Author Archives: GBMC
About GBMC
GBMC (Global Business & Management Consulting):
Based in Paris area, we are a proactive Professional Service Provider and Consultancy specialized in the following three domains:
1) EU-Japan Business Consulting (Consultancy, Import-Export, Training & Translation).
2) General Business Consulting (Business Coaching, Technical Markets Consulting)
3) Management Consulting (Interim Management, Transition Management)
Please check www.gbmc.biz for details
The Gigafactory Project (Picture – Tesla Motors)
“With a planned production rate of 500,000 cars per year in the latter half of this decade, Tesla alone will require today’s entire worldwide production of lithium ion batteries. The Tesla Gigafactory was born of necessity and will supply enough batteries to support our projected vehicle demand.
Tesla broke ground on the Gigafactory in June 2014 outside Sparks, Nevada, and we expect to begin cell production in 2017. By 2020, the Gigafactory will reach full capacity and produce more lithium ion batteries annually than were produced worldwide in 2013.
In cooperation with Panasonic and other strategic partners, the Gigafactory will produce batteries for significantly less cost using economies of scale, innovative manufacturing, reduction of waste, and the simple optimization of locating most manufacturing process under one roof. We expect to drive down the per kilowatt hour (kWh) cost of our battery pack by more than 30 percent. The Gigafactory will also be powered by renewable energy sources, with the goal of achieving net zero energy.
The name Gigafactory comes from the factory’s planned annual battery production capacity of 35 gigawatt-hours (GWh).” (Tesla Motors)
Great Project and Vision! Congratulations to both Tesla and Matsushita (PANASONIC) for this “environment-friendly” business plan!!
Read more from:
https://www.teslamotors.com/en_GB/gigafactory
https://www.teslamotors.com/en_GB/blog/panasonic-and-tesla-sign-agreement-gigafactory
Leave a comment | tags: automotive industry, batteries, electric cars, electric vehicles, EVs, GBMC, Japan, Lithium Ion Batteries, Matsushita Electric, PANASONIC, Tesla Motors, The "Gigafactory", the future of automotive | posted in Business, Energy, Environment, Japan, Technology
Google-Self-Driving-Car (Picture – Digital Trends)
“The first guidelines on public road tests of self-driving vehicles, released by the National Police Agency (NPA), exclude fully automated cars without a steering wheel or driver.
The NPA’s recommendations say tests should be conducted with cars that have a driver behind the wheel to ensure safety and compliance with the road traffic law.
The government sees promoting the technology used in self-driving cars as a key to economic growth.
The police agency’s guidelines call for using “black boxes” on test cars to record all data and, in case of an accident, ascertaining the cause and taking corrective measures before test drives are resumed.
The NPA is expected to set up a panel of experts this summer to examine issues surrounding possible legislative reforms for this new technology, such as who would be legally responsible in case of an accident, the need to adapt the driver’s license system for self-driving cars and how to take measures against hacking cars.
The government has developed a classification system under which full self-driving automation is designated as level 4, in which the car is designed to perform all safety-critical driving functions.” (The Japan Times)
Should driverless cars be one day on the road? Will such cars be reliable enough for that? Should we rely so much on Machines and Technology? What do you think?
Read more from: Fully automated vehicles excluded from tests on Japan’s public roads
Leave a comment | tags: automated cars, driverless, driverless cars, Fully automated vehicles, Fully automated vehicles excluded from tests on Japan’s public roads, GBMC, Japan, NPA, self-driving automation, self-driving vehicles, The self-driving vehicle revolution | posted in Business, clever software, Japan, Social, Technology
PANASONIC’s VIERA-x1-LCD-series
“Panasonic Corp. has decided to withdraw from TV panel production amid fierce competition from foreign rivals, in particular in China and South Korea, company sources said Tuesday.
The Osaka-based company will end production at its sole liquid crystal display plant in the city of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, by the end of September, as it expects no improvement in its profitability.
Panasonic’s withdrawal will leave Sharp Corp. as the sole Japanese electronics maker making LCD panels for TVs in Japan.
Although Panasonic will halt TV panel production, it will continue making LCD TVs using panels procured from manufacturers in South Korea and elsewhere, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Panasonic will continue producing LCD panels for other purposes and bolster the LCD businesses for vehicles and medical devices, where growth is expected.” (Japan Times)
Another blow for Audio-Video & Electronics Manufacturing in Japan! Is this a business of the past? What do you think?
Read more from: Panasonic ends production of LCD (TV) panels in Japan!
