DMMI – Message from Kevin, DMMI President 3.27.20

Dear DMMI Team,

I hope all of you are doing well under these unique and challenging circumstances.  Last week, I shared some commitments. Today, I want to reflect on those commitments through a week in review.

1. We will communicate to the very best of our ability—sharing facts honestly and openly.
Information is flowing from many directions.  I want to share a bit about my main COVID-19 meetings to understand how careful and deliberate we are being to manage information, get clear understanding, and make sound decisions.

• TAC COVID Task Force
  Representatives from operations, safety, HR, security, corporate services, PC, communications and more meet daily at 9am to review the previous day’s developments and progress on important actions.
• North American Manufacturing Leaders
  At a 12pm gathering, I discuss common challenges and approaches with leaders of other large DENSO facilities to promote consistency throughout the region.
• North American ABF (Affiliate, Business, Function) Leaders
  At 2:30 each day, I join a North American top executive meeting to review facts related to our associates, our customers and our governments.  This is where we finalize decisions related to our customers and policies affecting our associates.  This week, we focused on our approach to compensation and operations.
• TAC Executive Team
  At 3:30pm the TAC executive team shares the day’s direction and policy decisions.
• Michigan DENSO Company Leaders
  My last large meeting of the day at 4pm is with top management for each DENSO group company operating in Michigan.  We focus on the unique challenges and solutions of operating in Michigan, especially given the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order.
• Our operations teamis meeting twice a day to touch base on urgent needs, and our human resources and safety/health/environment (SHE) leaders also have daily teleconferences.
• Of course, our routine departmental and DMMI meetings continue to run our business, close out 2019, and prepare for a successful 2020.

I hope this gives you a deeper view into our intentions to gather accurate information and communicate clearly and openly with you.

2. We will focus on our people and our customers—sensitive to now and protecting our future.  

• Like DENSO, our customers have all been impacted deeply throughout North America.  We are partnering with each one to ensure we keep people safe while providing product.
• At DMMI, we are only manufacturing items related to service, as keeping vehicles reliable is deemed essential by our government.  Since we are shipping service, these same associates are also shipping some inventory.
• As we announced on Thursday, DENSO will continue to pay associates, temps and contractors, even though our operations have basically halted.  Of course, our ability to continue doing so is not guaranteed.
• Ito, DENSO’s North American President and CEO, declared a daily “premium” for those non-exempt associates required to work on-site. Please understand this premium to be more of a gesture of appreciation than a strong financial incentive. While our individual roles vary, we need everyone to commit with true DENSO Spirit to stepping up when needed during this difficult time.  Leaders are doing their best to ensure we keep people safe medically and financially.  We need everyone to do the same through care for themselves, each other and our customers.

3. Your leadership team will lead—being present and staying available.  

• Engagement and availability is very challenging when we are not all working at the same location.  However, we are finding ways to connect via technology.  My biggest concern is how to have meaningful, two-way dialogue.  As always, I want to hear from all levels of the organization.  So, we are working on creative ways to have open and live dialogue just as we try to do when working at the same location.

4. We will think about everyone—making decisions for the greater good.

• I have restricted all non-essential activities from taking place at DMMI per the order from Governor Whitmer.  This means associates are unable to access the building unless called upon to support essential activities.  We have prepared a letter for all associates identified to support essential activities; they are available at security.  These letters will serve as approval to be in transit to and from work in the event that anyone needs proof.

5. I’m certain we will make mistakes as we work to do what is best. I accept this and ask you to do the same.

• This week has not gone perfectly. If we could do it all over again, we would probably do some things differently.  Thanks for your understanding and patience as we “learn as we go” while keeping people safe and taking care of our customers.  Again, we can do both.  We must do both.

Finally, while we’re wrapping up a challenging week, there is so much to be thankful for. Personally, I’m most grateful for the health and wellness of our people, the company I work for and the great people I get to work with.

Please stay well, and stay safe. Sincerely,
Kevin