Some of our employees have watched us grow from the ground up. Linda Huber, Senior Talent Management Consultant at our Southfield, Mich. facility, started her career with us 1985 – that was before we had even built our North American plants! Here’s what Linda had to say about her experience:
“I started my career with DENSO 35 years ago – and I had no idea who Nippondenso was! When I started with the company, there were no more than 30 associates, and no North American plants. Now, we have more than 1,600 employees on our campus, and manufacturing locations throughout North America.
I worked hard, and continued to move into new higher level positions. I felt I was respected and had the resources to continue my development within the company. Many things have changed as we’ve grown, but quality and teamwork are still incredibly important. No matter what the project is, we never lack for people working together to get it done. Personally, I never hesitate to collaborate with anybody, even if it’s on a project outside my area of expertise.
My advice to employees joining DENSO is this: If you work hard, the possibilities are endless. Be a team player, good communicator and follow the DENSO Spirit!”
All roads lead home. But for Beth Rollins, manager of Excellent Factory (EF) Planning at DENSO in Maryville, Tennessee, all roads lead back to DENSO. After leaving the company in 2012, she returned in 2018.
And she’s making quite an impact. She leads a team responsible for coordinating EF activities across the campus and serves as the engineering function in logistics and warehouse areas. Beth’s dedication to her job and team resulted in a peer nominating her for The Manufacturing Institute’s 2020 STEP Ahead Awards, which annually recognize women in science, technology, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership within their companies
As if her “day job” doesn’t keep her busy enough, Beth is on the Maryville facility’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) steering team, helps lead their D&I task force and is co-chair of the site’s first Business Resource Group (BRG), Ladies Excelling at DENSO (LE@D).
Before DENSO launched its BRG policy in 2020, LE@D existed, but in a different capacity. Known as E3L (Engineering Ladies Lunch and Learn), the group, led by Beth and her colleague April Banner, brought female engineers from across campus together monthly for networking and training. Beth and April quickly realized the material being covered and discussed was of interest to an audience beyond engineers, so the group expanded to include associates from both technical and non-technical areas.
As part of DENSO’s observance of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, LE@D organized a panel discussion with three females at different stages of their careers and representing a variety of industries. This allowed attendees to hear diverse viewpoints and walk away with insights for their own careers and life. According to Beth, a co-host of the panel, her key takeaway was, “the importance of challenging ourselves, challenging others, challenging the status quo and challenging the systems.”
“I am proud of the BRG that April and I started,” said Beth. “Our forum has provided the opportunity for women from across campus who normally wouldn’t cross paths in their daily jobs to meet one another. It’s a form of collaboration and one way we align with and uphold that value of the DENSO Spirit.”
Beth is also fulfilled by her manufacturing career and sees women as a vital asset to the future of the industry, helping to fill the skill gap that exists and continues to grow. “Women bring a unique perspective that increases creativity and innovation,” she explains.
If you are looking for ways to recognize and support gender equality through activities surrounding Women’s History Month (WHM) or International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, we’ve got information for you!
Participation is easy:
Need some inspiration? Click here to check out selfies from associates and leaders at DENSO Manufacturing Canada!
In addition to the #ChooseToChallenge activity, sites have various activities planned for IWD and throughout the month. Here are some of the events; be sure to look for information on WHM and IWD activities at your local site and on the DENSO Mobile App calendar.
We all need more hours in the day. But you know who really needs them? David Huguley, a manager of Quality Engineering at DENSO’s North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, who on April 3 will celebrate his 26th year at the company.
When he’s not leading Quality Systems Improvement efforts – a demanding task in its own right – you can find him doing a range of things to serve those around him:
How does he keep up with it all?
“Through passion,” said Huguley. “The passion I have for ministry work is not work. And I’m very organized – it helps me do all the things I need to.”
Passion and organization go far, especially when it comes to quality, a foundational value at DENSO. Since 2018, Huguley has overseen Quality Systems Improvement and Quality Management Systems initiatives at DENSO sites in the southeastern U.S., including Maryville and Athens, Tennessee; and Statesville and Greenville, North Carolina. In this role, he leads a team focused on standardizing and optimizing the locations’ quality processes, an effort that not only strengthens DENSO’s products, but also increases operational efficiency, cuts costs and speeds production.
These are proud achievements of his, but Huguley says he gets more satisfaction from mentoring interns and IGNITE Program members, and helping them grow their careers.
“In my time at DENSO, I have played a direct part in hiring 10-15 full-time associates,” explained Huguley. “The longest tenured engineer I mentored just celebrated 14 years at DENSO and is a very high performer. It’s so gratifying to see all of them develop personally and professionally.”
Huguley’s penchant for service leadership and inclusivity inspired him to do more, so he helped cofound DAAN, a business resource group dedicated to supporting and expanding opportunities for African Americans at DENSO.
“I want to be a change agent within DENSO,” said Huguley. “And while there are many avenues to do that, with DAAN, our vision is to reach new heights in diversity, engagement, hiring and helping associates succeed. DENSO already does lots of community work, but we want to push that even further too.”
The introduction of business resource groups is part of DENSO’s broader transformation guided by Reborn 21. The internal initiative – which leverages DENSO principles such as DENSO Spirit, “Green,” meaning environmentally friendly, and “Peace of Mind,” meaning safer world for all – intends to make the company more competitive as mobility evolves.
That transformation extends to diversity and inclusion (D&I), an area key to fostering more welcoming and productive work environments at DENSO. And while DENSO is making progress, there’s still much to be done. Huguley will be instrumental in this, but it will take all DENSO associates to meet our D&I goals.
With it being Black History Month, Huguley closed with this reflection:
“Black History Month to me is an opportunity to reflect on our heritage and how our ancestors have paved the way for so many of us as people of color,” said Huguley. “It’s truly a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans and to reflect on the many struggles, barriers and injustices that so many people of color have endured over the years. Yet they still survived and strived. Everyone should educate themselves on the significant influence of African Americans in our U.S history.”
To learn more about business resource groups or to access resources to establish one, login to DENSO Mobile, click on Folders / Diversity & Inclusion. For questions or assistance in creating a BRG, contact your HR Team Member Solutions representative.
A little over three years ago the HR legal team at DENSO Manufacturing Mexico wanted to establish a production line tailored to associates with a disability. So, with the help of DENSO HSE and a Mexican government organization that focuses on the needs of people with disabilities, the site began looking at studies and conducting trials to identify the specific disability that could safely and effectively be implemented in a production environment.
The group determined that a molding line for those with hearing impairments would work. Today, 14 associates with hearing disabilities work on the line, alongside associates with no hearing impairments. But it didn’t happen overnight. The HR legal team, along with plant leadership wanted to ensure that everyone was prepared and informed, so there was awareness training on non-discrimination and harassment for team leaders and associates. And to assist with communication outside of writing, team leaders and associates that would be working directly with the hearing-impaired associates learned basic sign language.
But it wasn’t just the people that adapted – some plant processes and systems had to be changed. For example, all plant safety and security measures are now visual – alarms/alerts are not auditory – and training on what each light means and what they need to do when they are activated was provided.
Admittedly there were some bumps along the way – getting everyone on board for new processes and mindsets took some time, and awareness training had to be expanded to people working in areas within the facility, such as the cantina, to ensure everyone was comfortable interacting with the hearing-impaired associates.
The line has successfully operated for more than a year and there are plans to not only expand the line to 20 associates, but establish lines, possibly for those with other disabilities, in other plants on the campus.
Congrats to the local DENSO HR legal team in Mexico for making this happen. It’s a great example of how everyone can work together to create a successful, thriving D&I culture at DENSO.
All photos were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic. During COVID-19, DENSO established and continues to maintain safety precautions at all of its locations, including the wearing of face coverings, social distancing and screenings.
Welcome to the team, Jami Carpenter! Jami recently joined DENSO’s North American team as a Production Control Specialist and is ready to put her strong work ethic into practice.
“I’m driven to want to do a good job,” said Jami. “I always want to learn and expand my capabilities into new areas, and I feel that DENSO creates great opportunities for me to do so.”
Jami became a DENSO associate just as businesses across North America started adapting to combat the effects of COVID-19. While this created new challenges, Jami said that the most important thing to her was that she felt safe working at her facility.
“I think DENSO is doing a great job at following all of the proper guidelines under the current circumstances. The temperature checks and mask requirements make me feel like it’s safe to walk into work every day.”
Even though it took some extra time to get onboarded remotely, Jami saw DENSO working hard to make her feel connected throughout the experience. Programs like Microsoft Teams and Web Ex have made her team meetings seamless. The DENSO Mobile app has also helped her stay informed on what is happening within her own facility, as well as within the entire company.
We’re excited to welcome Arthur Cardente to the DENSO team! Arthur is our new Regional Sales Manager for DENSO NA’s Northeast region.
Joining a new company in the midst of COVID-19 can be difficult. But despite the challenges, Arthur shared that one of the benefits of joining a team like DENSO’s was his colleagues’ willingness to help him adjust to his new role.
“Everyone has been truly helpful and more than willing to do whatever is needed for me to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day procedures,” said Arthur.
His remote work environment hasn’t discouraged team bonding. In fact, Arthur said he’s thankful for having a team that not only prioritizes making everyone feel welcome but also cares deeply for the health and wellbeing of himself and his family. DENSO made sure that all facets of its safety protocols were being implemented and enforced, and constantly checked in on Arthur’s safety as well as his family’s health.
Arthur shared that he’s excited to work for a world leader in quality, service and manufacturing.
“I hope that in the years to come, I won’t only learn more about this fine organization, but that I can also lend my knowledge, contacts and experiences towards making DENSO a greater company as we move into the future.”
It’s been just over one year since I made my internal transfer – it’s been a good and incredibly valuable experience for me. After spending 23 years in Sales, I was ready for a change; I wanted to find a new way to add value to DENSO. Since I had requested a change to another function, it took over a year to find something, but Sales and Corporate Function management were very supportive.
Though I was looking for a change, there was some fear in such a drastic transition. I was leaving a position where I was the go-to person for the customer. I knew the job and my value/contributions to the company. What exactly will I be doing in HR? What value would I be bringing to the new position and company now? How would I show my value/contributions quickly? There were a lot of questions – I wasn’t quite sure what I was signing up for.
But that’s when I remembered that I know DENSO and the values we all hold. Despite different divisions, plants or roles, we all have common, fundamental DENSO values and way of working. Yes, I had a lot of sales knowledge and contacts within DENSO throughout my career, but I realized this was not exclusive to the sales role – it would (and has been) helpful in my new planning role.
The HR team was great – they were very welcoming and showed me the ropes. But I’m a department of one, so I had to proactively insert myself into meetings and teams across NA. In my role I get exposure to many aspects of our business – I get to hear and understand the bigger picture and how executives discuss, consider and make decisions on various issues. I’ve appreciated this new insight into our company, it has given me new understanding about why and how things are done and ultimately, reinforced my respect for and dedication to DENSO.
My transfer has been an invaluable experience for me. I definitely miss the people in Toyota Sales and certain aspects of the job, but I’m enjoying my new department, have broadened my skill set and am contributing to the company in a new way. And as it turns out, my timing was great – joining HR right before a global pandemic, now THAT has been an incredible experience!
For those thinking of making a change, I have a couple pieces of advice:
The online internal application system only shows non-exempt and exempt office positions at this time. For all other positions, please view local job boards and follow the local application process.
My internal transfer experience wasn’t anything radical – I went from one engineering job to another. But my fear in pursuing the transfer is something I think others might experience, so I want to address it.
I felt like I was under a lot of pressure to win the Collective Works team over and transfer successfully because if I failed to get the job, it would then be known I was looking to make a move during a time my department was reducing head count. Would it look bad that I was looking for a new position? Would I be jeopardizing my job or chance for advancement?
Retrospectively, there was nothing to worry about or fear. I know others who applied for but didn’t get transfers and they have not experienced any negative backlash. I understand now that the company is supportive of transfers – it helps them and you as an individual. In fact, when I accepted my new job, my new and current managers met and discussed a transition plan that worked for everyone. And when I got to my new job, my team trained me on equipment and software I’d be using and were always available to answer questions – they were very supportive and patient.
I’m very happy I made the move. Moving to an R&D role in NAREC (North America Research and Engineering Center) gives me the opportunity to explore new spaces, solve new problems and develop new products and technologies. This is what I was looking for with a move. I went from maintaining and creating drawings for car parts to researching market trends, identifying the most valuable problems to solve and fabricating concept solutions to address problems in new spaces where DENSO can win!
So, if you are worried about the optics of applying for a transfer, don’t. Just go for it.
The online internal application system only shows non-exempt and exempt office positions at this time. For all other positions, please view local job boards and follow the local application process.
When you know, you know. And when it comes to finding “the one,” you don’t let go. Just ask our many tenured associates. Through name changes, shifts in company direction and new, innovative technologies that advance mobility, our tenured associates have shown their DENSO Spirit every step of the way.
Karen Croly, who works within the purchasing department at DENSO’s Southfield facility, has been part of the DENSO family for more than four decades (wow!). She’s one of our longest-tenured associates to date. And while we could tell you all about Karen’s time at DENSO — how she’s grown her career, how her colleagues have become family (literally) — we thought who better to tell you about her experience than Karen herself. Here’s what she had to say:
“It was nearly 41 years ago (October 1979) when I went to Nippondenso (DENSO’s name back then!) for my first interview. I decided to go with DENSO because it was a smaller company and I wanted to grow with them and learn from other associates. DENSO was always a great place to be taught everything, from work product, processes and making friends for life.
My first duties were secretary to the vice president and then for several Japanese men who worked for other companies (ASMO, Tokai-Rika, and Toyota Automatic Loom Works) but were housed at DENSO so they, too, could develop customer relations in the U.S. under the guidance of our first president, Akira Kataoka. I can’t say enough good things about Kataoka-san. He knew how to communicate and engage with people in every level of the job as well as his success with our customers. He was always approachable and willing to share to help develop DENSO and its associates.
I remember that one person in the office each week had to make coffee for everyone in the morning. When the afternoon rolled around, it was Akira Kataoka, our president, who made iced coffee for everyone who wanted it. It was just one example of how he made us more of a family than a workplace.
From being a secretary to working with sales and engineering personnel through the years, I ended up in Purchasing, where we built our processes and plants in several locations around the country. By this time DENSO was a very large company, but the family atmosphere continued to thrive for many of us.
