DENSO's regional headquarters and parent company for its North American operations, including design and production engineering, technical support, sales and finance
DMCN Associates #ChoosetoChallenge for International Women’s Day
Good news—Michigan is expanding access to the COVID-19 vaccine immunization.
Beginning March 22, anyone age 50-64 is eligible for a vaccine immunization, as well as people age 16-49 with certain medical conditions or disabilities.
And, starting March 24, Michigan will open a mass vaccination site at Ford Field in Detroit. This site will operate seven days a week, from 8:30 am to 8 pm. Henry Ford Health System will administer the vaccines. You can sign up here: clinic.meijer.com/register.
All residents age 16 and up will be eligible for the vaccine on April 5, although it may take some time to get an appointment. Register now by visiting: michigan.gov/coronavirus.
The CDC has issued a helpful web site at www.vaccinefinder.org, which shows locations that may have vaccine in stock near you, and links that will help you schedule appointments with those providers.
You can also call Michigan’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-535-6136 for help finding a vaccine.
If you are eligible to receive a vaccine, check the web site of your local health department to find out their process for registration and/or application. You can do this through the State of Michigan by clicking here.
The new Shipping & Receiving warehouse on the DIAM Southfield campus is located behind DN20. You can access the warehouse directly from DN20 starting Tuesday, Feb. 23. Below are maps showing the new location and how to access the warehouse.
DIAM_DN20_S&R2Until further notice, associates must follow all Shipping & Receiving COVID-19 procedures to ensure safe and productive operations. Click here to view the procedures and access all Shipping & Receiving forms.
In this time of uncertainty there are many things that we can’t control. Some things you CAN control are your actions and the choices that you make on a daily basis.
Why not use this time to improve your health?
This 4-week challenge gives you the opportunity to start a new healthy habit OR stop or reduce an old one to improve your health and wellbeing.
What healthy habit could you start? What old habit could you give up? The choice is all yours!
Ideas for great new habits to START: drink more water, eat an extra serving of fruit and vegetables a day, walk for 30 minutes a day (it doesn’t have to be all at once!), get an extra hour of sleep every night, or eat breakfast every day.
Suggestions of old habits to STOP or reduce: spend less time on social media; cut back on sugar, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine or processed food.
Challenge runs from April 20th to May 16th.
Sign up from today through April 24th.
Submit your tracking sheet by May 22nd to be eligible for prizes.
Email your health coach!
Mary at mkaufman@hbdinternational.com
Megan at mpage@hbdinternational.com
The Technical Presentation Development Contest is an opportunity for engineering associates to develop their presentation capabilities and expand their DENSO network. It’s an opportunity to hear how engineers approached various projects, solved problems, and implemented creative solutions.
DENSO representatives Bryan Starr and DJ Smith were invited to the Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s residence, along with other Japanese based companies in Ohio, to thank us for our continued contribution in the state.
This reception was a kickoff for the Midwest U.S. Japan Association Conference, which will be held in Tokyo, September 7-10. Representatives from DENSO will attend the conference and hold meetings with Michigan, Ohio and Indiana government officials to continue to strengthen our community relationships.
For students looking to join a college Formula One racing team, the way in which their racing vehicle is transported between university and race track likely isn’t top of mind. But dreams of first place finishes can quickly stall without a suitable way to move the car trailer, which requires a truck with a powerful engine to do so. Enter the DENSO North America Foundation (DNAF).
DNAF recently awarded a $50,000 gift to the Oakland University (Rochester, MI) School of Engineering and Computer Science, which allowed them to purchase a brand-new Dodge Ram 2500 crew cab truck, an ideal vehicle for hauling the trailer and precious cargo inside. Prior to that, students had to rely on the generosity (and availability) of family members to offer their personal vehicles to tow the car, which proved to be a constant challenge. Thanks to the DNAF grant, the Grizzlies racing team can transport their hotrod with convenience and style.
“Without supportive sponsors like DENSO, our team members would not be able to apply the theories learned in the classroom and test them in a dynamic real-world setting,” said Adam Delbeke, student president of the Grizzlies Racing team said. “In the past going to events was a logistics nightmare. Now, having the DENSO truck allows us to go to more events and get there with ease. We can’t thank them enough.”
