Skills for a lifetime, starting from scratch. The importance of 'immersion' in daily life to grasp the feeling of growth.
This is Watanabe from Howa Tanko Co., Ltd.
Today, a fresh new breeze has begun to blow in our factory once again. A new colleague has joined the finishing and inspection team in the second manufacturing section. In this day and age, where labor shortages are a constant concern, I am truly happy that they chose to walk through our doors this month, resonating with our down-to-earth vision.
In last week's note I shared the happy news that a culture of 'adult relearning' is spontaneously flourishing within our company. I introduced members who have successfully completed forklift training, those who have started correspondence courses on forging on their own initiative, and leaders who are looking forward and sitting at their desks to prepare for quality control certification exams.
When I talk about this, fellow business owners often ask me, 'How do you motivate your young employees?' Before I became president, I challenged myself with certification exams, and despite studying intensely for six hours a day by cutting into my early morning and late-night hours, I failed twice in a row—a rather embarrassing experience of frustration. That is precisely why I understand better than anyone how difficult it is to learn new knowledge after work.
Of course, forced instruction that dictates 'study' from above, demanding rote memorization of manuals, strips subordinates of their free will and turns it into mere 'work that must be done.' That is why I have been hesitant to tell my employees, 'Go home and study for work.'
However, at the same time, I feel that the trend of seeking a dry and passive way of working from a company—where one just gets by during the eight-hour workday and wants to think nothing of work—is actually decreasing among the younger generation today.
That is why I have implemented various initiatives within the company, hoping to give even a little courage to those who study on their own initiative.
One of these is educational DX. We have published a page called 'Skill-Up Library' exclusively for employees, allowing them to study using their smartphones.
■ A 'period of immersion' as a professional is something you absolutely cannot avoid in building a career
Many people are looking for a solid sense of fulfillment in their lives and 'skills for a lifetime' that are not swayed by others.
In the world of forging, where we battle 1200-degree heat and pour our souls into the strike of a giant hammer, climbing the ladder as a professional requires a passionate period of getting your hands dirty, sweating, and truly 'immersing' yourself in your work. However, that is completely different from wearing yourself down or burning out. It is an irreplaceable time where you repeat hypotheses and verification in your own head amidst a site where the situation changes with every strike, forming your professional pride with your own hands.
That is why, before speed or dexterity in work, we value 'attitude' above all else—the basics as a member of society, such as 'greetings, responding, following procedures, and honest reporting in the unlikely event of a mistake.'
For our new colleagues, it starts with simply being there sincerely every day.
It means watching the backs of the seniors who energize the site and spontaneously asking, 'What shall we do next?' with a fresh attitude.
We are the first to notice and watch over that positive energy and challenging spirit, as a company as a whole. We believe that increasing your own 'strengths (sharp edges)' in this way will ultimately lead to expanding the choices in your own life.
■ Physical and organizational infrastructure to ensure that those who work hard never lose out
We will never let your genuine enthusiasm go to waste or spin its wheels in isolation.
Within the company, we have implemented and shared a digital environment, such as a proprietary educational web app that employees can use for free on their smartphones at any time, and web problem sets for certifications, so that those who work hard can surely climb the ladder.
It is not forced overtime, but planned time to deliver the best products. And after overtime ends at 18:40, you can head straight to our proud large communal bath in the company, wash away the sweat and dirt of the day, and head home with a smile before 19:00.
Cultivating 'pride in having accomplished something with colleagues' at work, and 100% enjoying 'rich time as an individual' in private. I am convinced that only when these two wheels are aligned can a person become a 'cool adult' who is trusted by those around them and has room to spare.
Words and photos alone cannot fully convey the body temperature flowing through this site or the comfort of the team. Please feel free to come and visit our factory, which we are proud of, with the down-to-earth feeling of 'I'd like to take a look at the site.'
We would be happy if you could support our challenge. Please follow us on our various social media accounts.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/howa-tanko/
Howa Forging Company Website: https://howa-forging.co.jp/