Magazine​

This is a career roundtable discussion where employees who joined the company through mid-career recruitment talk about the circumstances of their career change and their working style after joining the company. They honestly shared their thoughts about the "charms of Archem" and the "corporate culture at Archem" that can only be seen from their previous work experience!

The deciding factors for joining the company were "creative freedom" and "people's atmosphere"

OS:
Like TW, I was also attracted to the fact that the company was in its start-up phase. I wanted to broaden the scope of my work, so the opportunity to freely create various things from scratch was very appealing. Also, although the executives and superiors I met during the interviews all had different personalities, they all shared a common attitude of listening carefully to what others had to say and conversing with them, which gave me a sense of security.

RK:
During the interview, I also felt the friendly atmosphere of the people I would be working with. The fact that I felt I could work here with peace of mind was a major deciding factor for me.

The appeal of Archem as seen through work: organizational strength that creates peace of mind and discretion in work style

TW:
For me too, the atmosphere of the people was a big deciding factor. I had the opportunity to interact with Archem staff at my previous job, so I had a good impression of them back then, and that impression hasn't changed since I started working here. At my previous job, there was a lot of individual work involved, and even when a problem or issue arose, I often had to keep it to myself. However, our company has a system in place for decision-making as an organization. By incorporating perspectives other than my own, I can prevent mistakes and problems before they occur, and I can carry out my work with peace of mind.

RK:
I get the impression that they are also strict in complying with laws and regulations. Inspections of the equipment used in daily work are also carried out properly, which is another point of peace of mind when working here.

OS:
When we talk about organizational decision-making and compliance with laws and regulations, it tends to give the impression of a strict company, but that's not the case. Because of the teamwork, we have an environment where we can listen to each other's opinions, which I found refreshingly different from my previous job.

In terms of working style, it is also possible to utilize teleworking and flextime systems depending on individual circumstances. The same goes for parental leave, and I was surprised to see that many male employees take it. I myself took parental leave, and it was precisely because of this company atmosphere that I was able to take the time to spend with my family without feeling any strange guilt.

A welcoming atmosphere and training system for new employees

RK:
Compared to other companies, I think Archem has a higher percentage of people who join the company mid-career. As a result, you won't be treated differently just because you joined mid-career, and there won't be any barriers between you and those who have been with the company since before the carve-out. In terms of work, of course, you'll receive careful on-the-job training from senior employees, and everyone will communicate with you equally, so it didn't take long for me to get used to the workplace.

TW:
Like RK, I also think that having a large number of people who joined the company as career veterans is a big attraction. When I look around, I see colleagues who joined the company as career veterans, so it's reassuring.

Our company's HR department hosts work presentations and networking events for mid-career hires, and I feel that these events are a good opportunity to foster horizontal connections. This can lead to finding friends to talk to outside of work, or building a work-related network, such as "I'll ask this person about this job."

RK:
In addition, as part of our development department training system, we also provide training on patent intellectual property and statistical quality control (SQC) training*. SQC is conducted intensively over a period of approximately six months, and development members from other bases also gather locally to take the course. We feel that this not only deepens knowledge, but also leads to technical exchanges that transcend bases and the building of personal networks.

*Statistical Quality Control (SQC) training: A training course that covers a wide range of statistical methods (regression analysis, experimental design, etc.) with the aim of improving problem-solving skills based on data analysis and strengthening the quality control system throughout the organization.

The career you want to achieve at Archem

RK:
We have a large-scale equipment installation project coming up at our base in China next year, and as a development team, we would like to provide thorough support for this project while working closely with the local team.

Also, as was mentioned in the previous interview with the president, having worked at other companies has made me keenly aware of the importance of a "culture that encourages taking on challenges." Going forward, I would like to embody this culture of taking on challenges by actively working on the development of new products and materials with unprecedented features.

OS:
As I had hoped when I joined the company, I am taking on a variety of challenges every day in areas where I still lack experience and knowledge. In the future, I would like to steadily accumulate knowledge, work on improving our systems, and be in a position where I can provide accurate advice to the members around me.

TW:
I was recently promoted to section manager, and I would like to focus on maximizing the results of our team and continue to grow. With the aim of increasing sales, I would like to think outside the box and create new business opportunities, including new products, new customers, and new industries.

Also, after I have established a foundation as a manager, I would like to experience being posted to an overseas base one day. I usually have many opportunities to learn from people who have experience working overseas, and I would like to broaden my horizons through such experiences.