During my time at DENSO, I married my boyfriend, John, and we had two beautiful daughters, Jillian and Stephanie, and now I have a wonderful son-in-law, Nick. They have all been a big part of my work life and they, too, have developed friendships through my work. I even introduced a fellow co-worker to one of my nieces, and they have been married for many years and have two great boys.
Our newer associates should remember a couple things. It is beneficial to be taught things that you can use at another time in your life. Keep an open mind and always enjoy your work. Learn to listen, but also be heard. Always make time for your family and friends, and keep a balance of your personal life and work. If you develop friends at work, then work is easier to handle. Show your personality to others and communicate with co-workers, as they, too, can become your friends. Your ideas are what make a better work environment and give success to our company.
My work career will soon be coming to a close as retirement approaches. This year of the pandemic is difficult, as I miss seeing and engaging with people. We all became one big happy family at our local spots. I will greatly miss the work and so very many of the people I have worked with over the years.
Thank you.”
DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. enjoys putting on an event each year to say THANK YOU to all our associates for their hard-work and dedication. This year, our Associate Appreciation Event looked a little different as we took precautions to keep each other safe.
Last week, associates were invited to pick up a ham or turkey to take home for their dinner table. Associates stopped by the motorcycle parking lot to grab a turkey/ham of appreciation, passed out by DMMI leaders.
Many generous associates chose to donate their ham/turkey instead of taking it home. Because of this, close to 400 turkeys were given to the South Michigan Food Bank to help feed families this holiday season.
We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!
Venkata Ravisankar Vadapalli (Ravi, for short), a technical lead for DENSO’s phone-as-a-key (PaaK) project, was laser focused on making the development process run effectively when the team of 15+ engineers were working remotely.
The PaaK project started in 2017 with the goal of replacing traditional car key fobs with a customer’s smartphone to start the vehicle. Pretty cool, right?
While the first PaaK technology produced by DENSO entered the market in 2020, DENSO has continued to enhance the software. This is what Ravi’s team, BES2 (Body Electronic Systems2) Ford PaaK Team, was working on when COVID-19 hit.
Because of the work from home situation, the team was forced to use a very old tool that’s difficult to work with and slows down efficiency. Ravi oversaw switching the team to a different configuration tool, Github, to ensure they were able to deliver products on-pace and better contribute to the overall project.
This turned out to be more helpful than expected for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) customers who have dynamic change requests. Normally, timelines are very short and it can be difficult to manage (not to mention stressful for the team) if a process isn’t in place. Using Github helped streamline the process, improved response times and created happier associates.
Thanks, Ravi and team, for not only getting creative and always putting the customer first, but living up to the DENSO Spirit that’s driven by foresight, credibility, and collaboration.
In September, we called for associates to nominate exemplary female colleagues for the 2021 STEP Ahead Awards, a national honor given every year by the Manufacturing Institute to the best women leaders in manufacturing.
We asked and you delivered. From the c-suite to the production floor, here are the outstanding nominees you submitted to be considered for the awards:
Please join us in applauding all these DENSO leaders, who make invaluable contributions to DENSO every day and help us deliver on our principles of safety, quality and collaboration. We recognize the important impacts they make not only at DENSO, but in their communities and with friends and families as well.
What’s Next?
While we wished to submit all the nominees, the Manufacturing Institute is highly selective in its review process and only allows 10 submissions per company.
As a result, a DENSO review committee consisting of members from the Diversity & Inclusion Council, Corporate Communications, Human Resources and Government Affairs evaluated and submitted the nominations that best aligned to the awards’ criteria. Those criteria included examples of personal achievement, mentorship, leadership, and community and company contributions through specific results and data.
The Manufacturing Institute is expected to announce the winners on Jan. 8, 2021. If a DENSO associate wins, we will be sure to share!
Want to get involved next time?
Whether you were nominated this year or this is the first you are hearing of the award, know that next year you will have another chance to nominate yourself or another standout female leader from DENSO. We will share more details about how to nominate individuals – and how to make those nominations as strong as possible – closer to next year’s nomination window.
More About the STEP Ahead Awards
Produced by The Manufacturing Institute, an organization dedicated to growing and enhancing the industry’s skilled workforce, the STEP Ahead Awards recognize women in science, technology, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership within their companies. The honor identifies top talent in manufacturing, and further encourages award winners to mentor and support the next generation of women to pursue manufacturing careers.
Back in 2012, the DENSO Toyota sales team was looking for a technical person to join as a sales engineer because their current person was changing jobs. They approached me and admittedly, I thought it was a terrible idea at first – at the time, I didn’t have a very positive opinion about sales. Eventually, after several meetings and being told it could be limited to a 2-year assignment, I agreed to the transfer.
I’m so glad I did. In fact, 2-3 weeks after starting the new role, I was already convinced I wanted to stay beyond the outlined two years. I got to work side-by-side with what became my most inspiring leader and learned so much. First and foremost, I learned I was completely wrong about sales. I never worked harder than I did in my sales role and got insight into other aspects of DENSO – corporate communications, tradeshows, etc. – that I never would have before. And, despite having worked in automotive for more than 15 years, the transfer showed me parts of the industry I had never seen – marketing, product planning, etc.
After some time in the role, I began to feel static and made a move back to engineering, but on the R&D side. Now I get to look at where we are taking DENSO in the future in terms of technology – how do we bring new technologies to automotive, whether it be through innovation, partnering with Silicon Valley companies or start-ups.
I never would have been able to be in this role had I not made that first transfer. In fact, looking back, I feel like my career really didn’t start until I made that move. I wish I had done it sooner. You can only grow so much in a role, then you get comfortable and stop learning.
If an opportunity presents itself, take it. Even if it seems scary, it will make you grow and become a more well-rounded person. And remember, your human network is the most valuable thing you have, especially in a big company. By making a move, you could double that network.
The online internal application system only shows non-exempt and exempt office positions at this time. For all other positions, please view local job boards and follow the local application process.
Welcome to DENSO’s North American team, Christian! Christian relocated from one of DENSO’s European facilities just as countries implemented travel bans to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Originally from Bolivia, Christian was working for DENSO in Germany before he relocated to the U.S. It took him several months to make it over, but Christian’s positive, collaborative attitude throughout the process was immediately noticed by his supervisor. In his new role, Christian is a senior sales planning specialist, focusing on business operations and planning for DENSO in North America.
Despite the uncertainty of COVID-19 restrictions and remote work requirements, Christian says he received plenty of support and patience from his new team as he settled into his new role. Even after he accepted his new position, his management team in Germany worked in collaboration with U.S. management to ensure he had access to the appropriate resources and advice.
While DENSO’s COVID-19 safety precautions mean he hasn’t officially been to his office yet, he still feels as if he knows his team members well.
“I receive constant communications on next steps, including what they’re [DENSO] doing for people who can’t work 100% from home,” said Christian.
Joining DENSO’s North American team felt like a step-up in Christian’s career. Not only does he have access to top-of-the-line tools and support, his role and the professional development available to him align well with his interests and career goals.
“The automotive industry is already seeing a big shift, and being a part of this from a supplier point of view is interesting,” explained Christian. “It will be really exciting to see how we support a new era of autonomous and electric vehicles, and become more of a software industry supporter as well.”
If you’re interested in growing your career and shaping the future of mobility, check out our open positions here: https://densocareers.com/
The DIAM Technical Presentation Development (TPD) Contest is an opportunity for engineers to showcase their projects, while competing in front of a panel of judges for best overall presentation and insight into problem-solving, innovation, efficiency or other aspects of the project and process.
This year’s contest, held Nov. 19, was the first time the event was in a virtual format, adding a new level of challenge for participants. Please join us in giving a round of applause to all our participants for their hard work, preparation, and flexibility.
Peter Atencio, PG3
Topic: Laser Welding – Optimization for your Application
William Bickel, PG2
Topic: RU COM Development & Validation
Eric Armbruster, PG3
Topic: Trailer Detection and Size Estimation Using Rear Corner Radar
Participant | Group | Topic |
Dan McGrail | PG2 | Novel Design of a High Force Density Solenoid |
Eric Armbruster | PG3 | Trailer Detection and Size Estimation Using Rear Corner Radar |
Vincent Lee | PG2 | D2UC wipe quality issue |
Christian Munte | PG3 | Mobility Platform Over the Air Update (OTA) |
Matt Johnson | NAREC | Park Place: A new mobility opportunity takes a back seat to save $50M |
Peter Atencio | PG3 | Laser Welding: Design Optimization For Your Application |
William Bickel | PG2 | Alternator Design & Development for GMET6 Engine |
Mike Pinger | PG1 | HVAC Heat Pickup |
George Hadley | PG3 | RCCM Calibration Automation Development |
We are so grateful for the people who make careers for themselves at DENSO. These individuals repeatedly show the values key to DENSO Spirit — foresight, credibility and collaboration — and continually strive to make DENSO a great place to work, all while delivering exemplary service to our customers and communities.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to some of DENSO’s longest-serving associates. They’ll share what drew them to DENSO and more importantly, why they’ve stayed.
Meet Dwayne Taylor. Dwayne first joined DENSO’s Southfield, Mich. location back in 1986!
Dwayne says he was initially attracted to DENSO because the products we were creating looked advanced and interesting. When he first started, we were sharing office space with a drive-thru bank! That’s hard to believe when you think about the size of our campus now. Our Technical Center building in Southfield was completed a few months after Dwayne joined and we moved operations there.
Dwayne also says that DENSO’s commitment to quality, advanced technology, and its associates are what’s made him stay all these years. He says over the years while the methods have changed, the company has grown both locally and globally, and the industry has adapted to the changing market, DENSO’s commitment to these areas has remained strong.
One of Dwayne’s favorite memories from his time at DENSO was the opportunity to work as an expat in Japan. Living and working in Japan gave him and his family a whole new appreciation for what life is like in and outside of Japan and it’s an experience they really enjoyed and will never forget.
For prospective DENSO associates, Dwayne advises to always put forth your best effort, take advantage of opportunities to learn, and recognize that DENSO strives to offer the best in every sense of the word. He also notes that DENSO is a strong and stable global company and opportunities exist to gain experience abroad – plus it’s a great team to be a part of!
If you’re interested in a lifelong career shaping the future of mobility, check out our open positions here: https://densocareers.com/
National Manufacturing Day is observed every October to emphasize the importance of manufacturing in our national economy. Here at DENSO, we extended the celebration throughout the whole month of October, and asked others to join us!
Students from Tennessee, Michigan, and North Carolina were invited to virtual panels hosted by DENSO associates from DMMI, DMTN, and DMNC. Panel discussions covered a variety of topics within the industry, including the ones listed below and the DMMI associates supporting them:
Thank you to all our volunteers who helped make Manufacturing Month a great success!
If you’re interested, check out the DENSO North America YouTube channel to watch recordings of each panel discussion: www.youtube.com/c/DENSOinNorthAmerica/videos
This month, we’re spotlighting military veterans to thank them for their hard work and DENSO Spirit. Mark Lewis, Section Leader of the EDGE Project Team at DENSO’s Battle Creek facility had this to say about his military service and subsequent time at DENSO:
“The military helped me to be disciplined in my approach to things. It also taught me to trust my team.
When I started at DENSO, they embraced the team culture and were very organized, regimented similarly to the military. I felt very comfortable in this environment and throughout my career it has helped me to develop into the leader (and person) I am today.
DENSO also supported me financially and emotionally during my first year of employment. I was called to Active Duty by the Michigan National Guard to go to Desert Shield/Storm from 1990-91. Even though I spent more than six months on deployment overseas, they would check in on my family and kept my pay at a normal level!”
Please join us in thanking Mark for his service! And, if you know a veteran we should spotlight, tag us on social media or email densospirit@outlook.com.
Like many people, there have been several stepping stones in the path my career took to get me where I am today. I joined the talent acquisition team at DENSO nine years ago with a goal to someday land in a sales position. During that time, I recruited for the resident engineer position within the electronic components team a handful of times. Then one day when there was another opening, I was asked if I’d be interested in the opportunity. Though I had zero engineering experience, I knew this would be an incredible opportunity as I worked my way toward a sales position.
But this was a BIG change, so I had a lot of conversations with my current manager and mentor as well as external contacts I respected. In the end, I realized that not many people get HR and engineering experience on their way to sales, so I worked with my current and future managers to develop a transitional plan. I believe having that plan, one that everyone assisted in developing and thought was fair, was a key to my success. Another success factor was communication – I can’t stress how much ongoing communication, maybe even overcommunicating, helped ease my stress and anxiety.
Then, after three years as a resident engineer on the GM account, one of my directors asked what my next step was because he knew of a sales opportunity. I liked my job, but being in sales was my goal, and I don’t have an engineering degree, so there were limitations on how far I could go in that area. However, while the sales position was with my current customer, GM, it was in Thermal Engineering, a new product area for me. So once again, I was faced with a challenging decision. I had a lot of conversations with people to know exactly what I had to do to leave one position and start another. Being the competitive person I am, I saw the opportunity as a positive challenge, something that would show I could improvise and overcome obstacles that may seem like a roadblock or boulder in my career path.
During both transitions, I not only received support from managers, but the folks in HR training did a great job in ensuring I got the necessary training needed for each new job. I went through a lot of training.
I’m not sure I’d be in my current position if I didn’t take those big steps. So, my advice to anyone who’s had even just one thought about pursuing an internal transfer, is to look into it. Yes, it can and probably will be scary or challenging at times, but at the end of the day, it could be incredibly beneficial to you and the company. I know the experience I gained through my transfers is unique and will continue to help me flourish throughout my career.
The online internal application system only shows non-exempt and exempt office positions at this time. For all other positions, please view local job boards and follow the local application process.
This month, we’re celebrating Manufacturing Day every day with virtual panels that spotlight our exciting work, amazing employees and DENSO Spirit to encourage others to pursue careers in manufacturing.
On October 8, we hosted a webinar on Skilled Trades that discussed the critical role these jobs play in manufacturing. One of the panelists, Tommy Cole, graduated from high school just three years ago and is now part of DENSO’s three-year apprenticeship program.
After getting a degree in industrial maintenance from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Knoxville, Tommy was offered an apprenticeship with DENSO. Before joining our team, Tommy thought working in manufacturing would mean doing the same thing every day. Now he knows that’s far from the truth and has found a real sense of accomplishment in his work.