With support from DNAF, the team is turning heads before even unloading their car. Oakland University shares more about the donation and what it means for the students and school.
DIAM Engineering directors & above participated in a 2-day workshop to reflect on how to become stronger leaders dedicated to increasing associate engagement. In this video, leaders from our different product groups talk about their experiences and next steps.
Our associates continue to impact the neighborhoods where they work and live in big ways. In April, 22 quality engineers took time out of their day to volunteer with the American Red Cross’ Sound the Alarm program. These rock star associates installed free fire alarms in homes all over Southeast Michigan. Volunteers like Chris Panke, Justin Higgs, and Rebecca Hagerman, who participate in DENSO’s Worktime Volunteering program, shared the following about their experience:
“The work was very rewarding. It was shocking to learn how vulnerable we all are to the risk of loss due to inadequate fire safety precautions. The numbers shared were staggering and each homeowner was extremely appreciative in our education about those risks along with installing the smoke detectors which can help save them and their family members. It really was an eye-opening experience.” – Chris Panke, Quality Planning, Sr. Manager
“This was a very fun event that helps many people who are less fortunate. It is a very sobering experience to see some of the living conditions that the elderly and former military members are living in, and I was glad to be able to provide them with the extra peace of mind of having working smoke detectors…I hope to volunteer for it in the future.” – Justin Higgs, Field Quality Engineer
“For me, when I signed up to volunteer for the Sound the Alarm program, I wasn’t expecting to make much of a difference by installing smoke detectors. I was wrong. Some of the homes my team visited had zero functioning smoke detectors – zero. Just by installing the smoke detectors and providing the homeowners with valuable information about fire safety within the home and explaining the importance of having a fire escape plan, gave me a rewarding feeling. Like I was making a difference in these peoples’ lives. It was a great experience.” – Rebecca Hagerman, Sr Service/QA Support Specialist
In 2017, DENSO gave a $10,000 grant to support Sound the Alarm. From April 28-May 13, the nationwide program installed over 100,000 free smoke alarms in 100 different cities across the United States. According to the American Red Cross, seven people die from home fires each day. This initiative was created to raise fire safety awareness and save lives.
Thank you to all our employees who exemplify our passion for strengthening communities and keeping them safe. Keep up the good work!
Last week, 992 students, grades 7-8, had a scientific day filled with hands-on activities, science experiments, career explorations, peer-to-peer talks and more at the 2018 DAPCEP STEM Day. DIAM Southfield had 6 volunteers to talk “Technology and Vehicle Safety”.
Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) is a nonprofit organization with 40 years of experience partnering with universities, training programs, and K-12 school systems in order to connect youth to the best science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational experiences in Michigan.
Thank you to our volunteers for helping students build a stronger understanding, appreciation and excitement for STEM!
Below are our volunteers and their speaking topics:
Dana Paul, senior recruiter in Human Resources
Introduction of DENSO International America, Inc.
Yolanda Durfield, senior account manager in Sales & Marketing
“My journey as an Engineer”
Matthew Gesch, application engineer II in AD & ADAS
“AD & ADAS Sensors”
Denise Carlson, vice president in NAPIC Planning
“Automation & Manufacturing”
Oris Rost, material engineer II in NA Material Engineering
“Automation & Manufacturing”
Our engineers like to compete. From sports leagues to holiday gift donations, they go all out. Our Cockpit Systems* Engineering Division even used DIAM’s Worktime Volunteering program to start its own competition for associates—a competition to see who can pack the most food donation boxes at Focus Hope for low-income seniors in need.
The competition started in Cockpit Systems 3. Dan Tran, an Engineering Senior Manager in Cockpit Systems 3, and his team chose to volunteer at Focus Hope using DIAM’s Worktime Volunteering. The following year, his director encouraged the other departments to participate and make it a division-wide competition.
“I think it’s important for management to be engaged in these types of activities to lead by example” said Dan. “Everyone enjoyed participating at this event and it was a great team bonding experience. We feel like we’ve given back to the community and that we were challenged. When someone saw a packing station falling behind, they jumped in to help keep things moving.”
