions and interact with the people living there. Japan is no exception, but when I visited Tokyo for the first time in 1995, I did not see many non-Japanese people. However, the […]

Some of us were lucky enough to have had one or two really great teachers when we were in school. Mine was Mr. Gupton. He taught French and English grammar in my middle school. Mr. Gupton was a very intelligent and witty man. He was also legendarily demanding. He had a passion for excellence and […]

YKK Macon manufacturing generally hosts around 40 customer tours/meetings each year. When I am presenting an overview to them, I usually make the comment that YKK was “green” before it was cool to say it. That always gets a smile or a chuckle out of most people, but it is very true. Our founder, Mr. […]

Do you know how to say “safety” in Japanese? We say “AN-ZEN.” In English we use the alphabet, and in Japanese we use characters called “kanji.” Each kanji has its own meaning. The meaning of the characters “AN” and “ZEN” are “peaceful” (AN) and “nothing lacking” (ZEN). In other words, the word “AN-ZEN” means “there […]

While I write this message, the country is celebrating the life and legacy of George H.W. Bush. I have always thought that Bush #1 was one of the best presidents we have had in the modern age. Many would argue with me on this point, and there is plenty of room to argue, but I […]

Psychologists, through their studies on the evolution of humankind, believe that we are hardwired toward negative thinking — the fight or flight premise. While the fears and threats of today are not compatible with those of early humankind, some suggest that we remain inherently predisposed to have negative thoughts. So if we are already doomed […]

When I was 14 years old, I traveled to Japan for the first time as an exchange student. Foreigners were a rarer sight in Japan at that time than they are now, especially in rural Hiroshima, and my blond hair and blue eyes made me doubly conspicuous. I had left the United States as an […]

“No one prospers without rendering benefit to others.” Our founder Tadao Yoshida put it best when he established our corporate philosophy, the CYCLE OF GOODNESS. Mr. Yoshida was dedicated to this way of thinking, and over the years I have experienced first-hand the positive energy of this philosophy as it has continued to permeate our […]

Before I came to YKK, and before I even went to law school, I was a commercial real estate broker. As is typical of kids coming out of college with a degree in Foreign Affairs, two things were certain: #1) I had very few useful skills, and #2) I was completely ignorant of #1. In […]

The poet and philosopher Paul Valéry once wrote, “The future…is no longer quite what it used to be.” Try explaining a social media manager, ride share service driver, or drone operator to someone 25 years ago and you will see Valéry’s point. The BBC estimates that 1/3 of children entering elementary school today will ultimately […]

Nick Saban, one of the all-time great college football coaches with the University of Alabama, said, “It’s not human nature to be great. It’s human nature to survive, to be average and do what you need to do to get by. That is normal. When you have something great happen, it’s the special people that […]

When we read the description of this week’s Fundamental Behavior, “Be Proactive,” we can probably agree that life would be better and run smoother if everyone lived and acted this way. However, the reality is that many of us are just going through the motions of life, following the routines we have set at home […]

What does “Take Ownership” mean? I think it means to have a sense of involvement and responsibility, to think about the role you play in various tasks, and to see things through to the end without giving up. YKK Taiwan’s Zhong-Li Factory had undergone expansion several times since its founding and was an old and […]

Alan Mulally, described by Wikipedia as “an American engineer and business executive,” left the role of CEO at Boeing and became President and CEO of Ford Motor Company in 2006. Little did he know at the time that he was about to face the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression and a cataclysm for […]

Living and working with other people is complicated, even challenging. But we humans are social animals and we need to operate in groups in order to survive and thrive. We are designed to be emotionally sensitive to verbal and non-verbal cues from others in our group. We wince when we get signals from others in […]

Fundamental Behavior #15 is about being a good listener. What does that really mean? I recently read an article which pointed out that hearing is a physical ability, while listening is a skill. But we all speak to each other and listen to each other every day. So we already have listening skills, right? Do […]

In 1972, YKK was looking for a site to build a factory in the U.S. The team looked at several promising sites in a number of states. YKK was looking for a US home and was committed to developing a long term relationship with a community. The mayor of Macon, Georgia and his team also […]

Conventional wisdom tells us that 1+1=2. When it comes to teamwork, combined efforts are exponential, more like 2² or 4. Let me share with you a story that demonstrates the power of what a modest size team of people can do in just a couple of minutes… In the small town of Bruno outside of […]

No Brit had ever won the Tour de France. It was 2010 and Dave Brailsford was tasked with changing that fact when he took the job as the new General Manager and Performance Director for Team Sky, Great Britain’s professional cycling team. Dave brought with him a ‘secret’ weapon he called ‘aggregation of marginal gains,’ […]

YKK has a simple mission – to serve our customers and our communities. We succeed in that mission when we not only meet their needs, but exceed their expectations. Their needs are not static. Their needs are always changing. We satisfy those changing needs by coming up with new products and ways to make and […]

Processes are everywhere in both our personal lives and YKK. We would have chaos in both without good processes. Imagine customer orders, supplier orders, manufacturing, product development, product selling prices, product costing, hazardous waste disposal, safety, logistics, information technology, accounting, human resources, etc. without any procedures/rules. It would not be pretty. Companies that develop the […]

Successful relationships are built on a foundation of trust and respect. One of the best ways to build this foundation is by doing what we say we will do: “Honor Commitments.” We all recognize the importance of honoring commitments, but in actual practice many of us struggle and know we can do better. I struggle […]

