Message from the General Manager of the Human Resources Dept.

Aim to further improve enterprise value and realize the Five Transformations indicated in the NGK Group Vision by fostering human capital based on our Human Resource Development Policy and proactively creating environments　that contribute to the utilization of diverse personnel.

Supporting challenges undertaken by the NGK Group

In response to an operating environment faced with constant change, the NGK Group’s business strategy will also evolve. This also drives changes in the type of human resources we require, and we are working to respond appropriately to these changes.

The Human Resource Development Policy defines three types of human resources required to realize the Five Transformations outlined in the NGK Group Vision. There are two reasons for defining our ideal human resources. The first is the maximization of offered value. The value offered by the NGK Group is generated from the knowledge, skills, and capabilities that have been acquired by each employee within the NGK Group. Our ability to offer even greater value depends on each member of our Group acquiring more advanced knowledge, skills, and capabilities. Also, teamwork is essential to assembling those knowledge, skills, and capabilities into a collective unit.

The second reason is promoting a sense of speed. We live in an age of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). As the term suggest, the world today faces a lack of transparency that makes it difficult to predict the future. Amid such an environment, it will prove difficult to adapt to the speed of change simply by waiting to act on orders received from your superiors. I believe the key to responding to change is that each employee constantly thinks about what is required and continuously act with a sense of speed.

Our Workplace Development Policy outlines three keywords aimed at increasing our probability of success at realizing the Five Transformations: Diversity, Prosperous and Energetic, and Challenge.

Essential to realizing the Five Transformations will be human resources who drive the thinking and creativity that lead to innovation. Equally critical is that we incorporate the alternative perspectives and approaches of human resources of diverse backgrounds and experiences. The foundation for maximizing the potential of diverse human resources is the creation of a workplace that recognizes and respects others, regardless of race, nationality, gender, age, beliefs, experience, or values.

Another key factor in maximizing the potential of diverse human resources is a workplace that is prosperous and energetic. Motivating work, self-growth, colleagues you can respect, physical and mental health, compensation commensurate to your efforts, and time you can spend with family or friends. I believe the some of these elements promote a prosperous and energetic work environment, and we will work towards enhancing all of these elements as part of our path to achieving the Five Transformations.

The commitment to challenge is also essential to achieving the Five Transformations. Challenge is also a driving force the individual growth and advancement of employees. Failure is a part of challenge, and we will work to cultivate an open corporate culture in which employees can feel assured in challenging themselves to new ideas and strategies without having to fear failure.

Note: This interview was conducted in May 2024.