The Cycle of Goodness:
"No one prospers unless he renders benefit to others."
An enterprise is an important member of society. As such it must coexist with the other elements of society. Its value will be recognized by the benefits it shares with society.
Tadao Yoshida, founder of YKK and author of this rich core philosophy, carefully considered this need for mutual prosperity as he planned his business endeavors. He determined that contributions to society could best be achieved by manufacturing something of value and then by applying the continual creation of value through innovative ideas and inventions. The resulting business expansion would bring prosperity to the business and its trading partners, thus benefiting all of society.
For example, if a more efficient machine can be developed, productivity will be enhanced; or, if material loss can be reduced, lower cost in final product could be attained while making the best use of limited resources.
Also, Tadao Yoshida felt strongly that the fruits of these innovative ideas must not be retained by any individual. Instead, they should be distributed widely to society, thereby circulating the benefit. In this way, one can prosper while making a contribution to the enrichment of all humankind. Tadao Yoshida called this the "Cycle of Goodness," and he made this idea his fundamental philosophy of business.
We retain this concept as the ongoing core business philosophy of YKK.
The Cycle of Goodness
The earth turns, seasons change and the irreversible cycle of nature replenishing itself continues. So it is with the "Cycle of Goodness," a simple principle authored by our founder, Tadao Yoshida, and practiced daily by YKK people around the world. It starts with our single-minded dedication to perfection in everything we do.
At YKK, we believe that if we consistently strive to make perfect products, they will enhance the goods in which they function as integral parts. The higher the quality of those goods, the better they will perform. More will be sold to people who enjoy increased value. And, as our customers prosper, the demand for YKK products will concurrently increase.
The success of YKK generates new products, facilities and investments in the many communities where we work and which we call home. Through continuous progress, we are able to offer better working environments to more and more employees. And with shared prosperity, the community benefits with us. We all prosper. That's our belief, our guiding principle and our mission.