The investigation also found that the misconduct took place not only within Kobe Steel’s Aluminum & Copper Business, but also at other divisions and group companies. That investigation found that some 163 other customers-not originally accounted for-were affected by the misconduct. Once the cover-up was revealed by quality self-inspections on the group’s shipments from September 2016 through August 2017, Kobe Steel established an independent investigation committee (IIC), chaired by Gan Matsui, former superintending prosecutor of the Fukuoka High Public Prosecutors’ Office. From a broader risk and compliance standpoint, Kobe Steel’s actions bring into question the safety and performance of all products with Kobe Steel components, initially believed to have affected 525 global companies. Such falsified data initially concerned Kobe Steel’s copper and aluminum products, but later engulfed its steel products, as well. As far back as 2007, Kobe Steel falsified inspection data as if it met customer specifications, or fabricated test data for unmeasured products as if they had been measured. In October 2017, Kobe Steel admitted that some employees had falsified inspection data concerning products and parts sold to its top customers, including many automotive and aerospace companies-Ford, GM, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Boeing, and Airbus, to name a few. Kobe Steel’s product quality scandal is far more troubling and widespread than the company originally let on.
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