Customers and employees represent two of the three pillars of YKK’s Core Values. Striving to meet and exceed their changing needs and expectations enables us to become better business partners for our customers, provide an enhanced environment and preferred place of work for our employees, and in turn contribute more to our local communities and […]

Robin Sharma, an internationally known leadership expert, once said, “Clarity precedes success.” I think this simple statement can be seen as a life lesson and a work mantra that we can all benefit from, whether it is applied to customers, leaders, employees, managers, colleagues, or even in our personal relationships with family and friends. At […]

Fundamental Behavior #6 is “Lead by example.” This behavior is not just for YKK’s supervisors, managers and senior leaders; it is for all of us. Regardless of our positions or titles, it is important to recognize that whether we feel we are one or not, each of us is a leader. This is equally true […]

When the word “diversity” comes to mind, many people most often think of the color of one’s skin or gender. While these aspects of diversity are all critical to a vibrant culture, when I became the president of YKK AP America and considered how to strengthen an inclusive environment in our organization, the diversity of […]

What we do is much more than simply making windows or doors, or zippers, or straps, or buttons. We make things so well that we can be entrusted to make the things that keep people safe, and that even save their lives. Our Protek® line of windows, for example, shield people from hurricanes and blasts, […]

Summer is here! Time to go outside and enjoy the great outdoors! Whether your favorite outdoor activity is hiking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean or lake, or just relaxing outside , we all need and enjoy clean air, clean water, and clean natural areas in which to live, work and play. But, as […]

Last month, a YKK employee at a facility outside of the NCA region was killed at work when he fell from a ladder. I think we all have been up on a ladder at some point in our lives. And I’m sure few of us have thought about the safety risks presented by using something […]

Fundamental Behavior 1 is “Do The Right Thing, Always.” It is not an accident that we chose this as our first Fundamental Behavior, as it sets the pathway for becoming the people and company with which we should all want to be associated. I remember when I was a sales representative calling on a prospective […]

‘You have the power!’ That is how this week’s Fundamental Behavior starts. Each of us is empowered to choose our attitude. I believe it. As with the other 24 Fundamental Behaviors, the power to be positive is an active choice we can make, nurture, and develop with practice. I really like thinking about how I […]

I really love telling people I work for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha. I tell them the name is too long to fit on a zipper so we call it ‘YKK.’ One of three things will happen, they will either 1) recognize our products immediately and they will compliment me on our quality products, 2) they will […]

I love it when guests who have visited different YKK companies in the NCA region tell me that there is something about the people in our companies from Canada to Colombia that is very similar, even though the businesses, the languages, and the cultures are different. After a little discussion with them, it’s clear to […]

Humor me for a few minutes. Pretend for a minute that you feel terrible. Pretend you are 30 pounds overweight, have high blood pressure, lack energy, feel depressed, and generally have low self-esteem. Now pretend your _____ (spouse, significant other, mom, dad, brother, sister) is worried about you. They bother you for weeks to go […]

Mr. Miyamoto is a friend of mine. He recently retired from YKK Corporation, but those of you lucky enough to have met him know what a cool guy he is. When I first met him, he was in charge of environmental compliance and he was coming all the way from Japan to the U.S. to […]

My grandparents on my father’s side were lifelong learners. They were always curious about and fascinated by new things. I admired them greatly for that, and hope that I can maintain the same practice they did. I think the practice of learning makes for a more fulfilled and happy life. Of course, we live in […]

Everyone makes mistakes, and almost every mistake can be forgiven. The fact is, however, mistakes steal from our credibility, no matter how honest or trivial. It is not fair, but it is a fact of life. It may be as simple as a spelling error in a presentation, or as serious as sending out a […]

Try this exercise right before you walk into the door of your home tonight – Sit quietly outside your house or apartment for one minute (60 seconds) and think about the members of your family and what they are doing inside. Think about what kind of environment you want experience when you get inside. Then, […]

In the first few years of my legal career, my office was next door to another junior attorney, Rob. Rob had a brusque manner, but he was a good guy and I really liked him. He did not have a fancy pedigree, and, like me, he was happy to have a job. He was also […]

Tadao Yoshida once wrote about a time when a security guard in Kurobe was lax in performing his duties, and, as a result, thieves stole some money. Ashamed and wracked with guilt, the guard traveled all the way to Tokyo to sorrowfully present his apologies and resignation to Tadao Yoshida. And President Yoshida did chastise […]

Play ball! The baseball season is upon us, and I look forward to catching an Atlanta Braves or a Macon Bacon game this summer. I always like it when the crowd does the ‘wave.’ I love watching it roll across the stadium. Everyone participates and it always makes me smile. I think we should start […]

Here is a letter I feel like writing from time to time. Dear ‘That Guy,’ I am going to let you in on a little secret everyone else in the room already knows – we can all tell when you are not listening and are just waiting for a chance to speak. Your body language […]

It is commonly understood that you must invest in your business. You must invest in equipment, you must invest in materials, and you must invest in your employees. One of the most significant reasons for YKK’s global success over the long term has been that we also make long term investments in relationships. Relationships are […]

I recently learned why geese fly in a ‘V’ formation. I had always imagined they were doing it because it was an effective way to follow the leader. I always wondered what special skills the lead goose had. As with most leaders, the answer is that she is not special. All geese in the gaggle […]

In 1984, when I was in high school, I was a member of a golf course grounds crew (think of the movie ‘Caddyshack,’ except not funny). We mowed. A lot. Every Wednesday, four of us would start at the first tee and mow around every tree, going from hole to hole as a mower gang […]

“I missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” -Michael Jordan Why am I talking about failure instead of […]

