Kobe Steel Ltd., rocked by a data fabrication scandal, said Friday its internal probe has found that pressure to meet delivery dates was behind its product irregularities and unveiled measures to prevent similar problems in the future.
The steel maker said in a released internal report that its factory floor was under heavy pressure to meet deadlines and production goals. The company said it will take steps such as using more machines for data entry to avoid manual data manipulation, reviewing its quality certification system and increasing its workforce.
"I deeply apologize to our customers, clients and shareholders for causing so much trouble," Kobe Steel CEO Hiroya Kawasaki told a news conference in Tokyo on Friday. Kawasaki said management had "prioritized delivery dates and production" and the company "was a closed organization that lacked balance."