Check out what else Tommy had to say about starting a career in manufacturing here! And thank you, Tommy, for showing your DENSO Spirit through continued collaboration, communication, teamwork, and meeting challenges as they come!
If you know someone looking to quickly grow their production or skilled trades careers, we’re hiring! Send them to DENSOcareers.com and apply for open opportunities.
Each year, students from top engineering colleges and universities across the country – Stanford, Ohio State, and University of Michigan to name a few – join the DENSO Co-op program for the opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and put it to work.
Meet Shayne Miller, a junior at North Carolina State University studying mechanical engineering who completed a Co-op at our Maryville, Tenn. location this summer.
Shayne Miller
Junior, North Carolina State University
Mechanical Engineering
What has been your favorite part of the program?
My favorite part of the program was learning what an engineer does on a day-to-day basis and being able to work on projects that ultimately benefit the company and society.
What was something unexpected you learned about automotive/mobility/manufacturing?
Something I learned that was unexpected was how much of a process there is when you are creating a new design — you have to go through many steps before you reach your final product!
How did this program prepare you for what you want to do after graduation?
This program helped me a lot because it gave me an idea of what I enjoy doing and what I might not like doing quite as much. The DENSO Co-op program gave me a good idea of what I would like to do when I graduate.
If you’re interested in applying, for DENSO’s Co-op program click: https://densocareers.com/creative/campus-coops
Jonathan Garcia
Senior, Cal Poly Pomona
Mechanical Engineering
Each year, students from top engineering colleges and universities across the country – Stanford, Ohio State, and University of Michigan to name a few – join the DENSO Co-op program for the opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and put it to work.
Meet Jonathan Garcia, a senior at Cal Poly Pomona who is a Mechanical Engineering Co-op at DENSO’s Battle Creek, Michigan location.
What has been your favorite part of the program?
I’m happy to be part of the Mold & Die design team working with kind engineers who are always willing to guide and teach me. Also, being given a real project to work on definitely gave me something to be proud of doing.
What was something unexpected you learned about automotive/mobility/manufacturing?
I learned a lot here at DENSO. I learned that depending on the auto part, it can undergo a different manufacturing process than another part. That process can take two weeks to two months. In addition, I learned that it might sometimes take many iterations to get a part to meet the desired results and afterward it must undergo different tests and quality checks before it gets approved.
How did this program prepare you for what you want to do after graduation?
My goal, ever since I started college, was to work in the design process of cars. I believe DENSO gave me the opportunity to do just that by giving me a position where I can design or modify a mold assembly that will contribute to the quality improvement of a component that will go into a car. DENSO gave me a head start into the automotive industry expectations.
More about DENSO’s Co-op program
Our Co-ops work alongside our skilled employees managing global platforms, products and projects; meeting with customers to provide high-quality service; and developing advanced technologies, test tracks, chambers and more. If you’re interested in applying, for DENSO’s Co-op program click: https://densocareers.com/creative/campus-coops
Julianne Cinoman
Fifth year, North Carolina State University
Mechanical Engineering
Julianne Cinoman just completed DENSO’s Co-op program in Maryville, Tenn. She learned how to use several of the production machines on the plant floor, and was even able to run tests and make changes on them to continually improve the process (which she says was the best part!).
Something unexpected that Julianne learned during her program was that while new products and technologies are introduced all the time, old products must continue to be made — just at a lower volume but at the same high-quality. Because of this, DENSO has machines that produce parts that are over a decade old to ensure they’re able to fulfill all parts orders that come in from customers.
Julianne plans on working in manufacturing after graduation and when asked how this program prepared her for her career, she said, “I’ve learned a lot about the importance of cycle times, standardization and efficiency. Most of the job is problem solving. Production issues arise and it’s the job of a production engineer to investigate and fix problems. One important lesson DENSO has taught me is the ‘just-in-time’ principle. The idea is that, as a manufacturing plant, we should be producing just enough products at just the right time so that we aren’t over-stocking our warehouse, and thus creating more product than we’re actually going to sell, while at the same time we aren’t running behind and not meeting quotas.”
If you’re interested in applying to DENSO’s Co-op program, click: https://densocareers.com/creative/campus-coops
Welcome (back) to Louis Remynse! Louis began his internship with DENSO in May, returning for a second consecutive year for more opportunities to learn and grow.
Louis was excited to get back to work at DENSO, which he called “a world class manufacturing company,” because his job provided a feeling of normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every morning, he joined a meeting with his department to share lighthearted conversation about current events and his colleagues’ interests, before discussing the projects for the day. Louis said this not only brought him closer to his co-workers but gave him a sense of purpose going into the rest of his work day.
During his internship, DENSO’s associate safety measures especially impressed Louis, and according to him, there was not a single moment at work when he did not feel completely safe. Louis said DENSO’s precautions, including temperature checks, plexiglass between desks and strict mask enforcement, demonstrated the company’s commitment to keeping their associates safe and helped keep his morale up, even in the midst of the pandemic.
Interested in joining our team? Review our open positions here: https://densocareers.com/
For Linda Tirado, a quality systems engineer III at DENSO’s North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, quality isn’t something to occasionally consider – it’s her job.
Armed with DENSO Spirit, strong interpersonal skills and organizational knowledge, she takes a systematic approach when working with engineering teams to understand and address their needs. By doing so, she can offer training, clarify customer expectations, support communication with manufacturing locations and more to drive systematic improvements.
“I try to put myself in the other person’s shoes to understand where they are coming from, their competencies, skills, thoughts and ideas – it’s not about me, it’s about them,” said Linda.
As a participant in the development of the Quality Community at DENSO in Southfield, she joined a sub-team focused on redefining the organizational flow/ process maps for those working as Field Quality Representatives. She used her organizational understanding and knowledge to help enable the Field Quality Representative team to define the ideal future organizational structure. Today, they are working toward that structure, promoting both efficiency and effectiveness.
Linda also takes an active role in supporting young leaders, helping increase their knowledge of different areas of the organization to help them succeed at their current and future roles. As she explains, “I was fortunate to have very nice, smart coworkers throughout my career. I try to mirror all their best qualities and create a world of knowledge.”
“Linda is one strong example of a DENSO associate that is working to pave the way for the future leaders of DENSO. She diligently works to break down communication and knowledge barriers in order for the entire team to be successful,” said Yoshihiro Tsuzuki, vice president of Quality at DENSO’s North American headquarters.
Linda was one of four DENSO associates nominated for the Manufacturing Institute’s 2020 STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards, which recognize women in these career areas who exemplify leadership within their companies.
From the production floor to the C-Suite, female DENSO leaders help us deliver on our principles of safety, quality and collaboration. And, in recognition of their invaluable contributions, we’re calling on associates to nominate exemplary women colleagues for the 2021 STEP Ahead Awards. Details on the awards and how to nominate someone are below. All submissions are due by Sept. 17, 2020.
A review committee consisting of DENSO’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, Corporate Communications, Human Resources and Government Affairs will evaluate the nominations for examples of personal achievement, mentorship and leadership.
The committee will select the best nominations to submit to The Manufacturing Institute for consideration, favoring those that include impactful stories, specific results and data.
If the committee selects your nomination, members of the committee will work with you to edit and submit the final nomination to the Manufacturing Institute by their award deadline, Oct. 2.
More information: www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/women/step/step-awards/
Christine Martin, an advanced specialist of Electric Hybrid Vehicle Production Engineering at DENSO’s Maryville, Tennesse, facility, sees it as her responsibility to help develop the future workforce, specifically women.
“I’m a female in engineering and as one of the few, it’s my responsibility to reach out to people early in their careers to help identify what they want their path to be,” said Christine.
Her DENSO Spirit and passion for bringing women and those with diverse backgrounds into the company drives her to participate in various STEM and recruiting activities with students from elementary school through college. Whether its robot demonstrations, speaking to student groups, representing DENSO at career fairs or leading interviews of job candidates, Christine is helping build DENSO’s future workforce, as well as the industry’s, which will help us achieve our Long-term Policy 2030.
Reflecting on the impact mentoring had on her early career, Christine puts a high value on working with and training co-ops.
“As an engineering co-op, I had a very good mentor who respected me and gave me every development opportunity,” said Christine. “I feel it’s my responsibility to give the women coming into the field the same mentorship I received.”
In addition to her mentoring activities, Christine’s professional successes include contributing to the development of the site’s new engineering lab, preparing production lines for new products, making quality improvements, reducing scrap and increasing productivity. All of this led to Christine being nominated for the Manufacturing Institute’s 2020 STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards, which recognize women in these careers who exemplify leadership within their companies.
From the production floor to the C-Suite, female DENSO leaders help us deliver on our principles of safety, quality and collaboration. And, in recognition of their invaluable contributions, we’re calling on associates to nominate exemplary women colleagues for the 2021 STEP Ahead Awards. Details on the awards and how to nominate someone are below. All submissions are due by Sept. 17, 2020.
A review committee consisting of DENSO’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, Corporate Communications, Human Resources and Government Affairs will evaluate the nominations for examples of personal achievement, mentorship and leadership.
The committee will select the best nominations to submit to The Manufacturing Institute for consideration, favoring those that include impactful stories, specific results and data.
If the committee selects your nomination, members of the committee will work with you to edit and submit the final nomination to the Manufacturing Institute by their award deadline, Oct. 2.
More information: www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/women/step/step-awards/
As the first female machine technician at DENSO’s Guelph, Canada, facility, Pauline Fell is a trailblazer at the company. But this “DENSO first” isn’t her only achievement. During her 20-year career she has accomplished much more and is regarded as a role model for women in manufacturing.
Using her DENSO Spirit and expertise, Pauline, now a machine tech sub leader, identifies an area for improvement and takes the initiative to fix it. For example, after seeing the nearly 100 pages of preventative maintenance checksheets printed by the machine tech department every month, Pauline adopted the computerized maintenance management system used by the maintenance department. With the electronic system, previous time-consuming tasks are now done more efficiently and effectively, maintenance checks are easily updated and alerts are sent if a check is missed. Additionally, she is working on creating work instructions on how to complete each task.
“It’s a work in progress, we’re continuing to identify additional machines within the plant where work instructions can be implemented,” she said.
Her talent and problem-solving skills have also come into play during internal Quality Circle competitions and at the 2015 Honda Fall CAN Conference, where her team finished in first place. How does she do it? With a calm and analytical approach to problem solving: “Getting riled up doesn’t serve any purpose, so there’s no point in stressing yourself out.”
Utilizing all this experience, Pauline takes a special interest in mentoring other female machine techs, helping them develop mechanical skills, improve their understanding of maintenance systems and apply for full-time positions. Her career success and dedication to mentoring current and future female manufacturing professionals were reasons for her nomination to the Manufacturing Institute’s 2020 STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards, which recognize women in these career areas who exemplify leadership within their companies.
From the production floor to the C-Suite, female DENSO leaders help us deliver on our principles of safety, quality and collaboration. And, in recognition of their invaluable contributions, we’re calling on associates to nominate exemplary women colleagues for the 2021 STEP Ahead Awards. Details on the awards and how to nominate someone are below. All submissions are due by Sept. 17, 2020.
A review committee consisting of DENSO’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, Corporate Communications, Human Resources and Government Affairs will evaluate the nominations for examples of personal achievement, mentorship and leadership.
The committee will select the best nominations to submit to The Manufacturing Institute for consideration, favoring those that include impactful stories, specific results and data.
If the committee selects your nomination, members of the committee will work with you to edit and submit the final nomination to the Manufacturing Institute by their award deadline, Oct. 2.
More information: www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/women/step/step-awards/
First responders and health care workers are saving lives every day – so can you. Your family, your friends, your neighbors – you have the power to protect them.
Practicing the 5 Core Actions for Risk Minimization in and outside of the workplace can help reduce risk of spreading or contracting the COVID-19 virus at work, at home and in our communities.
So, who drives your 5? Who are you committed to protect every day by practicing the 5 Core Actions – monitoring your health, social distancing, wearing a face covering, disinfecting, and practicing good hygiene?
Grab your mask and take a selfie of you and the loved one(s) you’re protecting!
Facebook (@DENSOinNorthAmerica)
LinkedIn (@DENSO)
Twitter (@DENSOinNA)
Instagram(@DENSOnorthamerica).
We’ll share a roundup of your photos and stories every week on social media and internal channels.
Victoria White, an advanced specialist in the human resources department at DENSO’s facility in Athens, Tennessee, has been named one of the “20 under 40 to Watch” for 2020 by The Daily Post Athenian.
The annual listing honors local community leaders whose contributions make Athens a better place to work and live. Those chosen have achieved great things in their careers and are making a difference in the community.
Victoria has worked at DMAT for eight years. According to Victoria, she has her dream job! She learned Japanese in high school and taught English in Japan for three years. Now, she helps our Japanese associates who relocate acclimate to life in America. Her commitment to hard work and her motivation to make the world a better place has helped her grow her career at DENSO.
Her proudest accomplishments include being selected for the JET Program (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program), being a Rotary Scholar, being involved in Leadership McMinn, winning the AMMP (All McMinn Modern Professionals) award last year for community involvement, being a member of the Sister City Committee of Athens and a member of the Parks and Recreation board of Athens.
And while her list of achievements is long and certainly impressive, Victoria says her greatest accomplishment – along with her husband Skip’s – is their son, Charlie.
We congratulate Victoria, as well as past “20 Under 40” honoree Erin Holbrook, an advanced specialist in communications, on her hard work, dedication and DENSO Spirit!
With many manufacturers still looking for best practices on how to restart operations, DENSO’s Britt Autry was invited to share more about our Return-to-Work protocols to the Manufacturing Leadership Council alongside Dan Grieshaber, Director of Global Manufacturing Integration at General Motors.
The two discussed the current state of their respective manufacturing operations and recovery efforts, as well as the internal communications strategies and health and safety procedures being used to bring employees back to facilities safely. Below are the three key points from their presentations:
To read more about what Britt and Dan shared on these topics, head to: https://www.manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com/2020/05/22/automotive-manufacturers-outline-covid-19-guidelines/
For weeks now, a team of spirited DENSO employees across three of its locations in Michigan and North Carolina quietly joined the effort to battle COVID-19 by taking on projects intended to protect health care workers. DENSO employees used their expertise in engineering, design, molding and manufacturing to support special customer and partner projects to produce respirator components. While a temporary shift in production, the DENSO team has been able to produce components to help increase the number of respirators in circulation during the pandemic.
