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Please tell me about your previous work experience.

I joined Bridgestone Chemicals Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in 1995 as a new graduate at the Nabari Plant, where I was in charge of production management for the seat pad business. Later, I was transferred to the Hofu Plant and gained experience supporting the establishment of new plants at overseas group companies (Thailand Plant and Wuhan Plant in China). In 2009, I moved to the Corporate Division. Currently, as the General Manager of General Affairs and IT, I am responsible for overseeing general affairs and IT operations.

Please tell me about your current responsibilities.

Since joining the company, I have supported the manufacturing site as a production manager in the sheet pad business within the factory. In particular, I feel that my experience in setting up a new factory overseas was a major turning point that led to my current work. Since 2009, I have been engaged in general affairs and information systems work, in a position to support employees. What is important in my work is to understand the opinions of those on the factory floor and use them to make improvements. I feel that my previous experience in production management is being put to great use in my current work. I also play a role in connecting the manufacturing, development, and sales departments, utilizing that knowledge and experience. There is no end to the work in general affairs and IT, and continuous evolution is required. My role is to continue to challenge myself with new things, such as improving the workplace environment and introducing tools to improve work efficiency, so that all employees can work healthily and energetically for a long time.

Are there any memorable experiences from your work so far?

One experience that stands out in my memory is when I was in charge of production management and helped set up a new factory by training local staff on production management operations.
At the time, I lacked the language skills to give adequate work instructions, and I keenly felt the difficulty of communicating without an interpreter. Therefore, I made various efforts, such as using simple English conversation, gestures, and creating instruction documents in the local language.
When those efforts bore fruit and I had dinner with all the local staff, I still vividly remember feeling a sense of unity with them.
Furthermore, it was a great joy to see that the local person I had mentored in Thailand at the time had now been promoted to a management position, growing from someone who was being taught to someone who was teaching. When we met again in Japan, it was a truly heartwarming memory when he called me "sensei" (teacher) in broken Japanese, just as he had done back then.

What's the atmosphere and interpersonal relationships like at your workplace?

The members of the General Affairs Department are divided between the head office and the Nabari factory. The head office mainly deals with the parent company, Archem, while the Nabari factory handles many inquiries from the field, so it is important to share information between the two locations in a timely manner.
Therefore, we prioritize creating a system that ensures problems are not delayed, such as by utilizing remote meetings as needed. Although there is distance between our offices, we have established relationships where we can easily consult with each other by phone when we have problems, and I feel that our interpersonal relationships are good.

What do you feel are the essential or important elements required for your current job?

I believe that what is required of administrative departments, including general affairs, is observational skills, insight, and a desire to help people. Administrative departments often have difficulty seeing what's happening on the factory floor, and it can take time to identify problems. That's why it's essential to communicate with as many people on the factory floor as possible and to notice even small inconsistencies and areas for improvement. When we make improvement suggestions as part of general affairs and receive positive feedback like, "It's so much better now," it motivates us to continue making improvements. I believe that this kind of accumulation of positive feedback is crucial for administrative departments.

What are the attractive aspects of Archem Business Japan?

I believe our company's strength lies in the fact that each department—management, manufacturing management, manufacturing, maintenance, and sales—has its own specialized professionals who share their knowledge, experience, know-how, and skills, enabling the entire company to work together to improve. Under our corporate philosophy and Mission, "Challenging the possibilities of chemical materials and creating memorable comfort," manufacturing management supports production planning, technology, and quality; manufacturing brings it to life; and sales delivers it to customers. Furthermore, the management and maintenance departments support the entire company. Everyone supports the company from their respective positions. The realization that our work contributes to society as a product is a major attraction and source of pride unique to our company.

MESSAGE

Please provide a message for prospective employees.

At our company, we have established a variety of employee benefits to enrich the lives of each employee and strongly support their growth. These include various leave systems, access to our "Employee Benefits Club," use of health insurance association resorts, and workplace recreational activities, all aimed at creating an environment where employees can work with peace of mind for the long term. We also have well-developed training programs to support each individual's career advancement. We look forward to working with you.