“If you cannot describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you are doing.” This quote comes from W. Edwards Deming, the legendary professor and management consultant credited with helping inspire the Japan’s post-war economic miracle. I have the great privilege to meet with YKK colleagues throughout the NCA region and […]

The meeting was scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. It was a large YKK Group meeting. It was my first one and I was eager to set a good example. I wanted to make sure I was there early and I figured 30 minutes was plenty of time (that was my first mistake). I pulled […]

We are a great business made up of great people doing great things for the community and the world. Still, we are a business, and as a business, we need customers. Since customers always have choices, we need for them to choose to do business with us. We do so many things right to make […]

I think this Fundamental Behavior is the key to a great career and a bright future, at least from a tactical perspective. Can you imagine how much less stress and conflict we would have if we all did these two actions all the time? It’s simple, right? Everyone clearly explains what is needed and everyone […]

You are the first one in each morning. You are the last one to leave each night. You work hard and you get things done. You always have time to listen, and, if absolutely necessary, talk. You follow all the company rules, even if no one is checking. You greet everyone you see on the […]

If, like me, you are a fan of the science shows you see on the Discovery Channel or PBS, then you have seen the ones about how the different ecosystems around the planet work. From the rainforest to the desert, diversity is critical to the sustainable health of that ecosystem. Each plant, animal, and bug […]

They make airtight and watertight zippers in Macon, Georgia called Proseal® zippers (check them out at www.ykkamericas.com). These are special ‘life and limb’ critical zippers. They must be airtight and watertight because they go into things like hazmat suits and emergency dry suits. Even a small leak can mean the person using it will die […]

Protecting the environment is YKK’s highest business priority, and that is not just corporate fluff! This command came directly from Chairman Yoshida when, in 1994, he set the YKK Group’s Environmental Pledge, which reads in part: “The YKK Group proclaims that it will address and promote ‘harmony with the environment’ as the highest priority of […]

“Worry about the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves,” is an old saying about money that can also be applied to safety. Focus on the ‘small’ every day safety requirements and the big problem of injury accidents will go away. I had the pleasure of working for Georgia-Pacific before I had the […]

Happy New Year! I am delighted to have this opportunity to pick up where Alex left off last December and share my thoughts with you as we begin Round 2 of discussions on the NCA Group Fundamental Behaviors. The economy was still in recession in 1995 when I came out of law school, but I […]

When we were discussing the concept of Fundamental Behaviors with David Friedman (the individual who created the concept), he stressed to us the importance of “ritualizing” the Behaviors by discussing them again and again and again. The goal, he said, was to ingrain the Behaviors into our subconscious minds so that we didn’t really have […]

As we approach the last two of our Fundamental Behaviors, I hope everyone can see how related all 25 are to each other. Yesterday I saw the preliminary results of the recent survey where we asked some of you which of the Behaviors is your favorite. Thus far, the favorite is #1, “Do the right […]

There is not a doubt in my mind that you are the most generous people I have had the privilege of knowing. Your generosity to one another and to the communities in which you live and work is exemplary and truly extraordinary. You have proven that “giving back” is not just about making donations to […]

I very much appreciate having this opportunity to share with you my thoughts about these Fundamental Behaviors. These messages have allowed me to share with you some of my observations about our company’s colorful history since 1973. In the months and years to follow, many of you will have a similar opportunity to share your […]

Do you consider yourself to be a lifetime learner? Do you have a natural curiosity that inspires you to learn more about the world around you? These are questions we all need to consider and answer for ourselves, no matter how young or old we are. I know that even at my age (definitely not […]

This week we’re discussing paying attention to the details. I’d like to share with you something that happened to me almost forty years ago that is a good example of someone not paying attention to details. In 1980, I was testifying before the International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., about a patent infringement charge that […]

Those of you who have been around YKK for a few decades know that in the old days we took the concept of “learn from your mistakes” to a whole new, unfortunate level. We learned a lot because we made a lot of mistakes. During those early years when we were working so hard and […]

I encourage you to read the explanation shown above for Fundamental Behavior #18, “Take ownership.” Those sentences pretty much say everything that I want to say. It’s all about taking personal responsibility. Isn’t it refreshing to see someone exhibit personal responsibility these days? Too often we see people doing just the opposite: blaming others for […]

Doesn’t it make you angry when something goes wrong and some people take great delight in saying, “I told you this wouldn’t work.” Sometimes they whisper those words; other times they take great pride in blurting it out for everyone to hear, often to the embarrassment of someone in particular. They’re the same people who […]

Please allow me to over-simplify by saying there are two schools of thought regarding showing appreciation. On the one hand are the people who think, “Why should I thank someone for doing something they should be doing anyway?” I hope you are not in that group. The rest of us see the value in showing […]

I’m going to take a different approach in my message this week about Behavior #15, “Listen to understand.” For the past 14 weeks I have written a message intended for everyone. This week I want to speak only to you … yes, you. To no one else. As you read this message, you will think […]

Most relationships with our neighbors and friends evolve naturally with little effort by anyone, and as we get to know these people in our lives better, we decide (often subconsciously) how close a relationship we wish to have with them. In a working environment, however, things are a little more complicated. Working with others is […]

My hope is that during your discussions of our Fundamental Behaviors over these twelve weeks you have noticed how closely linked many of them are to each other, to our Cycle of Goodness philosophy, and to our three Core Values. This week’s behavior, “Seek improvement in everything,” is no exception, as it is directly related […]

