Tokyo ( CNN ) -- When the Japanese business community talks about the incredible bounce back of Japan 's supply chain , the name Renesas Electronics is usually on the tip of their tongues . You can see why . Their factory in the city of Naka is humming with life today , showing little signs of the devastation it suffered following the earthquake and tsunami a year ago . The remarkable part of Renesas ' success story is not that it was achieved , but that the full recovery of its plant happened months ahead of schedule . `` I was wondering if this sterile room or this factory would ever be the same again , '' said Naka Plant general manager Takashi Aoyagi , pointing out the immaculate , sterilized production floor where the company 's microchips are manufactured . Aoyagi was at the plant when the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11 , creating a force so powerful that he was thrown across a room with the furniture . Ceilings caved in , computers cracked and critical air filters were jammed with dust -- Renesas ' computer chips rely on sterile , dust-free conditions for production . Aoyagi was looking at a clean-up operation unprecedented in the firm 's history . The worldwide auto industry was also looking at an unprecedented problem because of the damage to this one plant . When 70 % of all drivers in the world start their cars , the microchip inside the vehicle 's computer whirls to life . This computer chip is essential to the car 's functionality , though most vehicle owners have no idea of its existence or that it traces back to Renesas Electronics . Drivers may still not know the name Renesas , but automakers got a jarring lesson in the importance of the company 's role in the car parts supply chain . The auto industry began to raise the alarm shortly after the earthquake -- production lines around the globe could grind to a halt without a rapid recovery at Renesas . The company , with its highly specialized technology , had forged a relationship with so many car manufacturers that the bulk of the industry relied on its microchip . New auto sales plummeted 37 % after disaster . `` You have people outside of Japan who relied on most of components outside of Japan to not source from other countries . Thinking before , Japan would have been a very reliable source . Now understanding that it 's not the case , even for Japan , '' said William Saito , a council member on national strategy and policy for Japan 's government . Automakers like Nissan say they learned that lesson and have diversified their supply chain . What that means for companies like Renesas Electronics is the company is looking at more competition and a demand for reductions from its buyers . Renesas ' president , Yasushi Akao , said the lessons of the supply chain break is another hurdle for Japanese companies , which already face economic headwinds of the strong yen and high production costs in Japan . But he believes his company can survive and even thrive amid the global economic pressure . `` I really believe it 's part of our company 's power , '' he said . Akao points to the remarkable weeks after the quake . Thousands of workers descended on the Naka factory , working without electricity or running water in sub zero , winter weather . Half of the people working on rebuilding the company were volunteers from Renesas ' customers and partners . `` They never complained , '' recalled plant manager Aoyagi , who still gets emotional thinking about the massive effort . He said the workers and volunteers organized themselves and even found ways to find water and food on their own , while focusing on getting the company back to pre-quake status . He admits his company is facing new pressures and will have to deal with them , despite the fact that the Naka factory is a shining example of the supply chain 's rebound . But he believes his company can do it . Aoyagi then paused and looked out at the sterile production room , busy with the massive orders from his customers around the world . He has recent history as proof of what determination can do .
Renesas Electronics , which makes microchips , suffered huge amount of damage . Auto industry was also looking at an unprecedented problem because of the damage to this one plant . When 70 % of all drivers in the world start their cars , the microchip inside vehicle 's computer whirls to life . This is a very dangerous situation for car manufacturers and auto companies alike.