Leave a comment | tags: consumer electronics, electronics, GBMC, Japan, Japanese audio-video industry, LCD display, LCD Panels, LCD TVs, Liquid Crystal Displays, PANASONIC, production of LCD (TV) panels in Japan! | posted in Business, Japan, Technology
La French Tech (source – Maddyness)
“In recent years, the French startup ecosystem has enjoyed incredible momentum, driven by a new generation of entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, designers and many other talented individuals. France has been called a new “Startup Republic”, dotted with thriving hubs and talent that are vehicles for a robust entrepreneurial mindset.
This domestic momentum has a name – “French Tech” – and French startups are rallying around this emblematic moniker. The ecosystem is developing very quickly and there is no doubt that France has now reached a tipping point.
Leave a comment | tags: entrepreneurial mindset, EU, France, French entrepreneurs, French investors, French Tech, GBMC, La French Tech, Paris, startup ecosystem, Startup Republic, Tokyo | posted in Business, EU, Invest, Japan, Technology
10000-yen-note
Pourquoi les investisseurs adorent prêter au Japon sur 30 ans
“Désespérés par la politique de taux d’intérêt négatifs de la Banque centrale du Japon, les investisseurs misent sur les seuls titres affichant encore un rendement positif dans l’Archipel. Prêter de l’argent à l’État pour 30 ans… à 0,319 % d’intérêts par an? Au Japon, les investisseurs se battent pour avoir le privilège de percevoir ce rendement pourtant minime. Seuls les titres de plus 15 ans affichent encore un rendement positif dans l’Archipel. ” (Le Figaro – MSN France)
Japon: Payer pour pouvoir prêter: le monde à l’envers? Bien entendu, tout est à long terme dans le Pays du Soleil Levant mais quand même! Qu’en pensez-vous?
Plus de détails sur: Japon: Payer pour pouvoir prêter: le monde à l’envers?
Leave a comment | tags: banque centrale du Japon, GBMC, investir au Japon, Japon, taux d'intérêt négatifs au Japon | posted in Business, Invest, Japan
AI (Picture – micronobal.com)
“Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced on September 4, 2015 that it would invest approximately $50 million over the next 5 years to establish joint research centers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University to broaden its focus on computer science and human-machine interaction with an immediate goal of reducing highway injuries and fatalities.
As we age, mobility becomes more challenging; and larger segments of society are unable to drive or move freely. Also, the demands on healthcare systems and those who support the physically infirm continue to increase. Toyota believes the opportunities to improve every-day living through artificial intelligence supported technologies are boundless, with significant breakthrough potential for the development of life-saving intelligent vehicles and life-improving robots.” (Toyota Newsroom)
Is Artificial Intelligence Research the key to our future challenges? What is your take on this?
More details from:
http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/9233109/
https://livestream.com/Toyota/PressConference
Leave a comment | tags: computer science, GBMC, highway injuries, human-machine interaction, intelligent vehicles, Japan, life-improving, life-saving, MIT, robots, Stanford University, TMC, Toyota Motors Corp, vehicles | posted in Business, clever software, Invest, Japan, software, Technology
GAP (Picture – MSN and BFM News)
“Gap Inc., under pressure to turn around operations amid a prolonged sales slump, said it plans to close all its Old Navy stores in Japan and some Banana Republics mostly outside of North America by the end of its business year.” (Wall Street Journal)
“Gap Inc said Thursday that it is shuttering 75 Old Navy and Banana Republic stores outside North America as the struggling company looks to focus on regions where it sees it has the greatest potential for success. The closures include all 53 Old Navy stores in Japan. The closures represent just a fraction of the over 3,700 stores it operates globally. Gap has long been struggling, unable to get shoppers to buy its clothes without offering big discounts” (Japan Today)
“Ces dernières semaines, les entreprises du secteur du prêt-à-porter ont annoncé des résultats tous plus mauvais les uns que les autres, qui ont fait lourdement chuter leurs titres en Bourse. Elles pâtissent de la concurrence des vendeurs en ligne dont les politiques commerciales sont plébiscitées par les consommateurs. Gap, fondé il y a 47 ans, doit aussi affronter les fers de lance de la “fast retail” que sont H&M, Zara et Uniqlo qui renouvellent fréquemment leurs collections afin de coller aux goûts d’un public adolescent porté sur les achats sur l’internet.” (BFM Business/MSN)
GAP has been operating in Japan for a while. It is probably good news for rivals like UNIQLO, Zara, H&M and others. So, will it make a difference in the very dynamic Japanese Apparel/Retail landscape or is it going to be “business as usual” for the Japanese consumers? What do you think?