In October of 2011, I was driving to Macon for our annual R&D meeting, which includes the presentation of awards to our very talented engineers for new their new patents, and I heard on the radio that Steve Jobs had died. In my comments at the close of the R&D meeting, I shared the following […]

I often share our Fundamental Behaviors wallet card with people I meet. As they scan the list of behaviors, they often say, “Tell me about ‘Be process-driven,’” because it is so different from the other behaviors. Maybe some of you have the same question. Many organizations say they are “results driven.” As a business, of […]

Honoring commitments is so easy to say; but often so difficult to do. But really, all we need to do to honor our commitments is do what we said we’d do in the first place. It’s about keeping our word in order to earn another person’s trust. When we tell friends we’ll meet them at […]

In several of these behaviors, we are being asked to broaden our concept of certain terms. For example, we have learned that safety is everyone’s responsibility, quality cannot be achieved without everyone’s involvement, and we all are leaders. In this week’s topic, we learn that we have both internal and external customers. It’s obvious who […]

All 25 of our Fundamental Behaviors are important, but I have to confess that I am especially fond of this one. I truly believe that if we all follow the simple guidelines it offers, our work lives (and probably our lives at home, too) would be so much more productive and free of stress. The […]

I was in a meeting recently and Allen Bogenschutz, YCA’s vice president of risk management, asked the audience, “How many of you are responsible for safety?” It was a trick question because he wanted everyone’s hand to go up because we’re all responsible for safety. Along these same lines, I could ask, “How many of […]

This week we are going to discuss a critically important Fundamental Behavior, “Embrace Diversity.” As you have your discussions, I’d like you to consider the following points: What is diversity? Diversity can be defined in many different ways, but I’d like to share one thought-provoking definition I read recently: “Diversity is a commitment to recognizing […]

Anyone who has worked with our customers at YKK or YKK AP knows how critically important quality is. In almost every instance, our YKK and YKK AP products are components of something having considerably more total value than the cost of our product. But in every instance, the quality of the expensive product the consumer […]

Safety (Fundamental Behavior #2) and protecting the environment (Fundamental Behavior #3) are two core concepts have been part of YKK’s philosophy from the beginning and will not be compromised. YKK founder Tadao Yoshida often spoke of his love for nature, once stating, “[True] wealth means being able to make products continuously while maintaining clean water […]

My father worked in a cotton mill until the day that he died from a heart attack at 55. In summers and during Christmas when I was in high school, I worked in the cotton mill, filling in on second and third shift. One day after a bad accident, my father asked me, “How do […]

Long before we had YKK’s three Core Values, we had Tadao Yoshida’s Cycle of Goodness to guide us. This philosophy teaches us, “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others.” This philosophy was explained to me over the years by different people in very different ways, but the explanation which made the most lasting impression […]

For decades, YKK has been manufacturing zippers to go into boots.  Whether they are plastic coil or metal, these fasteners are integral to the life of a pair of boots. Since it is boot season, we thought some useful tips on how to maintain and repair zippers in boots would come in handy. The article, […]

John Edward Holliday Jr., senior product development manager at YKK (U.S.A) Inc., shares his thoughts about the relationship between innovation and sustainability in the manufacturing sector. Why is innovation important in our industry? Innovation is one of the key tools that we have to gain new business and expand into new markets. Although competitive price […]

We are pleased to announce that YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). The Sustainable Apparel Coalition is an industry-wide group working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of products around the world. The SAC was incorporated as a 501c(6) nonprofit organization and launched the groundbreaking Higg Index suite of tools […]

You may know YKK best for the zippers in your jeans and jackets, but did you know that YKK makes many products for the transportation industry? Take a look at this video, filmed at the 2019 North American International Auto Show, featuring some of the YKK products that can be found in your cars, trucks, […]

Each year, YKK hosts the YKK Fastening Awards, a fashion design contest for fashion design students studying in Japan focused on fastening products such as zippers, hook & loop fasteners, buckles, and snaps & buttons. Every autumn, 30 works chosen from the entries are debuted at a fashion show in Tokyo. Check out the Grand-Prix […]

YKK Canada Inc. is another company within the YKK North and Central America group that is committed to protecting the environment.  With its manufacturing headquarters located in Montreal, Canada, the company offers a full line of metal, coil and plastic zippers, plus hook and loop, plastic buckles, and webbings. Guided by the YKK Group Environmental […]

YKK’s architectural products company, YKK AP America Inc. is another YKK company that is dedicated to developing sustainable manufacturing practices to help preserve the environment.  The company has a manufacturing center located on 204 acres of land in Dublin, Georgia.  One hundred and twenty acres of this land is still maintained as a natural habitat, […]

On Sunday December 16th and Monday December 17th, the Arts of Fashion Foundation, a San Francisco-based fashion education 501 (C)(3) non-profit, held its 2018 Symposium, which culminated with the 2018 Arts of Fashion International Competition on Monday night. The sponsorship of YKK Corporation and the support of VIP guests made possible the two days of […]

Guided by the YKK Group Environmental Pledge, Tape Craft Corporation’s Environmental Management System has been ISO 14001 certified since 2007.  An ISO 14001 environmental management system is a systematic and process driven approach to controlling the aspects of the business that have a significant impact on the environment. Tape Craft Corporation, a manufacturer of webbing, […]

YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. Snap & Button Products is another company within the YKK North and Central America region that is focused on helping to protect the environment.   Located on approximately 90 acres in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, the company is a world-class supplier of metal notions with a customer list that includes major manufacturers of jeans, jackets, […]

YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. has a fastener assembly plant and office in Anaheim, California, and they are proud of the fact that their facility is running completely on solar energy.  In 2014, YKK began researching the possibility of solar energy use at one of its locations, and determined that its Anaheim facility would be the best […]

Today we continue our series of articles which explain what each of our facilities are doing to be a more environmentally friendly company. The YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. National Manufacturing Center in Macon, Georgia, which produces zippers and other fastening products, is another YKK company that is dedicated to being a sustainable manufacturing company.  They have […]

According to the National Center for Women in Technology, the number of U.S. computing-related job openings expected by 2026 will be 3.5 million. However, only 17% of these jobs can be filled by U.S. computing bachelor’s degree recipients by 2026. As the demand for talent in the tech industry continues to grow, it is important […]

Long before it became cool for companies to promote their sustainable manufacturing practices, in 1994 YKK’s former chairman and CEO, Tadahiro Yoshida, established the YKK Group Environmental Pledge.  It states that, “The YKK Group proclaims that it will address and promote ‘harmony with the environment’ as the highest priority of its business activities.” In addition […]

Today we continue our series on how YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. has benefited from its Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program and how it has reached a $ 2 million savings plateau as a result of this program. Kozue Childress is director of supply chain management for YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. in Macon, Georgia, and she is also […]

In August of 2018, YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. in Macon, Georgia reached a $2 million savings plateau through its Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program.  According to Melissa Morin, the continuous improvement leader for both YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. in Macon, Georgia and YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, this savings was achieved with the help of 48 […]

Today we continue our series on the misconceptions about manufacturing.  Another myth about manufacturing is that it only involves using traditional advertising.  The I Am An Architect®  video series created by YKK AP America Inc. is a great example of how marketing is changing even for manufacturing. This clever and entertaining video series features architects […]

Unique Medical Exchange Fosters Partnership, Idea Exchange Between Sister Cities On October 15, Navicent Health and Mercer University School of Medicine welcomed six physicians, two nurse, and one medical tech from Kurobe City Hospital for the fifteenth year of a unique medical exchange between Macon-Bibb County and its sister city of Kurobe, Japan. Each summer, […]

In an award ceremony on September 25, 2018, YKK Corporation received the Prime Minister’s Award, the top prize in 12th Kids Design Award organized by the Kids Design Kids Design Association in Japan, for the QuickFree® zipper. QuickFree® was also recognized in the “design that contributes to the safety and security of children” category of […]

We continue our series celebrating National Manufacturing Day addressing some of the most common misconceptions about the manufacturing industry. This time we are debunking the myth that manufacturing jobs are unsafe. We interviewed Allen Bogenschutz, vice president – risk management at YKK Corporation of America to discuss the safety culture here at YKK. Question: What are the […]

Since Manufacturing Day is on October 5th, we are doing a series on the misconceptions concerning manufacturing, and one of those misconceptions is that the demand for manufacturing jobs is low.  We recently interviewed Staci Uselton, senior manager of human resources at the YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. national manufacturing center in Macon, Georgia about this subject, […]

Established in 1997 by Chairman Mel Sarumaru, YKK’s Global Marketing Group (GMG) has been working with companies headquartered in the U.S. to build their product lines in Asia for more than twenty years.  We recently interviewed several GMG employees here in the U.S. to learn what their experiences have been like working for this group. […]

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15), we want to recognize and celebrate the contributions of our Hispanic colleagues throughout the North and Central America region. Here at YKK, we embrace diversity and believe that we make better decisions when we consider multiple points of view and act as a […]

YKK Canada’s 50th anniversary celebration took place last month in Montreal, Canada. The event was attended by long-time friends of the company, community leaders and YKK’s  leadership team. The celebratory dinner was preceded by the Product Development Center opening and a YKK Canada factory tour. The event not only helped celebrate the company achievements throughout […]

David Kelly, YKK USA Snap & Button Products Industrial Fastening Group manager for sales and marketing, manages the company’s fastening business in the North and Central America region.  This business includes the safety, government, jobbers, medical, recreational, leather and retail industries.  He began working for YKK USA Snap & Button Products in 2004 as a […]

This month, the Carter Center will welcome the new Yoshida Scholarship Foundation recipient, Masatoshi Ono.  Masatoshi is a graduate student at the University of Bradford in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England pursuing a Master’s degree in International Development Management. Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter, The Carter Center […]

A few weeks ago we launched “One Conversation at a time,” an on going social media series where we share the stories of our employees, the roles they play in the North and Central America Group, as well as their thoughts on YKK’s Core Values and Fundamental Behaviors and more. These are some of the […]

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy and celebrate the great outdoors. Here, at YKK we make products for all your favorite outdoor activities, from hiking, camping to diving and white water rafting. Throughout the month of July we shared videos and information about some of the YKK products especially made to improve your outdoor […]

To celebrate World Environment Day, we hosted a social media series throughout the month of June to highlight how we are working toward a sustainable society in cooperation with customers, employees and local communities. The YKK Group Environmental Pledge was signed in September 1994, and our commitment to promoting harmony with the environment remains our […]

With summer already here, we know that many of you will be taking trips these next few months.  Here are some things to consider when you are shopping for a new piece of luggage for your next trip. Whether you are looking for a high end piece of luggage that you will use often for […]

What we do is much more than simply making windows or doors, or zippers, or straps, or buttons. We make things so well that we can be entrusted to make the things that keep people safe, and that even save their lives. Our Protek® line of windows, for example, shield people from hurricanes and blasts, […]

