For two weeks from September 2, 2019, Mr. Takeshi Okumura, who is enrolled in the doctoral course of the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Life Science, experienced a corporate internship at Hikari Gokin Seisakusho (hereinafter referred to as Hikari Gokin), which is headquartered in Otaru City, Hokkaido. I was. Hikari Gokin boasts the top market share in Hokkaido for the manufacture of anti-freezing hydrants. 10% of our employees are assigned to departments related to product development. According to President Akira Inoue, in-house development is a tangible proof of work and the employees' pride. Mr. Okumura went to the Otaru head office and Sapporo sales office to experience the consistent manufacturing process from research and development, design, manufacturing to sales. I learned why it is called a manufacturer.
Mr. Taketoshi Shimada (general affairs department) was in charge of accepting Mr. Okumura. Immediately after joining the company, Mr. Shimada went around the main departments, including the manufacturing department, for training and learned about the overall picture of the company. I currently belong to the general affairs department, but I was able to understand the work of the general affairs department to which I currently belong, precisely because I was able to know the situation of the site where all the processes from development and design to sales and sales were carried out in-house. is said to have deepened.
Find out why it is called a "development-type manufacturer" [Report: Takeshi Okumura]
In the first week, in order to understand how Hikari Gokin's main product, the anti-freezing hydrant, is manufactured and where it is used, each department will learn about everything from manufacturing at the factory to maintenance work at the sales office. I have extensive experience working with In the second week, we learned how new products are designed and how the designed ones are evaluated in the design department/product development room. I also learned how the Quality Control Office and Intellectual Property Office maintain and manage the quality of Hikari Gokin products.
Two weeks flew by, but there was a surprise event on the last day. I had the opportunity to make a presentation on my research on "hydrogel", which is my specialty, and explained the cutting-edge gel material while showing the actual product in front of many of our employees. Although the materials we deal with are completely different, we found that the curiosity of everyone involved in "manufacturing" is the same as that of researchers by answering many questions.
I had the opportunity to talk directly with President Akira Inoue and Chairman Ichiro Inoue, and after work, they took me out to dinner. All the stories were interesting, but it seems that the company faced tough times, such as the oil crisis, the bankruptcy of Takushoku Bank, and the Lehman Shock, but it was precisely because they continued to focus on selling their own brand that they were able to overcome these crises. The gentle smile of Chairman Inoue, who said that he was able to do it, was impressive.
Private experimentation and development must be accepted by society
This was my first experience of an internship, but it was a very meaningful opportunity to see first-hand the worksite of a company that manufactures its own products from scratch. Until now, I had only known about experiments and ways of thinking at research institutes such as universities, so I was surprised at the difference in experimental methods at companies. University research does not necessarily lead to practical application, but private experimentation and development must be accepted by society. I knew how tough it was. I could feel the passion of the employees for their work. I really feel that the people of Hikari Gokin have always thought about their customers and put their efforts and passion into their own products, and that they have developed into a company that is loved by the local community as a development-oriented manufacturer. I would like to make the best use of my experience in this internship and devote myself to becoming a leader who can play an active role in a company in the future.
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