The project is a demonstration of credibility, foresight and collaboration, or what we call DENSO Spirit.
Agile Engineering & Design:
Earlier in March, DENSO’s engineering and sales teams, located at its North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan quickly worked to support a customer request to bring powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) from design to production in just under 25 days. About 200 DENSO employees worked on this project, and the team – from global leadership, to DENSO’s design and manufacturing engineers, production experts, and security guard personnel – came together to collaborate with the customer at an accelerated speed.
“This has been a project that I am so proud to be a part of. The levels of dedication and commitment from our employees has been nothing short of amazing,” said Sergio Pujols, a director of research and development at DENSO and a leader one of the projects. “We jumped at the chance to support a greater need within our communities and do our small part to protect the health care workers who are risking their lives every day.”
Production Super Stars:
From mid-April, a small group of employees at DENSO’s Thermal facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Greenville, North Carolina, facility proudly produced medical equipment components for two separate projects.
“Not only are we grateful for the work our employees are doing, we’re also incredibly proud of how quickly they’ve pivoted from crafting auto parts to creating potentially life-saving equipment,” said Andris Staltmanis, Business Unit Leader of DENSO’s Thermal Operations in North America. “We’re all looking forward to getting back to “normal” and doing what we do best – manufacturing parts that make the vehicles on our road safe and efficient – but we’re honored and humbled to support those who need it most right now during this pandemic.”
The DENSO Spirit expresses values and beliefs shared by our employees around the world that have driven us to contribute to the automotive industry and society as a whole since our establishment in 1949.
We appreciate all of our associates and everything they are doing for their families, community and DENSO. Watch this video to hear personal messages of gratitude from our leadership.
It’s your courage, giving spirit and enthusiasm that make DENSO strong.
Let’s continue to dream big, come together, and appreciate one another.
As automakers slowed production of vehicles due to the coronavirus crisis in mid-March, Britt Autry, vice president of manufacturing at DENSO, came together with other executives at DENSO’s Maryville facility to chart a new course for their associates and plant operations.
“As a company, we have something we call ‘DENSO spirit,’” Autry said. “It has several elements, and three of them are foresight, credibility and collaboration. Foresight means that we see a problem coming, and we can mobilize our workforce to help.”
Autry and several DENSO engineers wanted to help fight COVID-19 in their area. They quickly pivoted from manufacturing auto parts to making personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospitals in need and created a new face shield using materials already on hand. Within a week, they developed an initial prototype and worked on modifications with the help of some amazing nurses at Blount Memorial Hospital. The final face mask has some unique features to help stop the spread of COVID-19, including an elongated shield that covers your ears and allows enough room to wear glasses or other PPE underneath.
DENSO already has requests from regional hospitals for more than 50,000 shields – all of which they plan to donate. Autry said this is a short-term project, as they wanted to quickly fill a local need by making face shields for front line workers.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, DENSO has:
To see all DENSO’s COVID-19 updates, click here.
Get ready for a whole lot of #DENSOspirit! Whether you’re creating face shields, sewing face masks, shopping for elderly neighbors, posting thank you signs, or just staying home – we know you’re all doing your part to help fight COVID-19! We want to share the amazing things you’re doing to brighten up everyone’s feed on social media, but we need your help.
Post what you or someone you know is doing to spread love, kindness, gratitude and support in our communities to social media. Be sure to use #DENSOspirit and tag DENSO on Facebook (@DENSOinNorthAmerica), LinkedIn (@DENSO), Twitter (@DENSOinNA) and/or Instagram (@DENSOnorthamerica).
We’ll be highlighting your great work through the official DENSO North America social channels and through our internal company channels to let the world know the amazing things you’re doing. Don’t want to create your own post? Email your submissions to DENSOspirit@outlook.com.
If you need it, here are some helpful tips for posting your Spirit stories on social media:
We cannot thank you enough for all you’re doing – for each other, our customers and our communities. Please share all the wonderful things you are doing – no matter how big or how small – to show your #DENSOspirit. Be sure to check our internal and social channels each week for the latest updates and stories!
And, as a reminder, this is a good news movement – we will not tolerate content that includes profane language, insults, bullying or overt negativity. If we deem content posted on DENSO channels as inappropriate, we reserve the right to remove it.
When local company, InkSmith, put out a call to action to the public to help 3D print the parts required to build personal protective equipment (PPE), DMCN section leader Mike Mansfield jumped into action. InkSmith had the existing tools and infrastructure to create face shields for front-line health care workers in Canadian hospitals but was struggling to produce the printed parts the face shields required.
“I saw a local news article with InkSmith’s call to action and started printing the parts on my 3D printer from home that weekend,” said Mike. “That Monday I asked our president if I could bring our facility’s 3D printer home.”
DMCN president Rich vanOorschot of course said yes. With his home printer, Mike was producing 12-15 sets of parts every two days. With both printers, Mike more than tripled his efforts. He drops off the parts at a touchless drop-off every few days. Once InkSmith gets the components, they assemble the face shields and donate them to Canadian hospitals.
“I think it’s important to do what you can when you can. Everyone has a skill or hobby or interest that can translate into supporting a need in their community. I enjoy 3D printing, but you don’t need a technical skill to help,” said Mike. “There are lots of things people can be doing whether that’s sewing masks, helping elderly neighbors, or limiting interactions. Just do what you can, when you can, and that’s enough.”
“I’m so proud to have Mike as a member of our DENSO team. He has a particular skill, he took initiative and now he’s doing something that can save lives,” said Rich. “The DENSO Spirit is shared by all our associates around the world and Mike is a perfect example of the type of driven people we have at DENSO who are making society better as a whole.”
A huge thank you to Mike for doing his part in the fight against COVID-19. Mike said as long as there is a need, he will keep printing and donating the face shield parts.
Since joining DENSO, Andrea Caratti, from Northern Italy, has been able to cross off many major cities in the United States from his travel bucket list; Chicago, Washington DC, and New York City to name a few. After recently accepting a new role, Caratti is venturing further into the U.S. as Plant Manager of DENSO Manufacturing Michigan Iowa (DMIA).
Caratti started his career with DENSO six years ago at DENSO Thermal Systems S.p.A. (DNTS) in Italy. DNTS is a part of DENSO TEC, the Thermal Europe Center. As the Logistics Manager, he enjoyed getting to work with many of DENSO’s customers within the Off Road Special Applications Business Unit (ORSA). This group makes parts for bigger, off-highway customers, like John Deere. In his new role at DMIA, he will continue working with these customers.
Caratti came to DENSO with a master’s degree in automotive engineering and work experience at Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Caratti said he is looking forward to the new challenge.
“I’m very thankful for it, and know that we will all do a great job together,” Caratti said.
One element Caratti said he’s not looking forward to is winter. His favorite hobby, outdoor cycling, will have to wait until spring returns to Iowa.
Caratti has enjoyed seeing new perspectives of the company, and said he looks forward to continuing to interact with other DENSO plants.
Congratulations on your new role at DENSO!
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.
We make things. Even if we don’t work on the manufacturing line, or design or sell our technologies, we all have a role in making things.
We’re celebrating manufacturing all month long! See how we’re busting manufacturing myths, and celebrating National Manufacturing Day across the region.
More than 2,000 people took advantage of a picture-perfect day to enjoy DENSO Family Fun Day at Gull Meadow Farms.
Associates from DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek were welcomed to bring their children or grandchildren to the farm to enjoy lunch and some of the farm activities including wagon rides, corn maze, petting zoo and the super-popular apple cannon. Cider, donuts, hot dogs and more were available under the DENSO tent.
Special thanks to the social activities committee for coordinating the event and cooking us all hot dogs all day long!
We are incredibly proud of our facility in Osceola, Arkansas, that has achieved 7 million production hours without a lost time accident! The work our associates have put toward elevating safety standards and adapting policies to ensure the best working conditions is a testament to the commitment DENSO has made to create a culture of safety at our facilities around North America.
On September 5, 2019, DENSO Manufacturing Arkansas will host a celebration of this milestone as part of “Safety Day.” Learn more about this achievement here.
“As manufacturing evolves, so too must our practices to keep employees safe,” said Kenichiro Ito, senior executive officer for DENSO Corporation and chief executive officer of DENSO’s North American Headquarters. “Our employees drive DENSO’s success on a national and international scale. Their health, safety and happiness are of paramount importance, so it is crucial that we promote safety policies that offer the best protections possible.”
DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan has had the privilege to host ten college interns this summer. This month, leaders helped thank and recognize the program participants with a final lunch send off.
Interns were placed in departments throughout DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. (DMMI) this summer, from Condenser Engineering in the main office to Production Control at Hill Brady Warehouse. Each intern was given a focus project for the summer.
The interns also found time for fun and networking, with events including a tour of DENSO’s North American headquarters in Southfield, as well as a Top Golf outing and kickball game.
During the final week of the 12-week program, interns gave a presentation on their summer focus project. Three interns were selected to share their project presentation again to top management at DENSO. Top-scoring interns were Hannah Pearl, Josh Laux and Justin Wright.
DENSO Group’s representative from Industrial Mechanics Millwright (Japan) won a Gold medal at the 45th WorldSkills International Competition which was held in Kazan, the Russian Federation from August 22 to 27.
The DENSO Group sent a record number of 20 entrants to the event to compete in 10 skills: 11 Japanese participated in Polymechanics and Automation, Manufacturing Team Challenge, Mechatronics, Mobile Robotics, Industrial Control, Industrial Mechanic Millwright, and Cloud Computing; three Thais in Polymechanics and Automation, CNC Turning, and CNC Milling; two Indonesians in CNC Milling and Industrial Control; two Vietnamese in CNC Turning and CNC Milling; and two Mexicans in CNC Milling and Plastic Die Engineering.
DENSO first entered the WorldSkills International Competition at the 20th event in 1971, and has won a total of 69 medals to date: 33 golds, 18 silvers, and 18 bronzes. DENSO has won its 15th straight gold medal since the 31st contest in 1991.
DENSO considers the development of technology and sophisticated engineering skills and know-how to turn technology into practical applications to be two of the most fundamental components of its monozukuri or the art of making things. DENSO participates in the WorldSkills International Competition not only to accomplish good results, but also to develop promising young technicians mentally, technically, and physically into highly-skilled workers who can inherit DENSO’s accumulated skills through systematic, special training for this competition.
DENSO will continue to foster young technicians to pass on its skills to the next generation through training and participation in the WorldSkills International Competition.
Gold Medal Winner
Skill: Industrial Mechanics Millwright
Contestant: Yujiro Sakamoto
DENSO’s contestants and medals won
The highest honor a Ph.D. candidate can receive at Western Michigan University is the All-University Excellence Award. Nagdev Amruthnath, Data Scientist III in the Internet of Things (IoT) department at DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, received this award when he graduated with his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering this spring.
The University does not make this decision lightly, Nagdev said. After being unanimously nominated by his department, Nagdev began a month-long process, sharing everything from his resume to research papers and publications for consideration.
“This is just a stepping stone for the things I want to achieve and contribute to science and betterment of the society,” Nagdev said.
Nagdev started working at DENSO as a summer intern in 2014 while he pursued his masters and then doctorate degrees at WMU. He spent more than three years in Total Industrial Engineering (TIE) before being hired as DENSO’s first data scientist in Battle Creek.
“When I started at DENSO, I had no idea if I was going to stay here long-term,” Nagdev said. “But everything fell into place. I was looking for a new job in data science and big data outside of DENSO when I learned they were looking for someone to fill a role that lined up with my research and passion.”
As an intern, Nagdev observed how often machines would need to stop for repairs, slowing down production, increasing associate overtime and causing the production line to miss their performance goals. This is when he decided to focus his research on preventative maintenance, recognizing the potential to help associates and increase profitability.
Combining his real-world experience and doctoral research was very successful; Nagdev has published 10 papers and will be receiving a patent. A lot of his research ideas were inspired by the projects and people he works with at DENSO.
“Everything, every day is challenging, especially in my role,” Nagdev said. “I get a lot of opportunity to explore new things and people are open to new suggestions and projects and I want to help them.”
Nagdev said his next educational goal is to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration. But first, Nagdev is celebrating a major milestone outside the classroom, being newly married this summer.
“I always say nothing is impossible as long as you are willing to put time and resources towards it. That’s what I tell people when starting a new project, nothing is impossible.”
Congratulations Nagdev!
Graduation season may technically be over, but this month, we squeezed in one more ceremony for the six participants of our IGNITE Program. A two-year rotational program for graduates, IGNITE offers structured career development and assignments across DENSO businesses and geographies. The “graduating class” included:
The program not only provides participants with incredible individual experiences as they kick off their careers, but what they learn, the relationships they make and the insights they gain benefit DENSO. Whether helping to reach our Long- or Mid-term Policies, support our advancement in CASE technologies or just work better as ONE DENSO, these six professionals are now armed with valuable knowledge, skills and relationships to drive DENSO to craft the future of mobility.
Will Ripley explains, “We agree that IGNITE was an incredible experience for us as individuals, but I also can see the benefit it has for the company. By having experience with various locations and associates, we gained well-rounded knowledge of company, which helps us each to become the best versions of ourselves. At the same time, we have become multifaceted, highly trained and skilled assets to DENSO. It’s a win-win!”
Though they all entered and left the program with different skill sets and had different experiences in their rotations, they all agree that IGNITE gave them a better understanding of the company, its culture and the DENSO Spirit.
“One of my greatest takeaways from the IGNITE program is understanding and embracing the DENSO Spirit. I learned about its purpose and what it means to our culture, and then I recognized people who embrace it in everything they do. This inspired me to use the DENSO Spirit factors as my key motivation each day – I did this throughout my rotation and continue to do so today,” said Tanner Mann.
Congrats to our IGNITE Program graduates – we can’t wait to see where your careers take you and DENSO!
Through 24 years of service at DENSO in Battle Creek, Machine Technician Art Fields has never called in sick. Yes! 24 years of being at work on time, every day that he is scheduled.
“My dad helped instill my work ethic. If you want something, you need to work hard for it and take pride in the work you do,” Art said.
After starting as a temporary, Art was hired in as an associate in the same area that he works in today, building radiators for automotive engine cooling modules. As a production associate, he enjoyed opportunities to work on machines and problem solve with the Machine Technician in his area. This inspired him to become one, a job he’s held since 1998.