Summer is a great time of the year to go camping, but before you go on your next excursion, make sure your sleeping bag is still in good condition and that the zipper is still working properly.  A zipper that has separated causing a gaping hole in a sleeping bag will make for a miserable […]

On July 8, YKK sponsored the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team vs Japan’s Collegiate All-Star Team game at Macon’s Luther Williams Field. Home of the Macon-Bacon baseball team. The day started with pre-game Clinic hosted by both teams where children of YKK Employees had the chance to learn the fundamentals of baseball, show off their […]

We challenged the 2018 Core Values Awards winners to share what YKK’s Core Values mean to them in six words. The responses have been truly inspirational and showcase how these individuals embrace YKK’s Core Values and Fundamental Behaviors on a daily basis. Leonardo Lozano is the Health and Safety Supervisor at YKK Mexicana S.A. DE […]

A year ago, YKK’s North and Central America group introduced 25 Fundamental Behaviors to create a unique corporate culture for its employees to live by.  Our Fundamental Behavior #13 is called Be a Team Player, and it states that we should be willing to help a co-worker when that’s what’s required for success.  The following […]

Throughout the month of June, YKK North and Central America Group staff members planted trees to honor World Environment Day. At YKK, protecting the environment is part of our DNA and it is one of our 25 Fundamental Behaviors. Check out this short video highlighting some of the tree planting activities that took place within the […]

As we continue to celebrate World Environment Day throughout the month, we wanted to take the time to share this great story from our colleagues at YKK (U.S.A) Inc., New York City office. This past weekend, Kelly Ghahramani , Lauren Simon and Catheryn Chen, decided to spend their free time doing something they are passionate about: protecting […]

At YKK we are constantly looking for ways to make our fastening products more eco-friendly.  We were excited to learn how several industries are making an attempt to make their uniforms eco-friendly, including the military and law enforcement industries, as well as fast food restaurant chains, and even the wetsuit industry. In his article, “Army […]

Often when a sofa starts to look worn or a home owner wants something new, they will spend a fortune on a new sofa.  As a zipper manufacturer, we believe that there are several advantages to purchasing zippered sofa covers and cushion slipcovers. SlipcoverShop.com explains that cushions will likely experience a great deal of wear […]

In honor of Women’s Health Week, we’d like to showcase the efforts of our companies in the YKK North & Central America region which promote active lifestyles and healthy work environments. We all know the benefits of a healthy lifestyle are countless, but making these choices can be difficult, especially with our busy work schedules, […]

When the founder of YKK, Tadao Yoshida, was a boy, he read a biography of Andrew Carnegie and was deeply influenced by Carnegie’s philosophy that those with great wealth must be socially responsible and use their assets to help others. As he worked to build YKK, Tadao Yoshida made the concept that the value of […]

At YKK we are always looking for new ways to become a more environmentally ethical company by improving our manufacturing processes, creating more eco-friendly products and by participating in corporate social responsibility activities that help the environment. Likewise, we support the jeans industry in its recent efforts to develop more sustainable methods for making blue […]

At YKK, we celebrate creativity and embrace innovative thinkers.  That is why it is important to us to support young designers who are revolutionizing the industry and pushing boundaries with their original creations. These are a few of the ways YKK is supporting designers globally: Fashion that gives back Angela Luna, a graduate of Parsons […]

There are three major parts of a zipper: (1) the elements, which mesh with each other, (2) the slider, which is the part you operate with your hand and (3) the tape, which is made of cloth. Here at YKK, we make sure that each component is produced to meet the highest standards of quality. […]

Not only does YKK show concern for the environment, but many of our employees at our subsidiaries are finding ways to preserve the environment themselves.  Two of our employees at our company, Tape Craft Corporation, each adopted a mile of highway in memory of their children.  These two employees with the help of their families […]

Every year, YKK produces enough zippers to wrap around the world 50 times. That’s 1.2 million miles of zippers! The National Manufacturing Center of YKK in Macon, Georgia produces around 65,000 miles of those zippers annually. Shane Herndon has been working at YKK for 27 years. He is the Slide Fastener Assembly Manager, and he […]

Have you ever wondered how YKK tests the quality of our zippers? We asked Greg Alexander, Quality Engineer, to explain how his department ensures the quality of our zippers and other products. ” We utilize the best available technology such as digital microscope with high quality imaging abilities, capable of 2-D and 3-D imaging enhancements. […]

YKK produces 582 standard colors. About 10 million colors have been registered worldwide. Robin Barnhill, Dye Lab Manager, shared her insight into her department’s role in the overall production of zippers. How long have you been working at YKK? 11 years Briefly describe a typical work day: Customers are our top priority so reviewing new shade […]

As part of our National Zipper Day series, we are interviewing experts from our very own National Manufacturing Center in Macon, GA to shed some light on what it takes to create a zipper. Here at YKK, innovation is part of everything we do; from our high quality products to the way our teams develop […]

Due to the good administrative management of its company clinic, YKK El Salvador was chosen as one of the top 10 national dental clinics in El Salvador by the Itinerant Dental Clinic Program of the Salvadoran Social Security Institute. On August 11, 2017, the director general of the Salvadoran Institute of Social Security (ISSS), Dr. […]

A child smiles and stares in awe as the colorful floats parade in front of her. She waves hello and cheers loudly when she sees her mom waving back at her from YKK’s float. The excitement is palpable as hundreds of people from around the country and the world gather for the 36th annual parade […]

