Magazine​

You press the print button and beautiful documents and photos appear as if it's the most natural thing in the world. But did you know that behind the scenes, there are components inside your office printer secretly battling to ensure that even a 0.1mm printing inconsistency is unacceptable?
These are the high-performance parts called "OA electrical materials" manufactured by Archem. This time, we spoke with people working in the field, primarily Hiroshi Komori, Sales Manager at the Japanese headquarters, about the "thorough attention to detail" involved in bringing these products to market and the "global one-team system" that tackles challenges across national borders and departments.

OAHiroshi Komori, Section Chief, Sales Section 1, Electrical Materials Sales Department
Having worked abroad in Germany and the Philippines, he leverages his global perspective and extensive on-the-ground knowledge to lead sales in the office automation equipment business.

Just a steel core wrapped in urethane? A simple appearance hides profound technical skill.

— To begin with, could you tell us about your current responsibilities, Ms. Komori?

Komori: I'm in charge of selling parts that our company manufactures and sells, such as "feed rollers," "developing rollers," and "resin belts." These are all parts that are incorporated into laser printers and are extremely important parts that affect the clarity and quality of printed materials.

―シンプルな部品に見えて、実は奥深い技術が詰まっているのだとか？
小森さん：そうなんですよ。構造自体はとてもシンプルで、供給ローラで言えば「鉄の芯の周りにウレタンが付いているだけの細くて長い棒」に見えますよね（笑）。
ですが、実はここが一番面白いところなんです！そのシンプルな見た目のなかに、電気の通しやすさや素材の柔らかさ、耐久性など、目に見えない高度な技術やコントロールが凝縮されている高機能パーツなんですよ。

It cannot be measured by numbers alone. Quality is pursued with the "human eye," and improvement is never-ending.

—Since it's packed with technology, are the quality standards expected by customers also high?
Komori: That's quite high. It's a component that directly affects the quality of the print, so we set very high quality standards not only for our customers but also for ourselves.
Meeting the "numerical data" requirements, such as component size and electrical resistance, is a prerequisite, but the difficulty with this product lies in the fact that that alone is not enough to guarantee approval.

— Are there any other important points besides the numbers?
Komori: When you look at the final printed product, it's not the data that makes you think, "That's beautiful," but the "people" who feel that way. That's why there are so many things you can't know unless you actually print it out and check it with your own eyes. It's a high-tech product, but the development and inspection processes are actually a very analog world.

― 印刷してみないと分からないということは、「製品を作って納品したら終わり」ではない大変さもありそうですね。
小森さん：まさにその通りです。製品が完成して量産に入った後でも、世界中のオフィスで実際に使われ続けるなかで、初めて見えてくる新しい課題や改善点があります。
「一度作って終わり」にせず、常に改善を重ねてより良いものへ進化させ続ける。そこが難しさでもあり、モノづくりとしてのいちばんの面白さでもありますね！

| Our development philosophy: Refining products by listening to feedback from the field.

Collaboration with the development department is essential in the process of pursuing technology and quality. Here, we spoke with Yusuke Kamijo of the development department, whom Komori describes as "the first person I consult with when it comes to technology and quality-related matters."

OAElectrical Materials Development Department, Development Section 1
Yusuke Kamijo
Having worked in the Philippines, he leverages his global development expertise to engage in product development for office automation equipment.

Kamijo: In the development process, we perform final checks using the "human eye," which cannot be measured by numerical data alone, and we meticulously examine even the slightest differences in print quality. There are many challenges that cannot be predicted by laboratory testing alone, such as issues that arise during the actual production stage or areas for improvement that become apparent through continued use. Therefore, the development team works closely with members of each process to improve the product, both until the product is released to the market and even after it has been released.

We don't consider the project finished once it's made; we refine the product by overcoming each obstacle we encounter in real-world situations. This process is by no means easy, but when we evolve the product to a quality that exceeds customer expectations, or when we hear joyful feedback from salespeople like Komori-san saying, "The improvements were a great help!", we feel a great sense of accomplishment as developers!

| Supporting customers with meticulous attention to detail through mutual complementarity between "Japan headquarters" and overseas branches.

— To continuously improve our products, collaboration between departments and locations is essential, isn't it?

Komori: Yes. In fact, for many of our customers in the OA electrical materials sector, the Japanese headquarters holds the authority to determine design, price, and quality, while production bases are scattered throughout various locations overseas. Therefore, we have clearly defined roles between our "Japanese headquarters" and "overseas locations," and we have a system in place for mutual complementarity both domestically and internationally.

— How do you usually communicate with people at your overseas offices?

Komori: On a daily basis, we share progress and issues through regular web conferences and emails, but in emergencies or when we need to finalize new proposals, we discuss things over the phone or in ad-hoc meetings.

Representatives from each region bring their unique expertise together, and sometimes engage in brainstorming sessions that consider not only the "stakeholder's perspective" but also the "customer's point of view" and the "third-party perspective." By exchanging these different viewpoints, the entire organization (manufacturing, sales, and development) works together to tackle global challenges.

