Canon Digital Camera

The Canon (Kyanon Kabushiki gaisha) is a multinational Japanese company that develops and plant products such as cameras, video cameras, fax machines, copiers, scanners, printers, imaging systems, optical equipment for the semiconductor industry, and professional lenses for image delivery systems, among others.

Origins of the company name

The company's original product, the "Kwanon" camera, was chosen as a tribute to the Buddhist goddess of absolute piety, Kuan Yin.

The original name was Seikikōgaku kenkyūsho, then modified to "Canon". Chosen for having a sound similar to the name of the first product, and for the meaning of "Kwanon" imply precision in what the company wished to associate.

Founded in 1934 in Tokyo, Japan, created by Takeshi Mitarai, with employees of the company (still small), the Precision Instrument Laboratory (SKK) was established in 1933 to specialize the cameras to improve their qualities, being imported to countries. The company's first product was still manufactured when it was called Kwanon, named after the ancient goddess of Asia, and later the company was called Canon, translated by Webster's as "standard of comparisons", because of the ambition of the company to reach the standard called High Technology.

Business Ideology

Canon works using the Kyosei philosophy, which means "living and working together for the common good," believing in people's potential. The Canon says it stands out because of the great willingness to work of employees, which follows the goal of "living and working together for the common good". The company also states that its performance is a result of the investment of 10% of the profit from the sale of its products, in surveys that improve the manufacturing of its products.

The Canon internationally

Canon currently markets its products in more than 200 countries with approximately 115,000 employees, earning about $34 billion. Canon, as well as Japan, sells cameras, copiers, printers, optical equipment and lenses for professional use such as television broadcasters and film studios.

In the United States, it is the second company with the most patents. To support a series of daily searches to improve products, Canon uses $6 million. 67% of the capital gained by Canon, comes from the sale of corporate solutions. In 1996, Canon launched a Global Excellence Plan so that in 2010 the company is one of the 100 companies with the highest levels of administration.

In Portugal, it was established in 2007 after the acquisition of 100% of the capital of Seque (a camera company) and Copicanola (equipment and solutions for the business sector).