At YKK we believe in supporting our customers by participating in events that they offer to the public.  On November 18 and 19, 2017, Rachel Schildkraut and Sunny Choy from YKK’s San Francisco Global Marketing office and Tucker Asano from YKK’s New York Global Marketing office ran in The North Face Endurance Challenge in San […]

On February 22, 2018 Dublin-Lauren’s FIRST Robotics Team, “The ThunderBotz,” hosted an open house to unveil their latest project to the public. For the past six weeks, students and volunteers have been working tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming FIRST Robotics competition taking place in mid-March. Students’ excitement was evident throughout the night as they […]

Throughout the month of March we shared a series of blogs, videos and posts highlighting the work and contributions of our female colleagues from our companies within North and Central America. Find their powerful and inspiring messages below. March 6, 2018 We begin our International Women’s Day series with a motivational message from Kuniyo Chitiea, Manufacturing […]

Zipper Testing Methods Did you know that YKK has various methods of testing its zippers?  Here are several different ways that YKK tests a zipper’s strength. *Tensile Testing Machine Conditions – Tensile Speed: 300 mm/min, Clamp Width: 25 mm YKK also uses the following different methods for testing its plastic hardware. The following methods are used […]

YKK Corporation’s educational foundation, The Yoshida Scholarship Foundation, is currently seeking Japanese nationals to participate in a 9-12 month paid internship at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Candidates with background in African Studies, Humanities, Law, Political Science or a related field are encouraged to apply. Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter […]

What is the first image or thought that comes to your mind when you think of sustainability? Is it an image of a green forest? Or a recap of last night’s TV special on the environment? Typically, when we think of sustainability we tend to focus on all the current problems affecting the environment. However, sustainability has become such […]

In a recent article in Forbes, “What ‘Ingredient Brands’ Are And Why They’re Important,” Richard Kestenbaum writes about how the use of ingredient brands can help a brand communicate the quality and craftsmanship of its product. Citing the suitcase brand Voicer, Kestenbaum writes, “Voicer developed an ingenious method for making a suitcase that avoids folding […]

As a brand leader for workwear solutions, YKK makes it a priority to collaborate with our customers to ensure we are meeting all of their needs and expectations. Our top of the line technology helps create innovative products that are instrumental to the success of this ever-growing industry. As the industry of workwear evolves to […]

YKK always tries to stay one step ahead of our competition by developing unique new fasteners to meet the changing needs of our customers. As a zipper manufacturer that provides fastening products for the apparel industry, we found these examples of apparel and technology leaders who have created cutting edge, technology-driven types of clothing to […]

As a manufacturer of a micro disposable hook fastener for baby and adult incontinence diapers, YKK is concerned with providing a hook fastener that is gentle to the skin. A common problem that parents and caretakers in nursing homes have is knowing when a diaper needs to be changed. If left unchanged, a diaper can […]

At YKK our environmental pledge encourages us to “preserve the abundantly endowed global environment and to transfer it to the next generation in sound condition.” Likewise, many apparel manufacturers are concerned with lessening their environmental impact so clothing does not end up in landfills where they can cause harm to the environment. Eileen Fisher is […]

The seats in an automobile play an important role in the overall customer satisfaction. That is why automotive engineers must keep up with customer demands by adding new features and materials to improve the look, feel and functionality of seating. As a manufacturer of fastening products, YKK is actively developing fastening solutions to meet the […]

If you are a cold-water diver, you know that a drysuit is essential to keeping you warm and dry under water. However, a drysuit is a significant investment that can cost $1,000 and up. If you do not properly maintain your drysuit, you will have to periodically service it, and that can be pricey. For […]

YKK to Emphasize Speed, Digitalization, Sustainability, Diversity Leading zipper and fastening products manufacturer YKK has kicked off a four-year business planning period with a major reorganization aimed at speeding up communication and time to market, with an emphasis on digitalization, sustainability and diversity. YKK HQ Now Runs South America Operations Out of Marietta YKK Corp. […]

A few days before Christmas, a very cold winter was approaching. While the last leaves were falling from the trees, in a small sewing workshop, four tailors were soon to finish the last dresses ordered in advance by their best customers, to be worn during Christmas Eve. The four tailors with a cup of hot […]

  Like many companies today, YKK has a philosophy, management principle and a set of Core Values which our employees look to in performing their jobs and in providing the best quality products and services. Our philosophy, called the CYCLE OF GOODNESS™, was developed by our founder, Tadao Yoshida, and it states that “no one […]

Like many companies today, YKK is concerned with helping people who have been affected by recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Maria which plowed through Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, and the earthquake which struck central Mexico on September 19, 2017. At YKK AP America Inc., our architectural products company, Angel  Báez and Veronica Acosta […]

YKK Corporation has just released a short video entitled, “AUTO CAMPING” as part of its efforts to promote its corporate brand and its zippers.  Directed by Naoya Yamaguchi, this video, which was released on November 6, 2017, tells the story of a family, who as Christmas approaches, visits a slightly futuristic campsite and has a […]

YKK Corporation has just released a new video entitled “The Relationship Between the Groundwater of Kurobe and YKK,” which is about conservation activities conducted by YKK to preserve Kurobe, Japan’s natural groundwater.  Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture is the technological hub and main manufacturing and development center for YKK, and it is also blessed with an […]

    When you say “handbag” there can be many different interpretations, including backpack, baguette, handbag, cross body bag, tote bag, clutch bag and bucket bag, and in some instances, handbags are referred to as a purse or shoulder bag. The history of bags and purses goes back to the earliest stages of civilization when […]

