Partnership with Customers
Contributing to Local and Global Communities
Nurturing Human Resources and Next-Generation MonozukuriVOICE:From internship participantsPassing on Technology to AllLocally Based Social Contribution
Tripartite Consortium of Academic, Business, and Government Circles
Alps Electric participates in the “Tripartite Consortium of Academic, Business, and Government Circles” whose aim, through development of both technology and human resources, is to revitalize the Tohoku region of Japan where most of our plants are located. As regards technological development and in collaboration with Iwate University, Yamagata University and local enterprises, we are involved in creating a system that reduces lead times from development through to mass production. This Consortium project is based on using digital manufacturing under the theme “Development of Production Technology for Sophisticated Materials and Components for Next-Generation Intelligent Home Appliances and Automobiles.” Our Technical Master Training Center also participates in the Core Production Personnel Development Project, which is developing a training system regarding metal molds. The Training Center also receives trainees from local enterprises as part of its contribution to nurturing future human resources. Alps Electric and Iwate University have established a cooperative relationship through a number of educational activities, including Alps’ provision of lecturers for the university’s Faculty of Engineering course on Quality Engineering. In addition, we have commissioned Iwate University to validate training systems that have been developed by our Technical Master Training Center.
Internship Program
Learning important skills through the curriculum
We run an internship program to expand the potential of engineers and create high levels of expertise. This program doesn’t offer a simple opportunity for work experience, but aims to develop problem-solving skills required on-site and accepts only highly-motivated students who seek practical training. It provides a broad range of themes and encourages students to apply their academic knowledge to practical monozukuri. Students from technical colleges train for two weeks, while university and post-graduate students train for three weeks to five months, depending on the course. In fiscal 2006, we accepted a total of 29 interns, including 14 students from technical colleges and nine from universities and graduate schools.
Yusuke Fujiyama
Faculty of Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan
I wanted to have some actual work experience before going on to graduate school, so I applied for the internship program offered by the Magnetic Devices Division. After being involved in work on quality improvement, reducing materials costs, and developing process technology for that purpose, I discovered that a workplace needs to plan several months in advance. Before beginning the internship, I thought the four-month period for which I would train, was quite long, but I soon realized that four months was only a very short time in reality. The practical training enabled me to learn the importance of planning and communication between different departments, and developed my sense of responsibility.
Weiwei Liu
IT Business Management Department, Neusoft Institute of Information Technology, China
I took part in a four-month internship beginning January 2007. I had wanted to study in Japan before, and the program gave me a great opportunity to learn about many things including state-of-the-art technology for software module design, the flow of business operations, corporate culture, and the diligence of people in Japan. I would like to introduce the best elements of Japan to people in China, and I would like to get involved in friendly exchanges between Japan and China for the development of the two countries.
A trainee from China listens carefully to advice during training
Learning new skills with the help of an accomplished workman
Technical Master Training Center
We founded the Technical Master Training Center, complete with accommodation facilities in Miyagi Prefecture in 1999 to apply an organized approach in passing on technical skills and knowledge. Since then, the Center has provided not only employees of Alps, but technicians from cooperative companies too with an opportunity to develop on-site skill and independence. The Center has also successfully trained a total 103 technicians from our overseas production-based facilities, in its pursuit of passing on technical mastery. Trainees stay for three to six months, where they master mold and tooling technology, and learn about our monozukuri concept.
In order to maintain the Alps Electric brand, overseas affiliates must have the same technical skills and monozukuri concept as bases in Japan. This is especially true with mold and tooling core technology. The Technical Master Training Center plays a very important role in creating the foundation needed to maintain technological capability of the entire Alps Group.
At our bases all over the world, Alps Electric strives to add vitality to local communities and enhance cooperation with them. We pursue distinctive activities that have taken root in each community including welfare projects, cleanup programs, and summer festivals to promote interaction between employees and local residents. We also continue to cultivate future generations by providing plant tours and work experience, as we pass on the marvels of monozukuri.
An employee gives instructions on
how to assemble a shovel dozer
Passing Monozukuri on to Future Generations
(Alps Electric Headquarters)
Since fiscal 2003, we have supported the Monozukuri Science School with the Board of Education of Ota Ward, Tokyo to pass down the marvels and delights of monozukuri to children. Elementary and middle school students are given the opportunity to learn how to use tools and experience the pleasure of monozukuri by making mechanisms such as IC radios and rubber band-powered model airplanes. This School has been attended by approximately 450 elementary and middle school students in total over four years up to fiscal 2006.
Volunteering employees in cleanup program
Cleanup Program: “One River for One Company” and “One Mountain for One Company”
(Alps Electric Korea)
Since March 2006, Alps Electric Korea has conducted cleanup activities under the slogans: “One River for One Company” (Yeongsangang River) and “One Mountain for One Company” (YongJin Mountain). This project has been carried out by employees voluntarily, and is significant in the fact that a company has taken the initiative for the community. Efforts are being made to continue this project in an organized manner, increase the number of volunteering employees, and extend the areas covered.
Local students who participated in a plant tour
Contributions to Local Schools and Universities
(Alps Electric (Ireland))
Alps Electric (Ireland) provides local students with opportunities to participate in plant tours and practical experience programs with the aim of fostering personnel who will be able to work with the spirit of monozukuri in the future. We hope these tours and programs help them to understand our pursuit of quality and our corporate culture and its respect for the individual, as they experience monozukuri for themselves.