Working at DENSO means Art has worked with people from a lot of different cultures, one of his favorite things about the company. Regardless of background, though, Art said his coworkers are always polite and willing to help.
Art enjoys participating in company-sponsored events such as golf outings, bass tournaments, company picnics and sports outings. Outside of work, Art keeps himself busy with his hobbies and activities with his family. He fishes with the Battle Creek Bass Busters every Saturday during the season and plays disc golf multiple times a week to stay active.
Art said he has witnessed a lot of growth and change at DENSO during more than two decades in Battle Creek.
“When I first started I saw how clean the place was and how they cared about their people. I knew it was a long-term company that wouldn’t be going anywhere, so I wanted to be hired in.”
“It’s been a good feeling watching DENSO grow – I’ve seen it expand and add on at least 5 times. My goal is to retire here.”
Congratulations Art, and thank you for your dedication!
Know an associate with an interesting story to tell or milestone to celebrate? Email DMMI_Communications@denso-diam.com.
Thanks to the Social Activities Committee for offering everyone a cool refreshing treat! And thanks to the DENSO Spirit Team for getting everyone to share what teamwork means to us!
Don’t forget to like your favorite photos on DENSO’s Facebook Page!
Bradley Farman loves to learn. In addition to living in three countries and learning three languages, he decided to apply for a summer internship at DENSO.
A mechanical engineering student at Montana State University, Bradley wanted to find an internship in the automotive industry. A family connection led him to apply for an engineering internship at DENSO’s thermal facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. After interviewing for the position, the offer to work in the Condenser Engineering department brought him from Montana to Michigan to help kaizen condenser processes.
“The most valuable thing I’ve learned here is how to take a project with a big scope and break it down into bite sized, more manageable parts,” Bradley said.
Bradley is the intern who traveled the farthest to spend the summer at DENSO, but travel is nothing new to Bradley, who has lived in more than eight cities and three countries in his life. He also enjoys learning new languages. He is currently learning French, having English, Spanish, and Japanese under his belt already.
Thanks for sharing your talents with us this summer, Bradley!
Who knew a bin of scrap materials could save DENSO $223,000? Ron Carr made this happen on a global innerfin condenser (GIC) production line at DENSO Manufacturing Michigan (DMMI) in Battle Creek.
Ron’s idea took just one hour to build, but it’s had tremendous impact. He used leftover SUS materials to build a lazy-susan turntable that allows associates to rotate cores easier and faster. A sensor in the middle of the turntable also helps parts move when associates are ready for the next step. This has helped reduce cycle time, in addition to improving safety and reducing the risk of repetitive strain injuries for associates.
Ultimately, Ron’s idea reduced both the number of people needed to build the part and the time it takes to build it. These savings really add up! In addition to saving DENSO $223,000 per year, Ron also submitted the idea to the DMMI associate suggestion program called BEAM—Because Every Associate Matters. Through BEAM associates receive a portion of the cost savings for one year. Ron’s turntable idea earned him over $8,000.
“My family loves to take trips together, so this money will help us do that,” Ron said.
Ron was also able to crossline his idea to new GIC lines. During his four years as a DENSO associate, he submitted multiple BEAMs before moving to his current Team Leader position, and says that submitting a BEAM is a fun way to stay engaged at work.
“I encourage my Subleader and Machine Tech to do a BEAM every year. It’s an awesome program and there are a lot of people with great ideas out here that could be implemented.”
Associates with a great improvement idea to share can contact Associate Relations or the Manufacturing Improvement Team to learn more about the BEAM submission process.
It was only a small piece of plastic that brushed Jacob Klepper’s work boot, but he knew it was a big deal.
Jacob has been building and packing engine cooling modules at DENSO Manufacturing Michigan for over a year now, so he recognized the piece could have been broken off of a finished part headed for a customer. He immediately stopped the line and called his Team Leader, Stan Thuazathang.
Stan arranged for Jacob to conduct a sort of finished parts in the warehouse, determined to find the source of the broken unit. An hour and a half later, Jacob discovered the broken radiator and removed it to be repaired.
“I knew the prong was a customer use point, so we could have received a quality defect claim,” Jacob said. “That would have cost DENSO a lot of time and money if it had gotten to the customer’s assembly line, so I’m glad I was able to find it.”
Stan said this is not the first defect that Jacob has found, and appreciates his hard work and dedication to protecting DENSO’s customers.
“Jacob is a really great worker,” Stan said. “His attention to detail is excellent, and I know we can count on him to speak up when he sees something wrong. That’s really important for all of our associates, so Jacob is setting a great example.”
More than 100 associates and family members recently came out for our DENSO Dash 5K at the Fort Custer Recreation Area. This is the 2nd running event planned by our Battle Creek Healthy Connections team, a group focused on promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Thanks to everyone who made the event happen, and those who came out to dash with us!
We are thrilled to announce two of our North America associates were selected to participate in this year’s WorldSkills Championship competition in Kazan, Russia. WorldSkills is considered the “Olympic games” of technical and technological training, where the best of the best competes against each other in their skill of choice. Adriana Velázquez and Jonathan Hernández, who started as interns before being hired by DENSO Mexico, will join thousands of technical experts from more than 60 countries as they compete across 56 different skill sets.
Adriana and Jonathan have been hard at work perfecting their craft. They are currently undergoing advanced intermediate technical training in Japan for six months prior to the competition in August. Adriana will compete in Plastic Die Engineering and Jonathan will show his skills in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Turning.
Every two years, WorldSkills hosts its world championships, which attracts young professionals from all corners of the globe for the chance to win a prestigious medal in their chosen skill. Participants demonstrate their vocational education and training across six skill sectors – Construction and Building Technology, Creative Arts and Fashion, Information and Communication Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Social and Personal Services, and Transportation and Logistics.
“Having our associates represent DENSO and Mexico at WorldSkills demonstrates how capable our young workforce is,” said José Cepeda, Machinery & Tools and PE at DENSO Mexico. “The objective is not just to compete, but to develop our people’s abilities to reach a higher level of competence, so that when they return they’ll be ready to continue contributing to DENSO and therefore, to society. We’re very proud of our competitors and honored that they are representing DENSO and Mexico as a country.”
DENSO has participated in the WorldSkills Competition since 1971. To date, DENSO associates have won 33 gold medals, 16 silver medals, and 16 bronze medals.
Stay up-to-date on the latest from the competition here: https://worldskills2019.com/en/media/news/. Check back for profiles on our mighty competitors and to learn more about Adriana and Jonathan.
DENSO in Battle Creek is lucky to have 10 college interns working throughout the facility this summer. One of them is Hannah Pearl, a University of Michigan (U of M) student. She is spending the summer in the Total Industrial Engineering (TIE) department, focusing on implementing autonomous mobile robots into the radiator and ECM final assembly areas.
Hannah has several years of DENSO experience. Last summer, she interned with Production Control TIE and helped launch a yard management system. Before college, Hannah was involved with DENSO through a high school internship program in heater core and evaporator engineering while she attended the Battle Creek Math & Science Center.
“The people at DENSO are my favorite part,” Hannah said. “It’s awesome when you walk down the hall and everyone is friendly and will talk to you.”
At school Hannah is a campus tour leader and volunteers her time with Young Life, a youth group for middle schoolers. She enjoys traveling, and has a goal to be out of the country at least once a year. So far, a service trip to Mexico has been her favorite because she loved bringing hope into people’s lives.
This fall, Hannah will begin her junior year at U of M, continuing her studies in Industrial and Operations Engineering.
Thanks for being a part of the DENSO team, Hannah!
This year, Benjamin Sweet, senior embedded software engineer at DENSO, served as a judge at Lawrence Technological University’s (LTU) 20th Robofest World Championship, a competition that provides fun STEM activities for students interested in autonomous robotics. We spoke to Benjamin to learn more about his experience and the incredible ideas kids had for our future with robots.
I’ve been an adjunct instructor at LTU since 1994 and have known Dr. CJ Chung, the founder of Robofest, for more than 20 years. DENSO has been supporting Robofest and LTU for some time so when Dr. Chung asked if I’d like to be a judge, I accepted because I thought it would be a great opportunity to help both organizations that I’m a part of in a unique way.
This was my first time being a judge for the exhibition portion of the event, where students had to come up with an idea for how robots might be used to solve world issues. It was really interesting to see what the students thought of. I also thought it was great having so many teams come from all over the world, and I loved witnessing the effort and hard work that the kids put into their projects!
One group of students came up with an idea to sort recyclables using robotics and sensors. While it wasn’t very complex, it was made out of 3D printed parts and it worked! Another team tried to create a smart backpack or jacket for bikers that used sensor modules and lights, which acted as turn signals. It was impressive to see that at such young ages, students had these ideas and could put together the hardware and software to make them happen.
It’s important to inspire the next generation because they can take technology we have now and elevate it to the next level. Getting kids involved in STEM can also help prepare them for the competitive nature of the global economy, especially in today’s tech-centered society. Events like Robofest can get kids excited about subjects such as math and science by showing them that they can make an idea tangible through technology and programming.
While Benjamin generously devoted his time to this year’s event, DENSO was also a platinum sponsor of Robofest and worked closely with LTU to include MacArthur K – 8 University Academy, a school located in DENSO HQ’s hometown of Southfield, MI, in the contest. Earlier this month, the school’s 4th-8th grade students visited our Southfield, MI location to show off the robotics they used in the competition and to learn more about sensor technologies from DENSO engineers.
Students visit DENSO’s North American Headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, to show off their bots.
Students compete at 20th Robofest World Championship at Lawrence Tech University in May.
Students dig into robotics at a Robofest summer camp in Southeast Michigan.
We are all in this together. And for many of us, DENSO is our home away from home. Because of this, it is critical that we develop a strong sense of comradery, community, and to have as much fun as possible along the way!
This is incredibly important. The majority of us in the USA do not like our jobs. According to a June 2017 Gallup Poll, only 15% of the world’s one billion full-time workers are engaged at work. It is significantly better in the U.S., at around 30% engaged, but this still means that roughly 70% of American workers aren’t engaged.
On some level, this makes sense. If something is super-duper fun, people will line up to do it for free. And sometimes really important things can, unfortunately, be a bit dull.
But I’ve discovered one huge secret to a good work life: Having a sense of comradery with your co-workers! If you enjoy being around the people you work with every day, then that makes a job significantly more rewarding. We all still have a job to do, but it’s a lot more fun with co-workers like mine.
It’s important that we see our co-workers as friends. When people ask me what I like about my job the most, my answer is always something along the lines of: I like the people I work with! I like our inside jokes, I like how we discuss our personal lives, and I like that I am able to feel comfortable in my own skin when I’m at work. Oh, and my co-worker Eli Aksovski’s shoes.
With that in mind, I’d like to give a couple of examples of teambuilding from my group!
One great way to spend time with co-workers outside of work is to play a friendly game of laser tag! Our group did this, recently, and it was a great way to bond, and create stories together. In between each laser tag match, we reveled in our favorite moments from the match. (Followed by some strategy-based discussion for the next match!)
In our group, we have a time-honored tradition (going back over 10 years!) of making a total celibratory mess of someone’s desk, whenever they celebrate a major life change or milestone, like becoming a parent.
Here’s an example from Rich Kraepel, going back over 10 years:
Our group was lucky enough to have two recent examples this year, targeting Joe Lubinski, and Andrew Kelly!
For long-time DIAM member Joe Lubinski’s desk, we decided to encompass his entire desk, wrapping it life a gift!
For Andrew Kelly’s desk, as some of DIAM associates may have noticed on your way to the Cafeteria, we decided to get creative with the streamers, with a few different types, including a multi-colored twist technique.
Last year, our group helped box food for Focus Hope, in Detroit. It was a great way to help out our local area, and work as a team. We managed to pack 885 boxes of food for homebound seniors.
Basketball and quality targets may seem like an unlikely combination, but the DENSO Production Control (PC) team in Battle Creek combined the two into a competitive March Madness Critical Lockout Challenge with championship results.
PC teams were divided into ECM and HVAC plant brackets and advanced based on the smallest number of critical lockouts. Lockouts can occur when parts in the warehouse are scanned to the wrong order, or if parts are not scanned into inventory.
“Lockouts are the tip of an iceberg, so if we manage them properly we’ll see improvements throughout the whole process that better protect our customers,” said Derrick Boyd, PC Section Leader. “Every day, at least 40 people are scanning parts for more than a dozen customers going on about 120 trucks, so we need ways to help everyone stay focused on what they’re doing.”
The challenge was fun for associates, and also helped DMMI achieve their lowest month of critical lockouts for the year. The top two teams ended the competition strong, having zero lockouts during the entire 4 week challenge! HVAC Plant finalists were team “Uncle Charlie” including Richard Martin, Jaymes Marriott, and Audra Blowers. The ECM Plant winner was “Team Adam” including Damion Adams, Timothy Barnes, and James Ayer.
“Lockouts put our customer at risk,” said Damion Adams, Advanced Associate. “This challenge got competitive because everyone was striving to do their personal best, so it helps us better focus on our job and do our part to keep customers happy.”
Team Adam was ultimately declared the champion because they had more opportunities for lockouts to occur. Each team member was awarded a Lockout Champion T-shirt and a $50 gift card. Runners-up were also awarded gift cards.
“The goal is to keep lowering our EPM (Errors per Million) by continuing to motivate our associates through challenges like this, bringing their attention to what causes lockouts, making process improvements and making sure our production team stocks in parts accurately to avoid delays and ensure high levels of inventory accuracy,” said Adam Senchuk, PC Manager.
Jeremy Shirey – Estimated completion: July 2019
Jeremy enjoyed being part of a team and resolving a variety of challenging tasks in his Machine Finishing rotation. He is thankful for all the talented individuals who have helped him throughout the program, and believes DENSO is fortunate to have so many skilled journeymen!
When he’s not at DENSO Jeremy loves spending as much time as he can with his wife and their new puppy.
Andrew Fry – Completed April 2019
Andy is thankful for everyone who helped him grow his skill set, as well as his wife who supported him and accommodated to his changing schedule during the program. His favorite part of the Apprenticeship Program was Machine Finishing.
When he’s not working, Andy spends as much time as he can on the lake with his family.