In February of 2017, YKK Honduras began remodeling the Dr. Leonardo Martinez V public school.  The company made the decision to do this after receiving a letter in October of 2016 from the principal of the school asking for help in remodeling the school.  This project involved remodeling five toilets and placing ceramic tile on […]

For decades, consumers have been purchasing spring mattresses. However, recently consumers have been switching to foam mattresses because they can be ordered online in what is known as a bed-in-a-box, and they mold to the contours of your body offering individualized pressure relief.  The foam mattresses also come with a soft removable cover known as […]

YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. and Tape Craft Corporation will be exhibiting at booth # 2129 at the  IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International) Expo in New Orleans from Sep. 27 – Sep. 29.  YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. and Tape Craft Corporation are a part of the Show Stopper program featuring innovative YKK® and Tape Craft® brand products. YKK’s […]

Since 1949, the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s vision has been “building a better tomorrow by bringing individuals into a world of sight and sound.” One Georgia Lions Lighthouse goal is to close the gap on 2 million Georgians who are uninsured. The foundation provides access to low-cost vision and hearing services. In May of 2016, […]

Join YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. and Tape Craft Corporation at the IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International) Expo in New Orleans on September 27-29, 2017. The IFAI Expo is a dynamic textile tradeshow, featuring three show floor areas; specialty fabrics, advanced textiles and shade & weather protection.  The show will host traditional market suppliers from fabric, equipment and hardware to services needed to […]

YKK has released the third video in the “Fastening Days” trilogy, which thus far have had a total of 13 million views from around the world. In FASTENING DAYS 3, Yoji, Kei and Kelly, rescue the endangered city using zippers and once again feel a connection with the surrounding world. The animation is directed by […]

In 1972, World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly to raise global awareness concerning protecting nature and the planet Earth.  Every year on June 5th, YKK Group offices around the world plant trees to recognize this special day.

We are sharing the following article from the YKK London Showroom from Anna Stefaniak with YKK Europe.   Carolin Holzuber , (UN) COVER exhibition     aniastefaniak Our new exhibition started this week.  The Austrian footwear designer, Carolin Holzuber presents her latest, (UN) COVER, collection at the YKK London Showroom. The exhibition will be on display […]

Have you ever wondered how a zipper works?  Well, YKK has created a new web page called “The Craftsmanship of YKK,” which seeks to educate people, especially kids, about YKK’s zipper making technology. This nifty cartoon-like web page features interesting facts about how zippers open and close, as well as information on YKK’s die casting […]

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This year to celebrate National Zipper Day on April 29th, YKK had a photo contest, and we asked people to submit any unique photos of YKK® zippers on our Instagram page.  The winner of the contest was Autumn Lin Kietponglert, a fashion designer and dress maker from Pennsylvania.  Autumn submitted these photos featuring some of her designs […]

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As a leading company in the manufacture of fastening products, YKK is concerned with protecting the world’s water resources and eliminating substance that are harmful to the environment.  To address these concerns, YKK has developed a waterless dyeing process for dyeing zippers at its factory in Kurobe, Japan where it is currently testing this new […]

YKK congratulates the following winners of the Marine Fabricator Association’s Fabrication Excellence Awards.  The Fabrication Excellence Awards contest is designed to recognize excellence in Marine Fabrication, and two different awards are given out including an Award of Excellence and Outstanding Achievement.  YKK was really excited to have our products used in these innovative marine designs. […]

by Beth Whelchel, YKK Corporation of America Bianca Chong is a fashion design student who won the YKK Fastening Award at the International Talent Support 2015 contest in Trieste, Italy. She won this award for her clever use of YKK’s VISLON® flat zipper with a mirror-like finish in designing a leather clutch purse. Here is […]

For any students who are interested in a textile industry career, the IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International) is having Student Design Competitions.  Students have until Monday, May 15, 2017 to submit projects for this competition.  Each project must use textiles as a major component, and any project completed within the last year is eligible. The […]

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By Jerod Gandy, Safety Manager, Tape Craft Corporation, Oxford, Alabama Maintaining a Culture of Safety Awareness Has its Rewards At Tape Craft Corporation, the safety of our employees is very important to us.  Tape Craft’s management and employees work tirelessly to maintain a culture of safety awareness and looking out for each other!  Having an excellent safety […]

 How to Remove Stains from Denim Garments Removing stains from denim garments caused by metal dust particles from a zipper is easy.  Since the stains appear on the surface of the fabric, you can simply wash the garment with an organic solvent. The Causes of Stains on Denim Garments These stains are caused by manufacturers stone […]

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by Tim Russell, Tape Craft Corporation, Oxford, Alabama At one time hunting wild game was a necessity for survival. Its roots run deep in both tradition and ancestry.  In fact hunting, fishing and even gardening are considered fun activities for a great number of people. These activities that people do for fun now have their […]

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It is my great pleasure to introduce to you the new YKK North & Central America Group fastening website, www.ykkamericas.com, which has been designed to replace our current fastening websites within the North and Central America region.  With this new website, we hope to demonstrate our Cycle of Goodness philosophy which states, “No one prospers […]

YKK has released the second episode in our video series “Fastening Days.” This is the sequel to our first animated film, which was released in Oct 2014. Please check it out!

YKK Fudosan (Real Estate) Co., Ltd. (Head office: 1, Kanda Izumi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) obtained top LEED-BD+C (Core and Shell) certification (Platinum) for its YKK80 Building. It was the first such certification for a new office building in Japan. In LEED* certification, the site, water efficiency, materials, indoor environment and energy are among the areas that […]