Employee introduction08 I am fascinated by building things. In future, I hope to focus on automation technology
M.T.
Joined as newly-grad in 2009
CS DivisionProduction Engineering Dept., Toyama ADEX Production Engineering Sec.Production engineering
Background
Tell us about your major at university and your research subjects.
In the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, I studied programming and circuitry. I have been fascinated by building things ever since.
It was great fun to assemble all sorts of different parts into something with a singular use. That is when I started to think I should work on the manufacturing side.
When you were looking for employment, what types of work and industries did you look at? Also tell us why you chose SMK in the end.
As a student I wanted to build stuff. My job search mostly involved applying to manufacturers.
The reason I chose SMK is because it is a company that was manufacturing during the era of high economic growth in Japan.
Another big reason is that SMK is based near my house. It is a famous company in my area, so the thought of working there gave me peace of mind.
Work
What were your feelings about SMK after you started working here?
I had no idea about anything when I first arrived here, but thanks to the guidance of senior colleagues from my department and others let me experience the fun involved in manufacturing.
As a production engineer I also got to interact a lot with people from partner firms, which gave a variety of experiences.
Tell us about your job.
My main job at the moment is launching new products.
From the designers, we receive a request for consideration of assembly for a new product. One of the jobs of production engineers is to look at how to build the product in a way that satisfies its performance requirements, while ensuring optimal productivity. It is also necessary to obtain the cooperation of other departments when it comes to actual assembly of the product, so I often have to negotiate with other departments or outside businesses. As all of those conversations take place, assembly is established.
Tell us about when you experience a feeling of job satisfaction.
I felt fulfilled when I first launched a new product for mass production all by myself. In launching a product, firstly, you consider the assembly, look at the equipment required for automated assembly and make an application, then you meet with the equipment manufacturer.
Once the equipment is ready, you install it in the plant and check that the product can be assembled. You then brief the staff at the plant and move to mass production. After the start of mass production, you deal with any issues that arise in the equipment and then you are on track for mass production.
In this way, I watched a product launched by myself achieved steady production, leading to steady sales. Seeing this gave me a sense of achievement, a deep fulfillment that I had given it my all.
I also experienced working at the China Works for about three years. In Japan, I launched products myself, but at the China Works my role was to support the product launch staff and to serve as the liaison with Japan. Sometimes I could not accurately express my intentions because of the culture and language differences, yet the memories of launching new products together with the Chinese staff are something I treasure.
Tell us about something that you found difficult at work.
As discussed on the previous question, setting up the equipment and stabilizing production takes a tremendous effort. When production begins, a lot of issues arise because it is the first time that the equipment has operated for any length of time continuously. You need to deal with every problem there and then. You start by assessing the issue, investigate the cause and analyze it, then work to restore the line. Once the problem is sorted out, you need to record data about it so that the same problem does not recur. If you do not do this, the same issue will come back again and again.
Vision
Describe your dreams and goals.
My dream for the future is unmanned, automated production.
At the moment, products are assembled with machinery (automated). However, when it comes to supplying assembly parts when they run out and the post-processing of finished products, people have to get involved. Looking ahead, given the decreasing number of workers, I hope that we can improve the level of automated technology in the near future.
MESSAGE
What is message for all those students out there jobhunting?
The important thing is to have a very good idea of what it is you want to do.
I am sure you are filled with various worries about embarking on a career. But if there is something that you really want to do in life, I think that makes all the difference.
Given all of your experiences as a student, you are going to be very useful to somebody, somewhere. Just go for it.
A day in my work life
Nap in preparation for afternoon's tasks
