Finally...!

 

A new member (we call him “Mr.T” here) has joined ISOWA Japan! He is from Gansu, China which is between the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. According to Ms.K, who knows about China well, “The famous Dunhuang” is in Gansu, too.

Actually, he was supposed to join ISOWA in April 2020 with other new employees. However, because of COVID-19, the government prohibited entries into Japan from China, so he couldn’t come to Japan as scheduled.

Before that, he already resigned from his former job in Shanghai to join ISOWA, so he went back to his hometown and kept waiting for almost a year. It shows his strong feeling for ISOWA. Thank you for waiting such a long time Mr.T.

It was finally possible to enter Japan, and he planned to come in the middle of January. But since last Fall, COVID-19 was going around again, so he decided to come a week earlier. After arriving in Japan, he stayed in quarantine at a hotel for two weeks, and FINALLY, his new journey in ISOWA was started on the 20th of January!

Because of the COVID-19 influence, he couldn’t introduce himself to everyone face to face, so we took a video of his introduction, and released it to all members in ISOWA.

As soon as he started working, I went to Assembly Section where he is in training. This was our reunion since his job interview two years ago. I took a picture of Mr.K with some members who happened to be there in memory of his joining ISOWA.

There is a Japanese saying, “A meeting by chance is preordained”. So the members in this picture will help and support Mr.T from now on, as we always the plan! (Of course, not only the members in this picture but all members in ISOWA will help him. Haha)

Welcome to Japan, and ISOWA Mr.T!

I can’t wait to see his growth, and we are sure that he is going to do his best for your business someday!

Welcome Back!

Happy new year, 2021!  I hope this year to be a great development and success for you. 

We appreciate your continuous support for ISOWA this year!

While I was browsing a website, I saw an article about the translated Japanese subtitle, "Okaeri nasai" – a translated phrase from "Welcome Back!" used in an English movie scene. 

"Okaerinasai" in Japanese is used in everyday situations to greet family members when they return home after being away from home that day.

The article explained that "Welcome Back!" in English has a nuance of "I am very glad to see you back" after a person returns from difficult situations or after a challenging task. 

During the year-end and New Year holidays, as many as 150 ISOWA staff and TASUKE-bito (staff from partner companies) went to the customer's site for the machine installation projects. They all successfully completed their task and have returned safely.

Based on the article I read, it really is "Welcome Back!" But to me, it fits so much more to say "Okaerinasai" in Japanese to welcome them back.  It expresses my sincere appreciation.

So, for all members who worked hard, "Okaerinasai."

You all returned safely and in good health, even in this COVID-19 pandemic and cold weather.  I thank you all for returning safely.  Okaerinasai.

Long-term Partnership Based on Mutual Trust

Our customer visited us for the final checkup of their Flexo Folder Gluer Ibis.

They were completely satisfied with the machine quality.

We are going to install the Ibis in their factory site at the end of this month.

 

Today, I would like to share the history of our relations.

27 years ago, we installed another machine on their site.

We were facing many big challenges and it took a long time before the startup.

However, they fully trusted our engineers even though we caused the troubles.

They always value our engineers’ professional skills, technical knowledge and sincere attitudes.

They admire our service technicians’ quickest repair efforts and rely on their constructive advice regarding machine maintenance intervals.

 

There is no doubt that they ordered a new machine because of our strong partnership over several decades.

We are certainly committed to the successful startup for the upcoming installation.

 

 

I truly appreciate all of your support this past year.

I wish you a wonderful holiday season. Stay safe and healthy.

A new Isowa-bito (staff) is born

 Today, I introduce a young man, Mr. N, who will join our company next year.

He will graduate from his high school next spring.

I asked him why he chose our company, not one of the other larger or more well-known companies.

He said, “My parents told me to join a major company, but I was very impressed by your corporate philosophy, “Creating a company with the best corporate culture in the world that makes us and our families happy.”

“This is the reason why I chose this company.”

“Also, I want to work for my family and teachers, because they  helped me become who I am today.”

“For example, I want to repay my parents and teachers for their support once I start working.  I want to take my parents on a hot-springs vacation and take my teachers out for a nice meal.”