*Cockpit Systems formerly known as Body Component Systems
The Winners Circle
Over the last few months, four teams competed in the Cockpit Systems Focus Hope challenge. Check out the rankings below to see how the teams fared, and read about the experiences of two associates who participated:
1st Place
Team: Cockpit Systems 3
Packed: 24 pallets (1,325 boxes)
Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes (757 boxes/hr)
“I want to commend my team for their commitment because even though it was the worst snow storm of the winter, everyone still made it downtown in time for the activity,” said Victor Vulcu, Engineer 4 in Cockpit Systems 3. “Our team won, but what’s most important was that our team packed a week’s worth of food donations for low-income seniors. I think more teams should do activities like this. It’s a good experience for associates. It’s something tangible and you can see your immediate impact.”
2nd Place
Team: Cockpit Systems 1
Packed: 14 pallets (770 boxes)
Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes (513 boxes/hr)
3rd Place
Team: Safety
Packed: 22 pallets (1,200 boxes)
Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes (480 boxes/hr)
4th Place
Team: Cockpit Systems 4
Packed: 18 pallets (1,000 boxes)
Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes (429 boxes/hr)
“This volunteer activity would not have been successful without our director, Chee Cheong, and the support of our senior managers and managers,” said Nancy Chen, administrative assistant in Cockpit Systems 4. “Our director sent an email to everyone encouraging us to participate. Some associates were hesitant at first, but then they started signing up after seeing the email. The email showed that our director supported the activity during work hours and believed it was meaningful. We felt a sense of community after the activity. We felt like one DENSO team. We’re very proud to represent DENSO at Focus Hope and to show other groups our DENSO Spirit.”
Cockpit Systems Division Total: 78 pallets (4,290 boxes)
Years to Come
“Each year, we want to keep improving to see how we can be more efficient and pack the most boxes possible,” said Dan. “It’s a chance for us to be challenged both mentally and physically. Friendly competition helps drive team motivation and it feels good to support a local organization such as Focus Hope.”
Learn How to use Worktime Volunteering
Click the “Download” button on the upper, right hand side of this story to download information about DIAM’s Worktime Volunteering program.
Last year I found a lump in the leg and cheek of my 11 year old lab mix, Lily. Lily is very special to me. I rescued her as a puppy when I graduated high school and she continued to be my companion in college when I was attending Central Michigan University for my undergraduate degree in Mt. Pleasant. We’ve run and walked hundreds of miles together and have lived in so many different places. She was the one rock in my life while going through some tumultuous transitions in undergraduate and graduate school.
I signed Lily up for pet insurance through Nationwide a few years prior. I knew as she aged her risk factors for different illnesses increased so I wanted to make sure she was covered under a comprehensive plan before we found ourselves in any unfortunate circumstances. I thought Nationwide’s monthly premiums were really affordable for what was covered, all I had to do was cut down on my weekly Starbucks habit and Lily could have insurance. I remember when I found the lumps I was very nervous to talk to my vet. I was informed I could decide to get a sample of the lump biopsied, have them completely removed or do nothing about them. The best decision she felt was to remove them completely because even if they are biopsied and her lumps came back benign, there is a potential they could still turn out to be cancerous. My vet understood that many families are under strict budgets when it comes to their pet’s healthcare so she was supportive of whatever direction I decided.
After looking at pricing for the full removal procedure I knew that with pet insurance I could afford to remove the lumps completely. The total procedure cost $1052.34 and Nationwide reimbursed me $950.11. I ended up only paying $102.23 out of pocket. Nationwide sent the reimbursement to my bank account within 48 hours of submitting the receipt from my vet online. This allowed me to have peace of mind knowing I prepared ahead of time for a circumstance like this. I was able to focus on helping Lily heal instead of worrying about the financial cost of the surgery. This is a great perk for pet owners at DENSO and shows DENSO takes a holistic approach to associate wellness by including their pets.