Read more from:
http://www.msn.com/fr-fr/finance/actualite/d%c3%a9cision-drastique-de-gap-au-japon/ar-BBtgAi1?ocid=spartanntp
http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/gap-to-close-75-stores-outside-north-america-including-53-old-navy-stores-in-japan
http://www.wsj.com/articles/gap-to-close-old-navy-in-japan-withdraws-earnings-forecast-1463689009
Leave a comment | tags: apparel, apparel in Japan, B2C, Banana Republic, fast retail, GAP, Gap to close all 53 Old Navy stores in Japan, GBMC, H&M, Japan, Japan Retail, Old Navy stores, Retail in Japan, retail stores in Japan, Uniqlo, Zara | posted in Business, Japan
FALCON 8X (Picture Flightglobal – Dassault)
“When the annual EBACE business aviation show kicks of in Geneva on 24 May, Dassault’s new flagship business jet, the ultra-long-range Falcon 8X, will be just days away from its planned joint European Aviation Safety Agency (CS 25) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAR 25) certification. Its entry into service is planned for the third quarter of 2016.
Dassault describes the 8X as an evolution of its hugely successful Falcon 7X/EASy III cockpit – rather than a revolution – but one with a slew of extra cabin options, a substantial range increase and a raft of further avionic and reliability upgrades. All this while retaining the 7X’s outstanding characteristics, including its fly-by-wire digital flight control system; its flexibility in short field (and therefore non-hub) operations, both for landing and take-off; continued certificated steep approach capability (e.g. to airports such as London City, Lugano, La Mole and St Moritz); having a basic empty weight lighter by up to 25% or more than competitors; and with direct operating costs lower by even more significant margins, of up to 35%.” (Flightglobal)
“Longer fuselage than the 7X, but with no empty weight penalty and more engine power 8X performance still delights.” (Dassault Aviation)
Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing it in the air (flying)!
Let us know if you find a Video of it …
Read more from: FLIGHT TEST Review: the Falcon 8X from Dassault is out now!
Leave a comment | tags: 7X, 8X, aerospace, aviation, Dassault, Dassault Aviation, EBACE, Falcon, Falcon 8X, FLIGHT TEST, French aviation, GBMC | posted in Business, EU, Technology
Ocean Cleaning System (Picture – The Ocean Cleanup)
“The world’s first system to passively clean up plastic pollution from the world’s oceans is to be deployed in Japan in 2016! The coastal array will be the first time an operational Ocean Cleanup system is to be deployed in the ocean. Spanning 2000 meters (and with a barrier length of over 2300m), it will become the longest floating structure ever deployed on the oceans, even though this will be just 2% of the full scale structure. Deployment is expected in Q2 2016. On May 20 2015, The Ocean Cleanup and the city government of Tsushima (a Japanese island which lies between Japan and Korea) jointly agreed to conduct research to bring the world’s first Ocean Cleanup array to Tsushima Island.” (The Ocean Cleanup website)
Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup:
“Taking care of the world’s ocean garbage problem is one of the largest environmental challenges mankind faces today”
Great Project!
More details from: http://www.theoceancleanup.com/blog/show/item/worlds-first-ocean-cleaning-system-to-be-deployed-in-2016.html
1 Comment | tags: Boyan Slat, GBMC, Japan, ocean cleanup array, plastic pollution, The Ocean Cleanup, Tsushima, Tsushima island | posted in Environment, Japan, Technology
10000-yen-note
“Although salary may still be the first thing job seekers look at when scanning potential positions, perks and benefits are being increasingly recognised as crucial ways for companies to attract and retain staff, as well as keep employees happy and productive. While generous expat packages for even mid-level employees at foreign firms in Tokyo may be a distant bubble-era memory, both local and overseas companies are finding creative ways to compensate workers …. As bonuses have become less variable and salaries have evened out, benefits have become more important than ever.” (Source: EUROBIZ Newsletter)
Basic salary vs Bonus vs Perks/Benefits? What are your expectations? What is the trend in your Japan office? Is your company innovating in that field? What are your preferences and why?
Read more from: http://eurobiz.jp/feature/work-perks/
Leave a comment | tags: compensation in Japan, expat packages, expatriation, expats in Japan, GBMC, Japan, work perks | posted in Business, Japan, Management, Social
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