I was impressed by each word!!

We have many employees like him who have sympathized with our philosophy and have worked in our company for many years since they graduated from high school.

Mr. Y, whom I introduced before, was one of them.

He was actively involved in our company’s front lines for more than 50 years!!

http://h-isowa.blogspot.com/2020/06/retirement-after-half-century_26.html

We promise to support Mr. N so that he will work for a long time and be actively involved in front lines like them.

Nice to meet you Mr. N! Let’s do our best together!!

Further Step Up of Remote Installation

In September, we had another installation overseas, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we were still in a difficult situation to send people from Japan to America. As a result, we had to complete the installation with remote support like we shared with everyone before.

http://h-isowa.blogspot.com/2020/07/remote-installation.html

This time, the special type of machine made the installation more difficult, but all members in Japan and America cooperated and tried to do their best.

Because of everyone’s effort, all the installation work was completed, and the machine is running without any troubles.

This success is thanks to many background efforts of members.

In Japan, some members came to the office in the early morning to give ISOWA America members directions via skype, and some members made an installation manual for the team to use on site.

Also, a member of the general affairs department made a video summary from assembly to disassembly of our machine for reference by the installation team. The efforts were important as this was the first machine for this customer, and before we could even install the first machine, they had already ordered another!

After this installation, ISOWA America members sent us a picture.

Their smiles show their satisfaction and how our remote installation support worked well!

 

Every time I see such pictures, I’m sure that we could steadily build a relationship of trust and even if we are geographically far apart, we can give good services for overseas’ customers.

The Covid-19, changed a lot of things. At first glance, it leads us to think in a negative way, but it could also be said that it gave us a new vision and a new way of thinking.

Nobody knows how the Covid-19 will turn out, but be assured that we will keep thinking the best way to support you, and doing our best for your business from now on.

Jibun-gatari by three mid-career members

Although Obon holidays in Japan had finished, there was still pre-shipment inspection for overseas customers.

All three persons of today’s Jibun-gatari (talking about themselves) are mid-career member in ISOWA.

The first is Mr. A, who is in charge of today’s customers in Oversea Sales. (the photo at the beginning)

Mr. A touched on the ISOWA's revised human resources development policy from this term, and introduced three turning points that changed him.

By brushing up on both, the X axis which expressed action according to ISOWA’s vision and the Y axis of skill, all ISOWA members aim to become a full-fledged ISOWA person.

And…

He shared his training policy for his subordinate based on what he learned from past experiences.

We’ve been providing technical support around the clock since we installed the first machine, and it’s one of the reasons they decided on the second & third machines.

Mr. O from Technical Customer Support said,

“Because of the teamwork and the spirit of ‘cooperating’ across departments, 24-hour service can be realized. "

 

It was a story unique to Mr. O who actually experienced it.

 

Finally,

 

Mr. H (front) of the assembly department is in charge of installing the Falcon, which is the machine to be inspected.

 

"Following the two Ibis used by this customer in the past,

I will also go out to install the third Falcon as the person in charge.

At the same time, we will check and adjust the previous two Ibis, and also remodel the speed of the Edge Opener.” 

As expected, Mr. H, who is a mid-level, proudly declared his contribution to the customers.

 

We promised to send them the data of the test results later on.

The customers said,

" It’s boring data, isn’t it? It won’t be worth checking. Because we already know the quality is perfect."

 

We received a lot of words and evaluations from the customers.

 

Thank you very much for visiting us in such extreme heat and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Customer's Words That Made Us Delighted

Recently, one of our customers visited us for the final checkup before installation.

Thankfully, they gave us positive feedback on the machine's quality.

After that, the executive director Mr. I said, 

"What matters most is I really like ISOWA’s corporate culture and the people. 

And I highly appreciate the operator-friendly machines which they manufacture." 

"You always inspire me to set a clear vision for our company's future.   

Definitely, I will focus on further efforts that make the customers, suppliers,

employees and their families happier," he added. 

I greatly appreciated his wonderful words.

Our team members were so delighted when I shared the conversation.

We are happy to have such a good relationship with our customer.

There are still many challenges under the pandemic.

Hope everyone reading this stays safe and healthy.