Shane O’Neil – Completed March 2019
Throughout the program he enjoyed rotating through the different groups which allowed him to meet and work with all the journeymen, and learn multiple repair techniques. Shane is thankful for Paul Phillips who helped him launch a new mod machine C-1211 during the program.
Outside of DENSO Shane enjoys fishing and riding dirt bikes with his two children, and looks forward to taking his family on camping trips.
Richard Saylor – Completed February 2019
Richard appreciates the numerous people in each department that helped him learn important skills so he can succeed in his job. His favorite part was being rotated through the different areas allowing him to gain a variety of experience.
Something not everyone knows about Richard is that he started working on cars when he was only 13 years old!
The first female CEO of a major global automaker was appointed just five years ago. In Silicon Valley, 95% of the tech workforce is white males. Fifty-four percent of employees believe their employers could do more to promote gender equality.
Diversity and inclusion are issues that permeate all industries, not just automotive. At DENSO, we are taking active steps to change that narrative.
That’s why today, we are thrilled to announce we have named Denise Carlson, vice president, North American Production Innovation Center and Safety, Health and Environment, as Executive Lead of North American Diversity and Inclusion (D&I). Carlson, who was one of the first female engineers hired at DENSO, has been a part of DENSO for nearly 25 years.
We spoke to Denise on her new role and how D&I will help us reach long-term goals and shape the future of mobility.
Why is diversity and inclusion important?
First and foremost, accepting and respecting people of all races, ages, genders, ethnicities, backgrounds and cultures is the right thing to do.
Second, embracing D&I is one of the best ways to spark innovation. When we bring together diverse groups of people, it opens our eyes to the fact that there is always more than one way to achieve the same goal. Diverse groups offer unique perspectives to difficult challenges, break the cycle of inside-the-box thinking and bring great new ideas and opportunities to the table, which is critical for a company wanting to innovate.
This is particularly important for DENSO. We’re undergoing tremendous change – from a shift in business strategy to a focus on software-based solutions. Constant innovation is crucial if we want to remain competitive and best serve our customers.
What are you most excited about in your new role?
To start, I want to say that creating this position is a significant and symbolic moment at DENSO and I’m honored to be a part of it. Yes, we have D&I efforts already in place, but this shows the world we have a stake in the ground to truly progress in this area.
I am looking forward to working closely with our manufacturing facilities across North America to align on what D&I is, our goals and why it needs to be an integral part of daily functions. My hope to eventually create a work environment where diversity and inclusion is no longer a topic of discussion – because it’s engrained in the way we do business.
What does DENSO currently do for its D&I efforts?
In 2016, DENSO established the North American D&I Council to develop a three-year strategy to create and implement a culture of inclusion that promotes the diversity of all associates. We currently have D&I training for leaders at every level to strengthen understanding of D&I. At DENSO, our leaders are the champions behind this effort. They are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment.
Other action items include:
Finally, it’s important to point out that diversity and inclusion are two separate things. Diversity is the collection of our similarities and differences based on characteristics that we are born with, experiences we have had and choices we have made. Inclusion occurs when people are welcomed, valued, respected and heard.
There’s more to do to be sure, and I look forward to working with associates around the country to lead that charge.
To read the press release announcing Denise’s new role at DENSO, click here.
Amy Brock has been using her talents and bringing her passion for partnerships to the various roles she has held at DENSO over the past 25 years. From Purchasing to General Administration, and now in her current role as Advanced Specialist of Community Relations at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, she’s focused on building and strengthening relationships with internal and external customers to help DENSO grow.
“It’s important for me to build relationships with our associates and in our community. I want to strengthen and support the area where we live. As the area’s largest employer in Blount County, we have a responsibility to support and give back to our community.
I remember for the 204 plant grand opening event in 2018, we invited many community partners, government and business leaders, and associates to join us. It took a lot of time and coordination, working with different groups within DENSO, coordinating schedules, and making sure everyone was aligned. When you’re caught up in that day-to-day, it can be challenging. But, I remember, at the event, looking around and seeing more than 800 people gather for the same purpose. It was so powerful and inspiring. We came together and worked toward a common goal to build and celebrate this place that positively impacts so many lives.
As the industry changes, as DENSO changes, we need to realize we’re in this as one DENSO. We’re going through tremendous change and need to collaborate with one another. When we run into a challenge, we can face it together and reach a common solution that benefits our associates, our company and our community.”
As the world’s second largest mobility supplier, a global champion of R&D and an industry leader in sustainability, DENSO’s goals are as diverse as its operations. A few years ago, leadership recognized the need to clearly articulate the company’s goals and tactics resulting in the long-term policy 2030 and long-term plan 2025. David Williams, a six-year DENSO employee who has served in a number of different positions related to strategy and business planning had a critical role in developing this global plan and the corresponding sales roadmap. The big picture outlook required for this type of work directly inspired his core value: Vision.
“A successful leader needs vision more than anything else, as he/she is the ultimate keeper of the dream, the one making the rally cry for everyone to get behind,” said Williams. “However, setting the vision is only step one. A leader’s integrity is measured by how closely they actually follow their own vision while adhering to the values of the organization.”
Williams now showcases his commitment to vision daily in his current role as Director, Automotive Original Equipment Service Group, DPAM. He recently worked with a group of associates to show them how their business development role fit into the larger company ecosystem. This empowering process led the group to feel confident and encouraged to try something different. With a clear goal and plan in mind, the group went out and secured a great remanufacturing client win.
“If you keep the vision a living, breathing part of your work, people will better understand how it relates to them and vice versa, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction.”
Afsheen Mozammel, Senior Process Engineer at DMMI, was one of five featured panelists during Purdue University Northwest’s “Brave Not Perfect, Breaking the Glass Ceiling” event in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Afsheen, a Purdue alumnae, was invited to serve on the panel with female leaders from business, finance, higher education and nonprofit sectors. Purdue honored the panel with alumna awards and welcomed them to tell their stories of growing their careers with courage.
Afsheen told her story of leaving her home country of Bangladesh to pursue her dreams in America.
“It was a tough decision to leave home and come to an unknown country with no friends and family and start all over, giving up my comfort zone, my family, stable job and everything where I grew up. When I look back in time, I realize that this decision has changed my life more ways than one and made me only stronger and more self-dependent,” Afsheen said.
The event received a variety of press coverage. Read more at NW Indiana Life, Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press.
DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. associates have donated 2,726 pounds of food and 118 hours to the Food Bank of South Central Michigan over the past twelve months. Recently, 18 associates spent the afternoon assembling weekend school packs for kids as a part of DENSO’s work-time volunteer program.
In this program, each associate can volunteer eight hours of paid time each year through company-sponsored events. From sorting donations and stuffing envelopes to assembling food bags, DENSO associates are empowered to give back to the community.
Thank you to our work-time volunteers!
How did an elementary school teacher end up in the world of automotive? Barbara Tamura, Exec. Admin. to Sr. VP Sales, Operations, Strategic Planning & Marketing at DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., taught in inner city schools in Los Angeles for 10 years before deciding she needed a change.
Barbara always loved cars, so she looked for opportunities working for Nissan, Infiniti and Mitsubishi, before finally finding her home at DENSO. In 10 years, she’s gained extensive experience and taken on new roles and responsibilities.
Her newest assignment? A mentor to the JetStream FIRST Robotics Competition Team #2710.
JetStream isn’t your average FIRST team, and Barbara isn’t your average FIRST mentor. Finding one another has not only helped the team win championships, it’s also helped Barbara, and the DENSO team, share their passion for STEM and strengthen their local community.
We spoke with Barbara to learn more.
How did you connect with this team?
The opportunity fell out of nowhere and into my lap! It all started when my mother came with me to a DENSO holiday party last year. Later at church, my mom bragged about DENSO, our technology and expertise in robotics. My mother’s friend told her granddaughter, Lauren, about what we do because of Lauren’s love for robotics. From there, Lauren saw an opportunity and told her FIRST team about DENSO, which speaks to the power of word of mouth and being involved in your community.
Lauren’s team had recently split off from their local high school and instead was part of a community team made up of kids from around the area. Lauren wrote me a letter requesting DENSO’s support. Without backing from a school, corporate sponsorship was the only way for the group to stick together and compete.
Why did you decide to become a mentor for FIRST Robotics?
This opportunity filled a personal goal of mine to help youth in my community. Mentoring the team also aligns with two of DENSO’s long-term goals that are important to me – to contribute to a better world by creating value together, and to bring hope for the future of our planet, society, and all people.
What is the most rewarding part of being a mentor?
Seeing the enthusiasm and dedication our team put into building their robot, and despite challenges – they won! My team ended up in 1st place at the Long Beach/LA Port Fleet Week Competition. The team also recently qualified for the World Championships in Houston in April. Their ticket was punched by winning the Los Angeles Regional competition along with its alliance partners Beach Bots #330 and Robot Dolphins from Outer Space #5199. I’m so proud of them.
I also loved seeing them smile and jump up when I shared that I would continue to be their mentor and DENSO was donating $5,000 along with some equipment, which will enable the team to stay and compete together for one more year.
Why are mentors so important for FIRST Robotics teams?
This question brings me back to my teaching days. Supporting youth involved in STEM-based activities helps them succeed and teaches them that goals are easier to achieve through teamwork and collaboration. Mentors give young kids confidence, independence and a feeling of safety, which are primary steps that lead to learning.
As mentors, DENSO can teach teams about engineering, analytics, problem-solving, marketing, artificial intelligence and so much more, and help nurture their interest in these areas.
Would you recommend more DENSO associates mentor teams?
Absolutely! Mentoring helps DENSO’s reputation in many ways. It demonstrates our corporate citizenship and community responsibility and reinforces our brand with a new generation of kids.
More importantly, these youth teams are our future job talent pool. The team I mentor is exceptional and crazy about STEM. Many will go on to pursue engineering in college and I would love to see them at DENSO someday as part of our global team.
Learn more about DENSO’s involvment in FIRST Robotics here.
DENSO was Emilee’s first job out of college. Nine years later – she’s still here getting things done, working in the Total Industrial Engineering (TIE) group in Athens, Tennessee. For Emilee, creativity is at the core of problem-solving and dealing with uncertainty.
From earning her Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Tennessee, to navigating her career path at DENSO, Emilee has long understood it takes creativity to solve difficult problems, deliver quality work and design innovative solutions.
“One of my first TIE projects at DENSO involved a machine modification. Before kaizen (improvement), there were many inefficiencies in the process. I used creativity to re-design this machine by building a mock model completely out of scrap cardboard. By using what was readily available, I quickly constructed a prototype that we could use in cross-functional team meetings. The model was detailed to the point where we could simulate the process flow with associates to get their feedback on the standard hand motions and product placement. This activity made it possible for us to understand the footprint requirements, estimate the cycle time and improve ergonomics before the final machine was constructed. We were able to save DENSO time and money by focusing on an efficient line from the design phase.
The future will require all of us to be innovative and work together. Don’t be afraid of your wild ideas. Speak up, be ambitious and work together to enhance the visions and dreams around you.”
– Emilee Davis, Total Industrial Engineering, Athens, TN
Associate Spotlight on Mark Bishop
Director of Quality Engineering at DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee, Inc.
I choose UTC because it was very affordable and close to home.
I was good in math and science growing up and I liked to understand how things worked.
I am currently a Quality Engineering Director. An engineering degree helps you learn to
solve problems. I always strived to be the person solving the problems.
Work in teams as much as possible in course assignments, design projects or even a team sport. I think this will better prepare you to excel in DENSO’s team environment.
Be a problem solver and leader. Always seek out the biggest problems and work to solve those. When I say be a leader, I mean, always be engaged in the discussion and the one working to motivate and help others on the team.
I think it creates engineers that can problem solve, think creatively, and manage their time. Basically prepares them to step right into an organization and start contributing.
Associate Spotlight on John Seavey
Director of Ignition Products at DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee, Inc.
With Mason Seavey, Son of John and intern at DENSO
John: What does it mean to have Mason following in your footsteps in the Engineering field?
Mason and his brother both know that whatever path they may choose, we would support them fully. Given that, I guess what it means most is that he has recognized that a career in Engineering has provided a really good life for our family. He has seen that with an education in Engineering, and hard work/dedication, that there is an abundance of career choices in front of him. Mason is a really good kid, and we’re very proud of him.
What is it like to have Mason here at DENSO as an intern?
As our kids grow up, the opportunities for spending time together become less frequent. Being able to see him everyday, and share in his work experience was very enjoyable and a great memory that I’ll always have. From the beginning we ate lunch together everyday, including our Friday Lunch Out at a local restaurant.
From a work viewpoint, Mason was supporting one of the PE groups (my background) so we had regular discussions about his work, such as Safety, Quality, Capability studies, Process Control, Tool/Jig Design, and why we as Engineers at DENSO perform our jobs in the manner we do. Working as an intern at DMAT gave Mason and I a common context as to what Engineers do in a manufacturing environment. It was also a great chance for him to see what and where I spent the last 22 years of my working life, and get a small understanding of what I do.
What advice would you give him about pursuing a career in Engineering?
Within the engineering discipline, there are nearly limitless career fields to chose from, so don’t just settle for a job. Find a career that your passionate about, one that best utilizes his abilities, and that inspires him to achieve at a high level.
Why did you choose Chemical Engineering?
I chose chemical engineering for a few reasons. First and foremost because I have always been intrigued by chemistry and digging deeper into things on a molecular level. I also find myself taking interest in the problem solving/ constant improvement ideology of engineering.
These aspects drew my focus into chemical engineering but other factors that lead me to major in this field is that the job is extremely versatile. I get to work with emerging technology from at a hands on perspective, as well as the wide variety of companies around the world that hire chemical engineers.
How has your Father influenced your education?
My father has influenced my education by establishing some understanding of the engineering world. My dad being an engineer in itself, is first what attracted me to the field. Another element is that growing up he always included me on small projects of building things around the house or just providing me with activities where I can do hands on work.
This came into play when he was asking me questions of what I was looking for in an occupation. I realized that I wanted something that challenged me as well as being hands on, so engineering was the right mix of these two things.
What is it like to intern at DENSO? And interact with your Father? My experience as an intern is a little different than most interns since I am only working for the summer instead of an entire year. With that being said, I have really enjoyed my experience at DENSO for the short time here. Everyone at DMAT has been very accepting and friendly to me. I value the DENSO work environment and the core values of the company are something I will always look for in future employment. Most importantly I have learned a great deal and gained valuable work experience that I wouldn’t have received in the class room.
