A Place Where We, Who Hated Opening Textbooks, Pick Up Pens Once Again
This is Watanabe from Howa Tanko Co., Ltd.
I'm on X, so please follow me if you'd like.https://x.com/howatankou
During the department manager meeting held last week, I received several incredibly happy reports from the leaders of each department.
Members who successfully completed the forklift training course this year are now actively taking the initiative to study by taking 'forging correspondence courses' while working on the shop floor. One of the leaders who drives the shop floor has completed their application for an upcoming quality control certification exam and is fired up to pass it.
And, seeing them facing forward and sitting at their desks, other colleagues around them are also raising their voices one after another, saying,'We want to take the correspondence courses in the next term too.'with a positive attitude.
When these reports came out, as the head of the company, I felt a sense of pride that warmed my heart. At the same time, it turned into a quiet conviction that the 'system to ensure that those who work hard never lose out,' which we have valued, has truly reached the shop floor.
■ Forcing people to 'study' from above only robs them of their own will
I myself have challenged the national 'Professional Engineer' exam in the past.
I have the bitter experience of failing twice in a row, despite cutting into my early morning and late-night hours to study intensely for 6 hours a day.
That is precisely why I believe I understand the difficulty of learning new knowledge after work, and the feeling of wanting to say, 'Why do I have to study like this?'
But because it was voluntary, I was able to work hard.
Even though there were no rewards or anything in front of me, I was able to work hard simply because I wanted to polish myself.
But conversely, if a boss at the company were to force it on me, saying, 'This is the digital age, so you must get this qualification,' or 'It's the rule, so memorize the procedures,' it would no longer be my own free will, but just a 'task to be done,' wouldn't it?
That is why I never tell my employees to 'study for work at home.' What we want to value above all else is the moment when, of their own volition, they 'find it more interesting and their hearts become spontaneously excited.'
■ Looking squarely at the 'joy of being able to do more'
Why do young people who hated schoolwork start opening textbooks voluntarily when they join our factory?
The reason is that they see the cool backs of their seniors on the shop floor and feel firsthand that being able to do one more job is simply incredibly interesting as a craftsperson.
Before the speed and dexterity of daily work, we value 'attitude' above all else, which is the basis of being a working adult: 'greetings, responding, following procedures, and reporting honestly if a mistake occurs.'
Based on that sense of security, the company as a whole watches over and evaluates the attitude of those who work hard, saying 'I want to try new things,' and their small growth. I believe that increasing our own strengths (specialties) in this way will, as a result, lead to expanding the choices in our own lives.
Of course, we will never let that enthusiasm spin its wheels in isolation.
Within the company, we have prepared and shared a digital environment for relearning, such as our own educational web app that employees can use on their smartphones at any time, quality control web problem sets, and production management confirmation apps. We also have a system in place where the company provides solid support for related correspondence courses and taking qualification exams.
Not just workers who move as they are told, but professionals who think for themselves to improve the shop floor and can succeed anywhere.
At Howa Tanko, we always welcome meeting colleagues who will create a new future together.
This comfort cannot be fully conveyed through text and photos alone. Please feel free to come and visit our factory, which we are proud of, with a light heart, thinking, 'I'd just like to take a look.'
【📱 Please check the various links here!】
Official X (formerly Twitter):https://x.com/howatankou
LinkedIn (Howa Tanko Co., Ltd.):https://www.linkedin.com/company/howa-tanko/
Howa Forging Company Official Website: https://howa-forging.co.jp/