This image shows a typical online meeting with overseas offices and development teams. It illustrates the close communication that transcends time differences and distance.

More than just a client, we are a partner in creating the ideal print quality together. We build strong relationships of trust by collaborating closely in daily discussions, verification, and improvement processes.

| Voices from the Field: Specialists Connecting Japan and the World

North American base (Archem America Inc.) Imaging Component unit
Keng Siang Goh

Close communication is essential to our technical capabilities and continuous improvement. From product development and pricing to supply and shipping arrangements, sharing our customers' precise needs is crucial to preventing misunderstandings due to cultural differences and enabling us to take appropriate action immediately.

Even when market fluctuations or unexpected circumstances on our customers necessitate changes to our plans, we maintain real-time communication with Mr. Komori in Japan and the factory, enabling us to make balanced adjustments from both the customer's and Archem 's perspectives. We believe this teamwork and the trust we've gained from our customers through it are what contribute to our long-term business success.

Hong Kong base (Akekin Electric Materials (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.) Sales Manager
Daniel Yii

As a sales representative at our Hong Kong office, I frequently share and collaborate with Ms. Komori through regular meetings and phone calls to ensure we have the latest production status, demand forecasts, and customer requests. Ms. Komori, who plays the role of the "control tower" at our Japanese headquarters, is an extremely reliable person who understands every detail of what's needed on the ground, while simultaneously possessing a broad perspective to grow the entire business.

The most exciting aspect of tackling complex global challenges as "one team" is the way members from all over the world can combine their unique wisdom. I believe that the bonds and trust forged when we help each other across departmental and national boundaries and overcome challenges together become a "lifelong treasure" that surpasses even the results of our work.

Sales & IMPEX team at Archem Philippines Inc.
Ghie Abian

As someone in charge of sales and shipping management, I regularly work closely with Ms. Komori in Japan to handle customer requests, shipping arrangements, and schedule adjustments. I find Ms. Komori particularly reliable, as she provides thoughtful assistance with her extensive knowledge and warm support, especially when coordination and confirmation with the Japanese head office are necessary.

I truly believe that we can overcome any difficult obstacle because of the strong trust and mutual support among our members in Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States, and because we share the common goal of "for the sake of our customers"!

The members of the Philippine factory support the workplace with their warm teamwork.

| Transforming troubles into positive energy. A "one team" system that includes our customers.

— It conveys a strong sense of unity that goes beyond mere exchange of information.

Komori: I feel like we're all "one team," including not only our departments and national borders, but even our customers.

Even when unexpected problems arise or new requests come in, we don't just shrug it off as "Oh no..." but instead take a positive approach, viewing it as "An opportunity to make the product even better!" and work towards resolving the issue. This is a strength of our company that has been passed down from our predecessors through generations.

—It's because of that kind of culture that you can always work together positively as "one team."

Komori: Yes. In fact, when we encountered a difficult technical challenge a few years ago, we didn't just solve the problem and call it a day. We used the insights we gained to further improve the quality of our products. It was a situation where we could have easily lost trust if we had made a mistake, but in the end, our customers thanked us, saying, "Thank you for going this far!"

I believe that we can turn any obstacle into an opportunity for growth because everyone shares the same goal: "Overcoming this challenge and creating an even better product."

| Inheriting a culture that not only meets expectations but also exceeds them

— Does that culture of teamwork and taking on challenges also exist in your daily work?

Komori: Yes. Ideas like, "This looks interesting!" or "It would be even better if we changed this!" are exchanged daily, transcending national and departmental boundaries. These ideas are managed in lists and are actively used to improve daily operations. I believe this "broad supply of ideas" is a major strength that will support the company's future.

— Where does that high level of motivation come from?

Komori: I think the biggest reason is that there are a lot of people who genuinely love the products they're in charge of (laughs). The pursuit of "how can we make it even better?" is what motivates everyone.

Another important aspect is the close relationship we have with our customers. Because we have many opportunities to interact directly with them, we feel motivated to work hard for them, and their words of gratitude when we achieve results are a great source of motivation.

— Finally, could you tell us what kind of team you aim to become in the future?

小森さん：私たちが一番大切にしているのは、「お客様の期待に応えるだけでなく、常に期待を超えていく」という姿勢です。このマインドとモノづくりへの誇りを、新しく入ってくる仲間にも大切に受け継いでいきたいですね。これからも国境も部署も飛び越えて、全員で挑戦し続けるチームでありたいと思います！

Mr. Komori talks about his passion for manufacturing and his outlook for the future.

[Post-interview notes]

Behind its simple appearance lies a condensed foundation of advanced technology and expertise. Beyond digital standards like "numbers," it possesses an analog passion for meticulously verifying quality with the "human eye." Through this interview, I strongly felt that what underpins Archem 's manufacturing is not only its technical prowess, but also the "uncompromising passion of its people." It is this "one team" attitude—transcending national borders, departments, and even the boundaries of "customers"—that allows Archem 's products to continue to be trusted in offices around the world. Please look forward to the new value that will be created by this "one team" in the future!