Additionally, working my dad has been nice since I am able to talk about the things I am learning with him and I got to learn more about what he does on a daily basis. I would say the funniest thing about working with my dad has to be at least twice a day someone I don’t know will come up to be and say, “Are you John Seavey’s son” or “You look a lot like your dad.”
Whether she’s building DENSO’s latest innerfin technology or raising her five daughters, Ashley Smith is focused on being resilient.
“Being a mom is good preparation for working in manufacturing,” Ashley said. “You have to work fast without getting overwhelmed, adapt constantly and keep stress in its place.”
Ashley’s daughters range in ages from 10 to 1 year old, so stress is a way of life. But, she says, it’s all worth it for the stability and rewarding work she has at DENSO.
“Good pay and benefits mean a lot to me and my family. My girls know I build car parts and that I work hard,” Ashley said. “If I’m not strong, who are they going to look up to?”
Ashley’s resilience was tested during the last economic downturn when she was let go as a temporary employee. She was eager to return to manufacturing and hired in as a DENSO associate in 2011.
“The product in my area recently changed to new, innerfin technology,” Ashley said. “DENSO is always introducing new, innovative products, so that’s part of being resilient for me. You have to keep learning and keep challenging yourself.”
“If you don’t do things differently, you’ll never progress,” according to Derek Sneideraitis, manager of Sales at DENSO.
But, doing things differently isn’t easy. That’s the fuel behind Derek’s core: Never give up.
“Never give up was the first thing to come to mind because placing blame or letting things go never sit well with me. It’s not in my fabric. I need the challenge. If you believe in something, you can achieve it.”
Working for DENSO, Derek has been able to put his motto into practice. Last year was an especially challenging year for him and his team. Derek recalls:
“We had several crises going on at the same time. Our customer was running into vehicle side issues, creating challenges and delays in launching their new flagship truck. They leaned on DENSO for support with only a few weeks notice . Jumping in to help fix another supplier’s issue isn’t the norm; it’s not something we planned on doing. But, the customer trusted DENSO and knew we were up for the challenge.
At the same time, my team was working on securing future business. It was an incredibly busy and trying time for the team. It really took the entire Global DENSO team to pull through. There wasn’t a map on how to get through it. Everyone really stepped up, came together, and relied on one another and DENSO’s core values to find our way through to the end.”
In the end, Derek’s team was able to achieve what they set out to do. They helped the customer launch its flagship, and secured future business, ultimately helping create goodwill and stability for DENSO business and production. The customer praised DENSO with letters of recognition and appreciation at its annual supplier event.
“With all the changes in the industry, it’s easy to give up after something doesn’t work out,” said Derek. “Having a ‘never give up’ mindset is important. We need to take ownership to move each other, and the company, forward. We’re in this together, and we have the core values we need to pull through. We are capable of great things.”
DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. What’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you? We want to hear from you.
In 2018, 28 associates reached the 25-years of service milestone. Roughly 45 people gathered to celebrate these honorees at the Quarter Century Club Dinner on Thursday, January 24. Thank you for choosing to make your career at DENSO. Congratulations!
Mike knows the definition of hard work. He lives it day-in and day-out. For him, hard works pays off; it’s the only way to approach the challenges life throws at you.
Mike started at DENSO as a temporary more than 11 years ago. He worked hard to show his chain of command that he wanted to be full-time, and that he could handle the responsibilities that came with that. Now, as a full-time production technician, Mike tries to lead by example and show others the value of hard work.
“As DENSO grows, and technology changes, we’re faced with so many challenges every day. Having to support first-hand with setting up new lines, I know how tough it can be. It’s always been my number one goal to ensure quality and integrity is never compromised during these crucial moments.”
Despite the challenges Mike has faced at work and personally, he challenges himself to approach every day with a positive attitude, and a willingness to make himself and his team better.
“DENSO has provided me with all the resources possible to be successful. This alone is my motivation to give back to DENSO. I feel that DENSO has molded me into the best employee I can be, and that’s why I want to give back and help others strive for greatness.
Hard work comes from within each individual. We must challenge ourselves, and others, to improve the quality of our products for our customers as we continue to grow. Hard work always pays off in life.”
DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. What’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you? We want to hear from you.
In the wake of Global President Arima’s New Year message, our teams are left pondering next steps, what we need to do to contribute to DENSO’s transformation. Chris Ramsey, senior manager of Business Planning at DENSO’s Maryville, Tenn., facility, is no different. But, at his core, he believes faith and courage are what he, and DENSO, needs to move forward.
Starting his career at DENSO more than 20 years ago and working his way up through Cost Accounting and Business Planning, Chris has seen a thing or two. And still, he says, “I believe in the future. I have faith in DENSO, and the people of this company, that we’re going to make a better future for the world.”
Chris shares this perspective having experienced tough times during his DENSO career:
“In 2009, when all was looking bleak from a business point of view, [DENSO] found a way to overcome. We found a way to keep our people employed, and found a new way for us to operate. We re-evaluated our operations, processes – everything. We became more competitive and stronger. Our people learned about themselves and what is really, truly possible.
“This is only one example that shows our associates are in it for the long haul – it’s not just a job at DENSO, it’s a way of life. There are a lot of different ways to make more money, but I don’t think that’s why people work here. We’re working for the people we’re with. We’re always pushing one another to find new ways to overcome challenges.”
For Chris, “faith” and “courage” go hand-in-hand.
“Courage means the courage to change, to be different, and to know when it’s time to be different and change. I believe we should question everything and not only do something because someone says we need to. Be true to your values and trust (have faith) in your potential. You have to be yourself.”
In 2015, executives asked a group of senior leaders at DENSO’s Maryville facility, including Chris, how they could improve their targets in quality, safety, cost, and delivery. Usually, a request like this is followed by a quick meeting, hurried action plan, assignments, due dates, follow-up meetings, and so on. Chris and other senior leaders decided to take a stand and put a stop to that routine. They wanted to truly dig into the core issues behind their targets.
After several discussions, the team concluded it was their mindset, their way of working, that caused them to fall short of their targets. Everyone worked in a silo. Each function was working toward their own goals, not trying to understand how they impacted other functions. It was a tough truth to face.
The team tackled it head-on. Through several discussions, off-site workshops and meetings, the group was able to break down barriers between functions and leaders. Chris recalled, “It wasn’t always comfortable, and it sure wasn’t easy, but, after 25 years of operation, Maryville’s leaders, from all our different areas, were starting to think and work more closely together.”
“Mr. Arima described this time as the second birth of our company. There are many ways to feel about that, most are probably scared or excited. We have lots of things to be concerned about – huge shifts in the mobility market, consumer habits, new competitors, and more. I believe faith is necessary because faith in this sense means we must believe in our potential. It’s not an option for us to move forward without faith in ourselves and each other. If our future is to be, it’s up to us to make it happen, and I have faith that we will all do what’s necessary to achieve our future potential.
“To make the future happen not only takes faith, but also courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but doing what’s needed in spite of it. If we don’t have a sense of fear or crisis then we are not being realistic. However, we cannot be lead or paralyzed by it. We must press on. Find new paths, fail fast and learn fast. The future of DENSO depends on how fast we can fail and learn and our courage to keep doing both.”
DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. What’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you? We want to hear from you.
We’ve been hearing a lot of buzzwords, lately: paradigm shift, mobility, change. What does it all mean, and how does it apply to our jobs here at DENSO? Are they mere words, or are we really going to see their effect?
I had the honor of attending the New Year Ceremony event on January 9 to hear President Arima’s special message live. With all of the excitement of President Arima’s speech winding down, and we’ve all hopefully had time to digest it, I figured it was time to share my thoughts. (For those who have not heard Arima’s New Year message, check it out here! Or read DENSO’s long term plans here!)
It’s important that we get a discussion going about this, so please share your thoughts in the comments, below.
Meet Dustin Mitchell, DENSO engineer and blogger. DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. What’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you? We want to hear from you.
DENSO Spirit has been our guiding principles, the foundation, behind our innovation, quality, determination, and customer focus over the past 70 years.
As DENSO has grown to more than 170,000 people, 220 facilities, operating in 35 countries and regions around the world, we have drifted from our spirit.
In his New Year message, President Arima challenged: “Because we are busy, are we missing our foundational spirit? Are we avoiding risks?”
To achieve our long-term policy goal, and lead a transformation in the automotive industry, Arima challenges associates to go back to our spirit – strengthen our understanding and practice of our guiding principles. He redefines the DENSO Spirit values to help bring them to life for associates:
“‘Thinking things through’ means identifying the deeper meaning behind the issue, not just looking at the surface. I want you to think, think and think through with a future-oriented view,” Arima said. “The more you think, the more you see what you should do.”
“When we gather our individual power, we can maximize our performance, make changes and keep on challenging.”
“When you find what you should do, then get things done. The bigger dream you have, the bigger challenge you will face. You are the owner of your dream. It is your job.”
Watch videos on how our Mexico team is thinking things through, coming together and getting things done.
“As Team Leader for 2nd-shift RS Stamping, it is my job to keep our associates safe, ensure the team is stamping high-quality parts for our customers, and doing so as efficiently as possible to minimize costs. We stamp the parts that are assembled into finished evaporators, that go into heating and cooling systems (HVACs) for new cars and trucks. Something as simple as stamping a part wrong could lead to a major issue for a new car owner, so it’s important we’re sharp, focused and accountable.
Our 2nd shift RS Stamping team recently completed a Practical Problem-Solving Project on the reduction of muda (the Japanese word meaning waste) from associate wait time. In the spirit of creativity and problem-solving, we created a simple calculator to determine how much non-operational time we can take to achieve our production ratio goal. We record information based on the number of parts produced, however, our associates think in units of time. By converting quantity of parts into time, we have been able to give associates a better understanding of where they’re at against the target. When associates start thinking in terms of minutes lost, it creates multiple opportunities for improvement and improves our overall quality.
Based on this project, we added a satellite quality station closer to the stamping press because an associate figured out they were wasting 8 minutes per day walking to the old station. We also increased our monthly production ratio by almost 6 percent and have sustained this level for over a year.
Perhaps most importantly, this has increased collaboration and fostered a culture of kaizen on our team, with our associates continuing to actively find ways to save time daily and reduce muda of motion. This project was a success because of the associates and their commitment to improving our process, efficiency and overall quality.”
Roger Cruise
Team Leader, 2nd Shift, RS Stamping
DENSO Manufacturing Michigan (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Members of the 2nd shift RS Stamping team in Battle Creek, Mich. (left to right): Bob Loyd, Robert Rogers, Hiong Boi, Roger Cruise, Van Lian, Brian Beene, Eldon Ulsh, Barry Watson
DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. What’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you? We want to hear from you.
On January 9, more than 400 associates from around the world gathered in the Detroit area for DENSO’s first Global New Year Ceremony event. Check out highlights from the event below, and shout-out to all the people who helped make it a success.
Stay tuned throughout the month to learn more about President Arima’s message, his vision for our future, and expectations for associates.
For the first time in DENSO’s history, President Koji Arima delivers the New Year Message to associates from North America.
Associates pack more than 500 toiletry bags for The Children’s Center, with the help of DENSO Cobotta robot.
Old friends and new: Associates of all levels, and from various regions around the world, strike a pose at the photo booth to commemorate their experience.
Celebrating Brand Champions: The New Year Ceremony Project Team present special gifts to representatives from AFCO and DWAM, and to President Koji Arima, a WWE fanatic
More photos and videos coming soon!
Dan Alf
Linda Barnett John Bartlett Robyn Blair Mike Bosley Matt Buchanan Stephen Doyle Sarah Fox Patrick Freeman Adriana Garcia Patricia Jones Ashley Justman David Lazar Paul Martin |
Jennifer McComb
Yolanda McGee Anthony Palazzolo Vassili Papadopoulos Bronda Payton Son Phan Joe Roden Tomi Saveski Stephanie Simigian Natalie Scott Brian Stansell Jennifer Tavares Tony Valdes Victor Vulcu |
Yukio Asano
Dave Cooper Nicole Ciotta Nichole Grein Keiko Haramura Yuri Iwata Bridgette LaRose JoAnna McCulloch |
Eiji Ogimoto
Melissa Smith Mark Stasinski Naoko Takagawa Hirofumi Takeuchi Robert Townsend Masayuki Watanabe |
Written by: Dustin Mitchell, Engineer, Electrified Systems
Everyone knows that extroverts are outgoing, and social. And, of course, it’s equally known that introverts are the exact opposite: shy, and always keeping to oneself. Right?
Wrong. This common knowledge is based on a misunderstanding. So what’s the real deal? The reality is, extroversion and introversion is more related to how you get your energy. Moreover, this is critically important in the work place! I’ll explain why, after we define these terms a bit better.
My favorite way to explain it (being the engineering dork that I am), is through an analogy about charging a battery. A “social battery”!
An extrovert charges their social battery through socializing, itself. This is very much like a car battery, where the battery is charged while the system is in use. (Side note: the thing that does the charging is the alternator…they very product I work on at DENSO!)
However, an introvert loses charge on their social battery when they socialize. Instead they must be left alone, more akin to charging your smart phone: It charges fastest if you plug it in, and leave it alone.
You may be able to come up with a better analogy than me (and feel free to share it, below). However you parse it, the most important thing to remember is: Extroverts feel energized by socializing, and introverts feel energized by solitude. (And if you don’t strongly identify with either, you may be a mystical creature known as an “ambivert“.)
To provide more clarity…
Extroverts tend to…
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Introverts tend to…
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You’ve probably guessed by now, that I’m an introvert. For me, socializing is incredibly fun, but also very draining. In fact, the more fun it is, the more drained I am the next day. (We sometimes call this a “social hangover”.) For me, socialized too much feels very similar to studying really hard for a big test: physically fine, but mentally drained.
It’s important to note that, nobody in this world is 100% one versus the other. (Example: I enjoy small talk, when my social battery is charged up.) This is why my lists, above, use the phrase “tend to”. It’s better to think of it as spectrum with extroversion on one end, introversion on the other, and ambiverts in between.
I said before, that this topic was critically important to us here at DENSO, in the workplace. Now that you know what I mean by these terms, we need to discuss why this matters in the workplace:
Meet Dustin Mitchell, DENSO engineer and blogger. DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. What’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you? We want to hear from you.
DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee never fails to impress at the annual North America Quality Circle Competition (NAQCC)*. For the past 10 years, teams from DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee (DMTN) have taken home one of the top awards at the kaizen competition. This year, Team Six Pack kept the winning streak going, taking home the President’s Award, allowing the team to move on to the next level and represent North America in the global competition in Japan in November.
Team Six Pack focused on winder chokotei (unplanned idling or minor stops). As they dug deeper into the issue, they uncovered three root causes and identified countermeasures for each issue. Addressing these issues resulted in reduced faults and overall chokotei, reduced scrap, reduced cost for parts and improved team efficiency on the line. This ultimately leads to better quality alternators, where the team’s rotors end up.
While the team made significant improvements to DENSO’s overall quality and business operations, they walked away with individual successes as well:
“For 21 years now, I’ve been doing kaizen, and I’ve learned that there are many angles to a great quality circle. We saw ideas from all areas of safety, quality, cost and delivery. The experience taught me that everyone can be part of a kaizen team and make a difference for the company, their team, and for every individual who wears a DENSO shirt.
“During this project, I realized, the answer was right in front of us the whole time. We just needed to follow the proper steps, in the proper order, and let the answers reveal themselves to us. Sometimes the smallest detail, something you see every day, could be the answer. Do not let abnormal become normal!” – Sam Estes
“My favorite part of the NAQCC event was the team building activities. I also enjoyed watching the other presentations. I enjoyed the team building part of the competition most though because we were able to interact with the other teams and get to know many people from many different plants.” – KC Cunningham
Congratulations to Team Six Pack!
Seth Bundy
KC Cunningham
Sam Estes
Richard Gass
James Gay
Jeff Krutsinger
Get to know the team
Our people are the core of everything we do – our commitment to safety and quality, our drive to develop innovative products and give back to our communities. Our success comes from our associate’s diverse talents and strong passion.
Click here to learn more about a couple people behind Team Six Pack, what motivates and drives them every day.
*What’s NAQCC?
NAQCC is the North America Quality Circle Competition, a regional competition for DENSO’s top quality circle teams to demonstrate their skills in team building, leadership, computer knowledge, public speaking, and problem-solving. Quality circle teams consist of a group of associates, working together to identify, analyze and solve work-related problems. DENSO has thousands of quality circle teams across the globe, helping DENSO reduce costs, increase quality, efficiency and safety, and preserving and protecting the environment.
DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. So, we want to know – what’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you?
We talked to a couple of the winners of the 2018 North America Quality Circle Competition (NAQCC) President’s Award – Team Six Pack – about what drives and motivates them every day:
Sam Estes
My Core: Family values
Sometimes I work long hours – what can I do to improve the situation? Sometimes I work the weekends – how can we work better together to improve the line. Sometimes the machines just won’t run – how can I turn the negative situation into a positive result? The associates are tired and getting burnt out – remember the great times and think how we can take small steps to improve the negative.
These questions we are asked almost daily, I work for my family and my company. You can be negative, tired, and burnt out, but just remember how strong this company is and you can make a difference.
KC Cunningham
My Core: Making a quality product for my customer
My motivation and drive every day is doing a good job and being proud of what my team and I have accomplished.
Josh is one of DENSO’s recent IGNITE graduates. IGNITE is a two-year rotational program for recent college graduates that offers career development and assignments across DENSO business units and regions. Watch this video to learn about Josh’s experience rotating between DENSO locations in North America and Japan:
Our core is our people. They bring special strengths and skills to the work bench every day. They drive our success. For Shashidhar, being meticulous in his work is most important:
“I believe in doing things right the first time–pay attention to details with the goal of avoiding mistakes in the first place.
This is important because quality is the core of any successful business. One cannot attain the best of quality if attention to details – the meticulous approach— is missing. To be meticulous, you have to be diligent and be focused. Small things make a big difference in terms of quality.
I am one of the software project leads for Ford programs in Cockpit Systems and am responsible for the customer interaction, requirement gathering, planning and managing the software development. A meticulous approach is critical in my role and throughout the product development process.”
— Shashidhar Krishnamurthy, Cockpit Systems
Picture this: you’re walking into a meeting, just you and your boss. You’re not entirely sure what the meeting topic is, so you’re a bit nervous. Normally, this meeting might be about G&Os, or a discussion on our engineering strategy for the customer. Or maybe some constructive criticism (Let’s face it, we all make mistakes – kaizen!)
Now imagine my surprise when my boss asks: “Would you be interested in writing a blog. At work. For DENSO.” Sounds great (and scary, knowing lots of people may be reading what I say…), but how exactly does something like this come about?
Well, in my group (ESED – Electrified Systems Engineering Department) we’re encouraged to take on a “Special Project”, every year. It’s a small part of our work lives, but it allows us to do something we’re passionate about, while at work. And furthermore, to incorporate this passion into daily DENSO life. In my case, my boss had some prior knowledge that I enjoy writing, and so his suggestion for my Special Project was to write a DENSO blog…and so it begins!
I know what you’re thinking. This is just an excuse to not have to do real work, while I’m at work. Exactly! OF COURSE NOT!!
I have a lot to offer, in terms of sharing what an engineer does at DENSO, how to succeed and navigate the company. I want to share my experiences with others within our organization. This can serve a dual-function of building comradery with those who share similar experiences, while [hopefully] enlightening those who do not. I also want to talk about how to make DENSO a better place to work (Hint: Special Projects!) I also very much want to start a conversation about these topics. In fact, your participation is one of the main reasons I’m doing this, so please introduce yourself in the comment section!
If we’re going to be writing back and forth, I figure it behooves you to know a bit about me. My background in writing has always been more casual in nature. For example, I used to have a Livejournal… in a time when blogging was a relatively new concept and people wrote anything and everything, to anyone who’d read. The entire world rejoices in the fact that I cannot remember my user name. Who knows what early-20s me wanted to write about for the world to see!
Things didn’t stop there, however. Writing is a very consistent and important part of my life, today. I have multiple hand-written journals (for different purposes), and I love to type out my thoughts, as well. Some of my writings are very long-winded, and boring to everyone in the world (but myself), like who would win in a fight: Superman or Goku? (if you have a solid argument, let’s hear it in the comments below!). Others are just a few sentences of something I want to remember forever, like something my toddler did that day, or something I’m thankful for (p.s.: gratitude journals are powerful).
I very often feel like my brain is coming up with thoughts too fast for me to process them all. Part of why I like writing is because it is a way for me to slow my brain down to focus on more concrete ideas.
On a personal note, in my free time I like to play PC video games, when I’m not chasing around a toddler (my cardio). I also enjoy lifting weights and compete in US Strengthlifting. It’s very amateur stuff, but I enjoy it. Ask me about lifting barbells! I’m married, and I have two daughters. I do consider myself to be a “family man”. Work-life balance is a priority for me; they’re my favorite people, and the reason I try my best at work.
Pictures and videos of my family are one of the ways I get through work on a bad day (or even a good day!) I know I’m not the only one; my group often shares personal pictures and stories with each other, while refilling our coffee together, in the morning (when we’re not quoting Ron Swanson, or referencing one of our many inside jokes, that is.)
This is the whole family! From left to right is Aeriana, myself, Lucy, and my wonderful wife Erin.
This is Tess. Of course, with a short name like that, her nicknames are longer than her actual name. I often call her “Tesla” or “Tesseract”. In this picture, she is “protecting” us from other neighborhood dogs, ready to bark at a moment’s notice.
Alright, so you’ve gotten to know me a bit. Your turn – Ask me a question or share something about yourself, below!
DENSO is committed to a culture where every associate’s diverse talents and strong passion enable us to contribute to a better world. What’s at your core? What are you passionate about? What drives and motivates you? We want to hear from you.
Our core is our people. They bring special strengths and skills to the work bench every day. They drive our success.
Click on the video below to watch a video of Jessica Corner from DENSO International America talk about her experience as a software engineer at DENSO.
This month, we’re sharing stories , like Jessica’s, with students across North America to inspire a new generation of manufacturing and engineering experts. By sharing these stories, and working with our industry partners, we want to address the skilled labor shortage our industry faces, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry.
What you can do
Help us celebrate our people and inspire students. Here’s how you can help:
Monozukuri, “the art of making things” is a strength DENSO has nurtured since its founding. It has led to many of our unique manufacturing processes and world-first products—accomplishments that wouldn’t be possible without our people. Our people bring special strengths and skills to the work bench every day. They drive our success. We have some of the most innovative thinkers and creators, dedicated to making the world a better place.
This month, we’re sharing the stories of our DENSO associates with students across North America to inspire a new generation of manufacturing and engineering experts. By sharing these stories, and working with our industry partners, we want to address the skilled labor shortage our industry faces, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry.
Upcoming Events
We’re taking our associates’ stories on the road! Outside of our annual university career fairs, we’re participating in other events to help promote manufacturing engineering careers.
Manufacturing Day: Throughout the month, DENSO’s North America group companies are hosting tours, career fairs and discussions with high school and college students as part of National Manufacturing Day.
Society of Women Engineers: DENSO will have a display booth and virtual reality experience at the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Career Fair in Minneapolis, MN, Oct. 18-19.
What you can do
Help us celebrate our people and inspire students. Here’s how you can help:
DENSO International America, Inc.’s Ohio office, located in Dublin, recently celebrated over 15 years of business! The office was originally opened in 2002 to support our operations with Honda and employed just 12 people at the time. Today, it’s grown to 50 associates, which now includes engineers who work at Honda R&D daily.
“We’re one of the most powerful automotive companies in the world, and Dublin is one of the most highly ranked cities to live in Ohio. That kind of environment is attractive and why we decided to stay and grow with Dublin. It’s a city that never stops thinking of ways to improve the city for its citizens and businesses. Focusing on continuous improvement is a philosophy in which Dublin and DENSO are most certainly aligned,” said Bryan Starr, Senior Manager at DENSO International America, Inc., Ohio.
Beyond work, DENSO is committed to the Dublin community, where most employees live. We’re a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and DENSO’s North American Foundation recently awarded $50,000 to the Ohio State Center for Automotive Research. We also support local schools focused on STEM, and in March, were selected as Dublin City School’s “Business of the Month.”
Associate Chad Peters has been with DENSO, Ohio, since the day its doors opened. He’s seen firsthand how our business has grown to meet the needs of the changing auto industry. Chad knows Dublin is a great place to put roots and DENSO is a great place to work for talented professionals looking to make a difference and grow their career.
“What’s kept me at DENSO? To start, the people. We’re a close, committed team who work together to get the job done. Second, the work is so dynamic. Every day is different, and the new technology we’re developing makes my job exciting and rewarding. Finally, I’ve had so many opportunities at DENSO, ranging from different roles and different product lines to working in Japan for a year.”
Congratulations to our team in Dublin!
Nearly 100 people teed off for this year’s DENSO Golf Outing at Binder Park Golf Course in Battle Creek on Sunday, July 29.
Congratulations to this year’s winners–Chuck Merwin, Matt Garland, Roger Froelich and Rich Tucker!
When the idea for a safety mural came up, Production 2B Associate Ashley Ellis came to mind. Her intricate butterfly design won the DMMI Making Strides Against Breast Cancer design contest. She was excited to help out and hand painted a beautiful “Safety Takes Us Home” message. Thanks for sharing your talents to help raise safety awareness, Ashley!
At DENSO, we are always looking for motivated, collaborative, eager, and dedicated individuals to join our team. Ronnie Sturgeon is a perfect example.
Ronnie was hired at DENSO Manufacturing Michigan Iowa through a temp agency as a part-time production assembly associate. The job required him to build modules, meet deadlines, work closely with a small team, and self-motivate.
While Ronnie did not have a strong background in manufacturing, his references raved that Ronnie always gave 100 percent, took on any jobs with enthusiasm, went above and beyond what was expected and had an incredibly positive attitude. Ronnie was well-prepared for the interview, reading up on DENSO, our high-quality standards, our vision for future mobility and the part he would play in helping us achieve that.
After a few short weeks at DENSO, Ronnie received an “Employee of the Quarter” recognition from his temp agency and is now being hired full-time by DENSO.
“It’s exciting to know that I will be a full-time employee and part of the DENSO family,” said Ronnie. “The benefits are incredible, and the production team is awesome to work with. I look forward to growing with DENSO and incorporating the skills I learn in my job and using them to further my future as a DENSO employee. It’s exciting to know that DENSO provides many opportunities allowing you to continue your education which is a great employee investment and a great opportunity.”
Ronnie, who plans to get his associate degree in Tool and Die, is a shining example of someone who is crafting his career at DENSO.
Gary Held, a senior engineer at DENSO Battle Creek’s (DMMI) Quality Control Laboratory, has supported FIRST Robotics, an international competition that gives students real-world engineering experience, for more than four years. In this role, he mentors student teams in robot design, and helps them develop skills needed to turn ideas into tangible technology ready for competition.
What Gary finds most rewarding is that students who participate are there voluntarily. They want to learn, and unlike high school sports, FIRST Robotics allows students to compete at national and international levels.
“FIRST Robotics gives students the opportunity to be on a team that uses skills that are not physical in nature,” said Gary. “They can still have the same recognition as the athletics teams, but on a playing field on which they can prosper now and gain skills that they can carry with them to succeed in the future.”
In the program, students grow their skills in areas that are standards in engineering. These include design, computer-aided design, mechanical principles, manufacturing techniques, tooling, troubleshooting, programming, working as a team and more.
DENSO is proud to sponsor FIRST Robotics and even more so of our associates who participate in its worthwhile programming. These young learners will be the lifeblood of our industry, and we look forward to continuing to enhance STEM education for students.
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!
Our Cafeteria staff welcomed special guest chef, Neko, vice president of Gasoline Manufacturing Division, into the kitchen the past couple weeks. Neko grabbed an apron and dove in to show the Cafeteria staff how to cook new, authentic Japanese dishes.
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.
Associates and their families had a blast during our annual bus trip to downtown Chicago. The weather lived up to Chicago’s reputation as the “Windy City,” but the sun stayed out to help associates enjoy shopping, dining and museums before being whisked home in comfort.
Thanks to the Social Activities Committee for planning this annual event!
In February, Sales associates participated in the Business Case Development Contest. The annual contest is an opportunity for associates to develop presentation skills & showcase projects to peers & judges. Congrats to our three winners!
Winners
1. Ben Manzella
2. