香港の建築技術や品質管理に対する考え方が日本のそれに近しいことは既に何度か述べさせて頂きましたが、今回のトピックは日本の建築塗料マンであれば必ず経験する現場の視察に関するトピックです。

現場訪問は現場が始まる前（それこそ物件が未だ確定する前）から、現場施工中、現場施工後と、顧客サービスと品質管理の観点からなくてはならないものですが、特に現場調査や現地での試験というものは、顧客の信頼を得るために欠かせないアイテムのひとつです。

例えば日本でもお馴染みの付着力試験（俗にいう引っ張り試験）などは、我々が20年前に香港に導入し、現在ではどこのメーカーもサービスの一環として行うものです。

しかしながらほとんどのメーカーはそれらの試験を現地の社員に任せ、日本人が実地で行うことは稀です。

我々関西ペイントは、日本人が率先してお客様の大切な資産を調査し、品質の管理に努めています。実際、香港人の顧客から、「こんな現地の試験に日本人が作業着を着て自分でやるのは見たことがない。他のメーカーの日本人は、夜の接待以外に顔を見せないし、現場などにも来ない。まして施工現場の足場にも登ってサービスをするとは、やはり本物の日本のメーカーだ。他のメーカーは職人のような社員が来て、適当にいい加減にやっているだけだ。」と言われます。オーナーが参加するプレゼンでも、これらの写真をご覧頂くことで、我々が口ばかりではなく、正真正銘正統の日本メーカーだと分かって頂けるのです。

もちろん、付着力試験だけではありません。日本のメーカーが日本で行っている品質管理に類するサービスは、この香港市場でも関西ペイント社に於いては当たり前に行われていることなのです。

Frequently we have mentioned that the standard level of Hong Kong building industry has caught up with that of Japan's in the sense of technology, quality control and more. In this topic, we would like to go into detail on this subject.

Site visits should be mandatory for any businessman in the profession of building industry. Such examination is one of the indispensable items to earn the trust of our clients. We will visit the project sites before construction commencement (or even for projects which are yet to be in spec), during progress of work, and after project completion.

For instance, if you are involved in this field, you may know about adhesive testing, the so-called pull-off testing. Twenty years ago as we witnessed the vigorous growth of the construction sector in Hong Kong, this type of testing was launched through the influence of Japan technology and construction practices. In the two decades of further development, this test item has become very common as means to verify the quality of paint film layers.

Some brands will provide such testing services free of charge. However, some manufacturers only leave the inspection and testing to the locals without ever being present to apprehend clearly on the site conditions and test parameters. It is rare for Japanese to attend these testing on-site.

▼  Mr. Kakuda conducting an on-site pull-off adhesion test, having professionally trained in Japan with over 20 years of practiced skill


Since properties are the most valuable assets of our clients, the duty of a Japanese paint manufacturer would naturally be to protect these buildings. Thus, we will carry out on-site testing and inspection with the attendance of Japanese as much as we could. Our arrangement seems to have amazed our clients, because most of them have gotten too used to having local services offered by other companies. Some clients even say to us that they "cannot imagine Japanese will come to site and perform site checking by yourself. Other companies do not send any Japanese even if they have. I thought Japanese would only sit on comfortable chairs and enjoy night entertainment, but you come all sweaty in that working shirt to protect quality."

▼  Mr. Kakuda performing on-site inspection. From observation, on-site mock-up, obtaining application details through talking with workers to checking substrate condition, everything has been done by an enthusiastic advocate of do-it-yourself when it comes to project management


Sometimes, we will use these inspection photos in our presentation in front of client to prove that we are genuine Japanese manufacturer to manage quality control by ourselves.

Of course, it is not only adhesive testing but whatever it is regarding quality control, we are very keen to do, since we have a mission to protect our client's properties as well as our reputation as a Japanese manufacturer.

▼ Aside from Mr. Kakuda, Kansai Paint will often send technicians from Japan headquarter to visit various project sites in Hong Kong