Aeon's Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Initiatives
AEON Co., Ltd.
| Publication date | January 6, 2021 (Posted on July 13, 2022) |
|---|---|
| Sector | Natural Disasters / Coastal Areas |
Company Overview
Climate Change Impacts
With the diversification of possible risks, including natural disasters such as earthquakes and torrential rains caused by extreme weather, how to implement a BCP that will function has become an important issue.
Adaptation Initiatives
Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have introduced disaster prevention measures throughout Japan, including areas affected by the disaster, based on a Business Continuity Plan (BCP). As hypothetical risks have become more diverse in recent years ranging from an increasing number of natural disasters such as earthquakes and torrential rains due to extreme weather, we have formulated our business continuity management (BCM) as a process to build a management framework that can enhance the performance of BCP. We will be promoting BCM in the following five areas and establish a PDCA cycle based on BCP.
- Information infrastructure upgrades: In order to solve connection issues of communication services immediately after a disaster, we operate "safety confirmation system" and "disaster information aggregation system" as IT tools via the Internet. In FY2020, we switched to a new system, “Total BCM Aggregation System" which utilizes map information and centralizes disaster-related information such as disaster information, safety confirmation results, and status of stores afflicted by disasters (Fig. 1).
- Improved measures for facility safety and security: We built 100 disaster prevention facilities by FY2020, and increased the number of stores and facilities that can resume operations as soon as possible after a disaster occurs. We have also been deploying disaster valves that allow water in the receiving tank to be used for drinking even during water/power outages, and large emergency evacuation tent called "balloon shelter" which can be used as evacuation space for sufferers.
- Enhanced supply chains: We use the BCP Portal, which connects us to our business partners through cloud computing. This system visualizes information between our Group companies and business partners and conduct centralized management of information on plants, warehouses, and products ready to be shipped. Therefore, it is possible to drastically shorten the time to deliver relief supplies when a disaster occurs, and could establish a structure to promptly and efficiently deliver necessary supplies to the afflicted area (Fig. 2).
- Formulation and drills to improve business continuity: We regularly conduct “disaster prevention and safety drills” throughout the Group. In addition to this and area drills, we are also considering the "facility operation drills" and "large-scale evacuation drills for all tenants" by using malls as disaster prevention bases, and joint drills with our external partners.
- Greater, more systematic collaboration with external organizations: We are reinforcing our relations with external partners rooted in each community, including local government offices, hospitals, universities, and private enterprises, in addition to our relationship with energy companies, which are indispensable for business continuity in the occurrence of a disaster. Up to now, we have concluded over 1,000 disaster prevention agreements with over 700 local governments and external partners across Japan, and have strengthened our cooperation network. We are aiming to create safe and secure communities, and will continue to build cooperative structures with each community and address disaster prevention measures.
Effects / Expected Benefits
From September 6 to 7, 2020, Typhoon No.10 approached the coast of Kyushu and caused extensive damage in various parts of Kyushu. Based on the agreement between AEON Co., Ltd. and Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. regarding mutual support in the occurrence of a disaster, AEON MALL KAGOSHIMA (operated by AEON KYUSHU Co., Ltd.) provided space equivalent to approximately 200 parking lots from September 7. The space was used as a waiting area for construction vehicles dispatched from various electric power companies and to set up tents for recovery workers. AEON MALL SAGA YAMATO (operated by AEON KYUSHU Co., Ltd.) and AEON MALL KUMAMOTO (operated by AEON MALL Co., Ltd.) also provided parking space as a space for the setup of power restoration bases from September 7.
We will continue to identify and resolve issues and problems through practical operations such as meetings for countermeasures.
