DENSO International America
DENSO's regional headquarters and parent company for its North American operations, including design and production engineering, technical support, sales and finance
- Southfield, Michigan
- Belleville, Michigan
- Dublin, Ohio
- Waterloo, Iowa
- San Jose, California
- Vista, California
- Holland, Michigan
We are Manufacturing 
Highlights from 2019 TPD Contest
Congratulations to participants and winners of this year’s Technical Presentation Development (TPD) Contest!
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.
First Place
Keith Leonard, NA MED
Flux Free Brazing Materials for Heat Exchanger Applications
Second Place
Joshua Casselman, NA MED
Polypropylene Risk Mitigation & Supplier Development
Third Place
Reilly Mullett, PG 1
23 Odyssey HVAC Development
DIAM-Ohio Reps Visit Ohio Governor’s Residence
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.
DENSO Gift Provides Drive for College Formula SAE Team
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 Quality Engineers Install Free Fire Alarms
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!
DIAM Volunteers Talk Tech & Vehicle Safety at 2018 DAPCEP STEM Day
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”
DIAM Engineers Give Back while Stirring up Competition
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.
How Sarah Protects Lily with DENSO Nationwide Pet Insurance
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!
Take Your Kids to Work Day Photos – Southfield Campus
View and download photos from Take Your Kids to Work Day 2018!
Click this photo to access the online photo album:
Waterloo Team Hits the Racetrack
Our associates in Waterloo, Iowa recently went go-kart racing as a team building activity! Check out some of the photos they took below:
Lunchtime Fitness
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!
Dublin, Ohio Awards DENSO Business of the Month
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.
Guidelines On DENSO’s Spotlight Recognition Program
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:
- Click “Do you need help choosing a value?”
- Answer the five short questions
- Use the recommended award value the system provides based on your answers
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:
- Program Guidelines – detailed information and user guide on how to recognize co-workers. There’s also a short webinar for associates who want more detailed info.
- Recognition Tips – quick tips to make every recognition effective, fun and memorable
2017 Technical Presentation Development Contest Winners
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.
DENSO Bot Competes In Battle Of The CES Robot Baristas
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.