K.E.  Vehicle Sourcing Dept. / Purchasing Division

A company that values your contribution and enables diverse workstyles
Tell us about your job?

I'm the manager of a group that is mainly tasked with sourcing rubber and resin material components and interior parts for the driver's seat. I work with team members to build strategies and undertake various activities to reliably source even better components, such as by selecting suppliers and working to reduce costs.

What do you like about Isuzu?

There are two things that I find particularly attractive about Isuzu.
The first is that those who take on challenges are evaluated highly. The company values people who set up goals for themselves, take on challenges, even if difficult to achieve, and act proactively such as by asking for cooperation from others.
The second is a corporate culture in which members understand each other's difficulties and are ready to help. You can see this not only within teams, but also across divisions. For example, the Engineering Division and Purchasing Division may work together to resolve a problem. We see scenes like this every day.

What do you think about the working environment and work-life balance at Isuzu?

With my child in elementary school, I have been working shorter hours and remotely. I think Isuzu values results, not based on the number of hours you put in but on how much you contribute, which ultimately leads to a comfortable working environment. Due to the limitations of my workstyle, I constantly check to see that I'm making up for it with work results and not causing inconveniences to the people around me. By putting focus on work responsibilities and results, I hope workstyles will grow even more diversified, allowing more people to thrive.

When do you feel a sense of job satisfaction? What do you find interesting about your job?

I visit many manufacturing worksites to better understand the components we are purchasing, and the sheer amount of creative ingenuity I see is truly inspiring. Many component suppliers are working with an awareness of the changes in the mobility industry. When I speak to them about their initiatives for the future, I feel a lot of excitement as we envision the future of transport.

What do you value in leading your team?

The challenges we face in our work vary every day in volume and difficulty, and the skills of each member are also different. When leading my team, I'm careful to always be on the lookout for members who may be struggling or having difficulty with something. I'm striving to create a structure where we can share each other's circumstances with the team to complement each other.

How has Isuzu changed and how are you trying to change?

I find that it has become easier to consult others when facing hurdles, and notice my team members also doing the same. As our business grows more complex, the fact that we are dealing with an increasing number of challenges that we cannot solve on our own or within our department is in itself a change. Therefore, I hope to build relationships that will better connect departments and divisions to allow people to more easily consult and ask for support.

Please tell us about your "I Do Declaration."

Each and every employee is working to fulfill the ideals of ISUZU ID and change behavior as part of their own "I Do Declaration."

My I Do Declaration is "I will initiate the creative process."
When you belong to a large organization, you tend to expect someone else to make all the policy decisions. This gives you an excuse to put off doing immediate tasks because you tell yourself there isn't a structure in place or there's no outlook. But coming face to face with a difficult and unprecedented issue is an opportunity to create something new. If you don't act, nothing will change. I want to keep that firmly in mind.

What actions will you take to be No.1 in one of the four areas outlined in ISUZU ID?

In order to be No.1 in Social Impact, I will actively address issues across the entire supply chain.

"Mutual Respect" is a central element of ISUZU ID's core value. What does mutual respect mean to you?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I've run into multiple occasions where we couldn't purchase components or materials that we had been able to purchase with ease before the pandemic. On one occasion, I was tasked with a job that would have been inconceivable under normal circumstances. However, many people across divisions immediately understood my situation, offered advice, and put in a lot of work to help me secure the needed supply. I want to contribute as best as I can to help others solve their problems.

What would you say to someone interested in joining Isuzu?

If you want to succeed with teamwork, come to Isuzu!