Magazine​

Archem 's purpose/vision is to "spread comfort to every situation around the world."
We will explore the thoughts behind these words, how this Purpose/Vision will take root globally at Archem, and how it will be utilized in future management strategies.

What is Archem for?

-First of all, how did Archem 's MVV (Mission Vision Value) come about?

"What kind of presence do we want to be in the eyes of society?" "What value is essential to our customers?" "What elements can make our employees proud to work here?"

When deciding on MVV, executives and employees gathered together, regardless of their positions, to discuss this fundamental question. After heated discussions, the keyword that emerged was the universal value of "comfort." We shared the view that, in the future, we would like to provide comfort not only through urethane, but also by using the technology we have cultivated over the 70 years since the start of our business. I believe this is also reflected in our Mission: "Exploring the possibilities of chemical materials to create memorable comfort."

-When it comes to delivering comfort, I think there are many people who are not very familiar with urethane.
How will you provide comfort to these people?

You may not have many opportunities to see the urethane products we provide as final products. But our products are surprisingly found in places all around you. For example, the mattress that helps you start the morning comfortably. The kitchen sponge you use every day at the dinner table. The printer parts that print reports. The car seat pads you sit in on the way to school or on your day off. At home, at school, and even in your travel environment, urethane creates "comfort" in "every aspect" of your life. Our goal is to pursue this "comfort" more broadly and deeply.

"Comfort" for both customers and coworkers

-When formulating the MVV, it seems that you also placed importance on the question, "What elements would make employees proud to work here?"

Yes. "Comfort" is a value we deliver to customers through our products, but it is also something we aim for all employees working at Archem. We deliver comfort to customers through our products, and employees can also work comfortably. We believe that only when these two things are properly linked can we achieve sustainable growth for the company. In modern Japan, the aging population is progressing, and the retirement age is getting longer and longer. That is why we want to provide an environment that makes people want to stay at the company forever.

-What do you think the company can do to achieve this?

First of all, I want to increase the experience that employees can gain at the company. I believe that the key to this will come from incorporating diverse values. For example, we should accept not only new graduates but also older people without any restrictions. By doing so, diverse values will naturally coexist within the company. This may give young employees an opportunity to imagine their own future. Within this diverse range of values, we will seek out the optimal environment and working style, and ensure that everyone working at this company feels "comfortable." I believe that this will ultimately lead to delivering "comfort" to the world.

A culture and human resource development that welcomes "challenges and failures"

Creating the new value of "comfort" involves unprecedented challenges. One of our company's values, which guides our employees' behavior, is to "make challenges a habit." We want to create a corporate culture that focuses on and evaluates the challenges and processes involved, rather than focusing solely on results.

-Was this corporate culture easily accepted by employees?

Of course, in the early days, we struggled to establish the company's foundation. After all, many of our employees are kind people. On the flip side, they are anxious and take a long time to take on challenges. They probably worry that taking on a challenge will cause trouble for those around them. However, I think that a spirit of challenge was already ingrained among our employees, as they wanted to be of service to others. Gradually, the new corporate culture was accepted. Thanks to the efforts of each and every employee, now three years after our founding, our foundation is stable and we are able to take on challenges and invest in the future.

-I've always felt that there are a lot of kind people here!

They're not just kind, they're also very cheerful. The employees at our overseas group companies are also very cheerful and energetic. But within their kindness, there's a core strength, and they're unwavering in their core. They're flexible, but they always achieve what they've committed to. I think that's the strength of our employees. However, when they achieve results, many of them are humble and say, "It's all thanks to everyone involved!", which I feel is typical of our company, but also frustrating at times (laughs).

-That may be a challenge for our company as we take on new challenges in the future.

In fact, we have already started a project to solicit ideas from employees in our B2C business, and I hope that this will lead to a change in awareness. This project itself was started by an employee, and I am seeing a change there as well.
We believe that the source of our challenges comes from the ideas of our employees, so we hope that in the future, not just in this project, you will continue to share with us the issues and solutions that you see based on your own values, circumstances, and positions. We hope that you will view social issues from a broad perspective, unconstrained by the conditions and limitations that lie before you, and create solutions that only we can come up with.

-I'm looking forward to the new challenges that will arise from the ideas of our employees.

Global Knowledge Collaboration

Our company has its headquarters near Shinagawa Station, a major business and transportation hub, and its development center in Yokohama. Both locations are located within a short distance of each other, about an hour door-to-door, allowing us to accurately and immediately incorporate feedback from domestic and international markets into our development. Our headquarters is close to the Shinkansen exit in Shinagawa, and is also within easy reach of Haneda Airport, making it extremely convenient for business trips.
Another attraction is the abundance of attractive cafes and restaurants around Shinagawa Station.

We believe that this type of environment encourages communication between employees during lunch and in their spare time, and is an important element in supporting active interaction and refreshment outside of work. Furthermore, we are planning to build a new development center in Yokohama soon. We are sure that many employees are excited about their new workplace.

Additionally, the Nagoya base is close to customers, so the entire base seems to be full of energy, and the Tosu plant is moving forward with its transformation into a smart factory. Each base and workplace has its own unique characteristics and appeal that are unique to the region.

Archem has bases not only in Japan but also in the US, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and other parts of the world. Is there anything you keep in mind as you expand globally?

Our goal is to achieve "one-team management that transcends regions (countries)" and breaks down borders and departmental barriers.
We want to create a system where each employee can work with discretion as a team member. This is true even within Japan, but the product characteristics required vary by country and region, and what customers expect from the company also varies. I believe that employees at our bases feel this firsthand. We believe that the key to this global management structure is for employees to always think for themselves and be aware of the need to produce results that exceed customer expectations.

▲Archem America, Inc. New York Factory

-There are cases where people are sent overseas from Japan, but what kind of people do you think are suitable for this?

We look for people who are honest, responsible, and flexible enough to try to understand the cultures of other countries. We also look for people who are motivated to understand everything that is going on in the company and who want to get to know and experience what is going on on the ground.

I have been posted overseas myself, and during that time I realized that ways of thinking and communication differ depending on the country and region. This is something that you cannot understand no matter how much you study the local language and culture at a desk beforehand. Seeing the workplace with your own eyes and getting to know the people who work there. Overcoming difficulties together with your employees. I think that people who understand the importance of experiencing these things for themselves are suited to being posted overseas. Once you overcome the difficulties, bonds like those between family are formed, so I believe that people who have been posted overseas have surely discovered a new outlook on life.

As a company, we would like to further improve our support system for employees on overseas assignments so that they can feel at ease when they are posted there.

Profits and social contributions are heading in the same direction

A sustainable and ethical management foundation is essential to successfully taking on the challenge of achieving the next level of comfort. As a company, we naturally pursue profits, but more than that, we constantly ask ourselves, "What is right for society?" and practice management that equates business expansion with social contribution.
We hope to continue to deepen our collaboration with local communities, maintain and build strong relationships with partner companies that share our vision, and conduct business activities that increase long-term value.