Four months after Lily’s surgery and she was back to her normal self. I took her on a three day backpacking trip in northern Michigan, she even carried her food in her own pack! – Sarah Fox, associate relations specialist in Human Resources
How You Can Get Pet Insurance
Preferred pricing for Nationwide Pet Insurance is available to all DENSO associates in the U.S.
Click here to learn more, get a free quote, and sign your pets up!
FIRST Robotics is looking for DENSO associates to volunteer at the World Competition in Detroit (April 25-28)!
Option 1
FIRST LEGO League
Judging Queuers: help find teams and move them to judging queuing area at the correct time
Option 2
FIRST Tech Challenge
Score Tracker (need to have previous FIRST Robotics competition experience)
Match Observer
Pit Crew
Option 3
FIRST Robotics Competition
Openings in all positions except refs and judges
Registration
Sign-up for a volunteer time slot:
https://www.firstinspires.org/ways-to-help/volunteer
Our DENSO associates in Dublin, Ohio got to enjoy a free lunchtime yoga session led by a fitness instructor, all thanks to the City of Dublin FitBiz program!
We’re committed to the communities in which we work. DENSO was named the Dublin City Schools Business of the Month for March. Pictured is Bryan Starr, senior manager from Dublin, Ohio, accepting the award.
The Dublin City Schools Board of Education honors one local business partner a month during the school year. Businesses receive this designation for their contributions to a Dublin, Ohio school, support group, or the district at large.
DENSO SpotLight is an online, mobile recognition program you can use to recognize your co-workers’ hard work.
We’re happy to see that people are taking the time to recognize each other’s significant accomplishments. To help you select the best awards for your co-workers, here are some guidelines:
About The Award Criteria
Remember to pay attention to award criteria when submitting recognition and read over the program guidelines (link below) to become familiar with the overall recognition program. When choosing a recognition award, make sure it’s based on the right Scope, Effort, Impact, Ownership and Time Investment for that award. Each award level has different criteria that managers refer to when determining whether to approve, modify or disapprove the recognition.
Be careful to choose an award level that’s appropriate for what’s being recognized—points are attached to most awards and can be redeemed for gift cards and merchandise.
If you need assistance choosing an appropriate award level, please take advantage of the Award Advisor. The Award Advisor is located on the award level screen when you are in the process of submitting a recognition nomination. Before choosing an award value:
Need more detailed info on award criteria, points and categories, or how to redeem your award points for gift cards and merchandise?
Check out these helpful tools:
Congratulations to Siddharth Dasgupta on placing first in the 2017 Technical Presentation Development contest. Each year, engineers in Southfield, MI hone their presentation skills by showcasing their projects in front of a panel of judges for best overall presentation and insight into problem-solving, product innovation and efficiency. Second place was a tie between Tyryn Crow and Alec Bergweiler.
As part of our strategy to create a future with frictionless mobility, DENSO acquired a startup called InfiniteKey, Inc., a mobile phone software maker. From start to finish, the acquisition closed in three short months and now, working alongside InfiniteKey, we have the technology, patents and R&D resources to create a headache-free driving experience.
DENSO is taking an aggressive approach to supporting startups and technologies we view as significantly valuable for the future of the transportation industry. Whether it’s through direct investment or acquisition, we will find a way to support and partner with companies to help transform mobility.
The acquisition news was covered by Crain’s Detroit, MLive and Reuters.
Did you know DENSO featured a line of robots at CES in 2017? DENSO’s COBOTTA robots showed CES guests what future, day-to-day life could be like if people and robots collaborated more. For instance, one of our robots acted as a “Barista-bot” that brewed and served coffee to our DENSO booth visitors on the spot!
A few other companies also showcased their own Barista-bots at CES. Wondering how DENSO’s robot barista fared against Bosch and Aubo? Click here to find out which bot made the best cup of joe.
More About Our DENSO Bots
DENSO has been a leader in manufacturing automation, including the design and manufacturing of industrial robot arms, since the 1960’s. Now, we use more than 17,000 of our own robots at DENSO manufacturing facilities across the globe. And, more than 85,000 DENSO robots are used for precision assembly, manufacturing, product testing and quality assurance by other companies worldwide.