Panasonic Australia is part of the Matsushita Group, which traces its origins back to 1918, when Japanese industrialist Konosuke Matsushita, aged 23, started a small business manufacturing home electrical products in Osaka, Japan.

Today, the Matsushita Group is a global network of over 300 companies with 250,000 employees - manufacturing and marketing over 15,000 products under the brands Panasonic, National, Technics, Quasar and Ramsa. Recently, Matsushita was ranked 26 in US Fortune magazine's annual list of the world's top 500 companies, the "Global 500".

In Australia, Panasonic is a market leader in the field of consumer electronics, office and communications equipment.

A unique premise shapes Matsushita's managerial thinking. Since an enterprise uses society's resources such as its people, capital, land and services, it should serve society in return. Therefore, the role of a business should be to serve society in return for use of its resources. Matsushita serves society through technology and products that enhance people's lives. It has kept this commitment to society for over 80 years.

Panasonic's printing, communications, document management and audio-visual solutions are installed throughout government and commercial enterprises. Our digital phones form the backbone of communications networks in well-known financial and retail organisations.

The versatility and variety of Panasonic product solutions is unequalled, with the range spanning from point-of-sale registers in restaurants and retailers ... to broadcast cameras and recording equipment in the studios of our TV networks.

The company is the leader in video screen technology - its giant video screens are leading the way in Australia, with installations including the Sydney Olympic Stadium and the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne's Docklands.

And, at home, the reliability and reputation of Panasonic products has ensured that they are part of the everyday lives of many Australians - from audio visual products such as TVs and hi-fi systems, to microwave ovens, air conditioners and cordless phones.

Panasonic is at the forefront of customer service, with a Customer Care Centre that takes thousands of calls every day from consumers all around Australia. Customer Care consultants have direct access to Panasonic's expert technical and marketing staff for fast response to customer inquiries. Panasonic's expert team of technical officers and service engineers provide regular training and support to over 150 technology business centres spanning the continent.

Today's network environments are becoming increasingly complex, and Panasonic has invested in technology that supports the need for fast response to network issues. The company's technical officers have access to a sophisticated network that allows them to simulate events that can occur in the field, and provide training in this system to dealers from around the country.

Panasonic's consumer electronics products are sold through all the major electrical retailers, superstores, and department stores, as well as via specialist dealers.

The company has the most extensive network of Authorised Service Centres in the industry, staffed with trained repairers of Panasonic products; and carries a huge stock of spare parts across its entire product range.

Matsushita's Research and Development expertise is demonstrated through the Audio-Visual, Computers and Communications Systems Building in Tokyo, Japan. The company's designs for the future flow from these R&D operations, with engineers from the company's key factories working together to drive the convergence of technologies.

This collaboration means that technologies that have proven useful in one product can be transferred to another - for example, Matsushita's "Jog Dial" VCR control is now used to make it easy to navigate the features in a Panasonic digital phone system.

Today, digital technologies and global networks are opening up a new communication age, one where it is simple to exchange information anytime with anyone, anywhere in the world.

Developments designed to promote the use of the Internet include software for developing personalised home pages, a high-speed home page search system and an Internet / telephone / facsimile communication system.

Internationally, the company has demonstrated technologies for the digital TV age, with product lines spanning the full user spectrum.

Panasonic Australia are dedicated to a standard of excellence. All Panasonic factories have intensive quality control and no product leaves the factory without passing a comprehensive set of tests. Both Panasonic and its Australian TV manufacturing facility, PAVCAU (Panasonic AVC Networks Australia Pty. Ltd, have been granted Quality Assurance Certification. Quality Assurance Certification takes many years to establish and is a guarantee that any company that achieves this status, operates to a consistently high standard.

Panasonic Australia's quality system conforms to the requirements of ISO 9002. PAVCAU systems conform to ISO AS/NZS 9001, and all Australian televisions are tested in accordance with Australian Standard AS 3250 for electrical safety.

In line with its dedication to supporting quality products, Panasonic offers an Optional Extended Warranty of up to five years on a large range of consumer products, one of the few Australian manufacturers to do so.

In addition, the Matsushita Environmental Charter demonstrates a strong commitment to respecting, maintaining and improving the environment. The charter places an emphasis on the manufacture of environmentaly - friendly products, the development of recycling systems for used products, the conservation of energy at factories, and the establishment of global environmental management systems. PAVCAU is accredit to Environmental Standard ISOAS/NZS 14001.

PAVCAU has invested heavily in the latest manufacturing technologies and in research and development. The result is an international standard facility, capable of designing, developing, tooling, and manufacturing televisions from bare circuit boards to finished units. This means that PAVCAU is ready to meet Australia's new digital broadcasting standards.

In 1993, Panasonic signed a Partnership for Development Agreement with the Federal Government - demonstrating the company's commitment to developing Australian resources and contributing to the Australian economy.

Panasonic Australia's Export department works with Australian companies to assist them to generate income, through exports to Matsushita factories and associated companies in Japan.

Panasonic's export projects under the Partnership for Development Agreement include raw materials exported to Matsushita factories; inclusion of Australian innovations, such as specialised software in Panasonic products; and joint development of system and application software.

Australian exports range from the copper tubing in Panasonic air conditioners and refrigerators; to the use of our aluminium in electronic components manufactured in Matsushita's Asian factories; while phone management software originating in Australia is bundled with Panasonic phone systems.

In addition, Panasonic supports manufacturing at a local level via the Australian PAVCAU plant - the country's leading TV manufacturer, with a 30-year history, and employing over 150 Australians. The plant produces TV sets for both Australian and New Zealand markets, including flat screen and integrated digital TV models.

Panasonic also plays a significant role in the local community, making annual donations to a range of charities and community enterprises.