Corporate Interview "Showa Seiko Co., Ltd."

Because there are female employees, the number of female employees increases, and the company changes to a place where it is easy to work. (Representative Director: Adult Kida)

Corporate introduction

Founded in 1954. Since then, Showa Seiko Co., Ltd. has been involved in precision processing, design and production of precision molds, automatic motivation, and development of dedicated machines. Through the technological capabilities and know-how of manufacturing cultivated over half a century of management, the company has earned the trust of a wide range of companies operating in the world as business partners. Currently, there are 97 employees. Of these, 19 were women. This time, Mr. Kida, President and CEO, talked about hiring and working styles of women in the manufacturing industry, which is said to have few women.

Photographs of the president and female employees

Question 1. When did you start focusing on hiring women?

It started in earnest about five years ago. It's been since I became president. In the past, the manufacturing industry was said to be a 3K workplace, and it had the image of "strict, dirty, dangerous." In particular, the manufacturing site of small and medium-sized enterprises has a strong image, and until before, it was not listed as a candidate for women's employment. In addition, we will continue to refine our technology at manufacturing sites over five years and ten years. Companies also thought that if they were leaving the workplace due to marriage or childbirth on the way, it would be better to hire mainly men. However, I don't think only men are eligible for recruitment. What is commonplace in the world of men alone is completely changed by women entering. You can metabolize your work style and way of thinking that have been solid since ancient times.
Under such circumstances, a woman who wanted to seriously work on manufacturing in our company joined the company. Jumping into a manufacturing site with only men would have required considerable courage. Her recruitment was a very big event for the company. If even one woman is working at a factory, the woman who visited during the factory tour at the time of recruitment in the next fiscal year will think, "I may be able to work." No matter how much the system is set up to make it easier for women to work, it becomes uneasy if there are no female employees who actually work. In that sense, I think her joining was a really big event.

Question 2. Did you have any effect on the manufacturing site by hiring women?

Until now, there was an idea of craftsmanship in the field, such as "Look at your back and remember" rather than teaching work. But now people don't grow up. I should have taught more carefully, but I didn't have the opportunity to change. That has changed since a woman joined the company. I was kind, or I was able to educate my juniors firmly. When I saw women exert their power and become a force in a men-centered world, I think that they lost their preconceptions about women and came to think about inheriting technology.
At present, at least one person is divided into each department and each section is divided into manufacturing sites, but at least one person is now available. Exchanges between female employees are also active. Regardless of department, we hold all women's associations voluntarily and take the initiative in creating a workplace atmosphere.

Question 3. What kind of activities do you expect from female employees?

We have created an environment where everyone can take on challenges, not just female employees. This is related to motivation, so we have equal opportunities regardless of gender. Of course, I would like women to be more active and increase the number of people. Eventually, female employees in managerial positions will become commonplace, and at least 30% of the number of employees will be women. However, it's like we've just started hiring women. The current situation is to create a place where people can play an active role while facing issues. For example, overtime. It is unavoidable because there are times when we are busy, but we believe that if we can create an environment where we can work from home, we will expand the opportunities for active participation. First of all, we need to create a system. Today, the number of long-lived companies called 100-year companies is increasing in Japan. As a company, I would like to aim for that. There are few people in our company who are willing to change jobs aggressively like other industries, and they want to work for a long time. The number of employees who experience marriage and childbirth while working at our company will increase. That's why I think it is important to create a place where employees can play an active role as a company while expecting their success. By stabilizing management, I want to make a company that can raise children more safely than ever.

Question 4. Finally, please tell us about your future support for women’s active participation.

I think this is not just an issue for women, but an issue for society as a whole. As awareness of working styles is beginning to change for both women and men, what kind of work environment will be created? I have to face it. In our manufacturing industry, for example, try to build a nursery in an industrial park where factories and warehouses are gathered. I think it will be even easier for women working there to leave their children near the workplace. I think you may be contacted by the nursery school suddenly, but you can pick up immediately because it is in the neighborhood. You can concentrate on your work with less mental burden. Then, it can be said, "Industrial parks are places where women can work easily." This will be a request to Yokohama City, but if we can create such an industrial park as a model case, the manufacturing industry and the value of the industrial park will change. In addition, there is a residential area on the side of the industrial park. You have the option to leave your child away from home and work nearby instead of working remotely. I think we can also promote employment in the manufacturing industry and become a WIN-WIN relationship with each other. Isn't it possible to send more such ideas to support women's success?

Voice of Female Employees

Emi Ibe (Joined in 2012)

Photos of female employees

My previous job was in charge of building security. The reason why I started thinking about changing jobs was that there was a night shift system and I became physically tighter. While looking for a company under the condition of "neighborhood of home, desk work", I met our job offer. I think I was attracted to the good atmosphere of the president and other employees. Currently, he is in charge of business affairs, mainly creating quotes, contacting customers, and organizing documents. It would be nice to be relied on by employees working in the field. Before joining the company, I was worried about whether I could take maternity leave or childcare leave in a workplace with few women. However, since I was honestly talking about all my wishes at the time of the interview, when I told the president that I was pregnant, "I'm on schedule. Congratulations," he said, and it was easy to take a vacation. We have created an environment where it is easy to balance work and childcare, such as by establishing a system in which several people can handle the same work even after returning to work with them. What I would like to tell everyone who is thinking about changing jobs to a small business is to "try it for the time being, try it." I think there are many companies that sincerely address the needs of female employees and intend to change the environment.