The swarms of quakes in southwestern Japan are affecting the country’s manufacturing industry including major electronics companies and automakers.
Electronics manufacturers have suspended production in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Sony has had its image sensor factory in Kikuyo Town closed since the first major quake hit the area on Thursday.
Mitsubishi Electric has suspended operations at its factory in Koshi City, which produces semiconductors for cars.
The Kumamoto subsidiaries of auto-parts manufacturer Aisin Seiki have also been affected.
The company makes car doors and engine parts for automakers such as Toyota.
Toyota says the disruption of supplies from Aisin Seiki will force it to gradually suspend production at most of its assembly plants in Aichi and other prefectures through Saturday.
Mitsubishi Motors also says it will halt minicar production at its factory in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, from Monday night through Tuesday due to a shortage of supplies from Aisin Seiki.
Auto-makers have tried to procure parts from multiple suppliers since the 2011 quake and tsunami in Japan’s northeast. They suffered disrupted supplies of parts from factories in the disaster areas.
There is concern the extended suspension of operation could have an impact on these firms’ performances.
Source and image: NHK
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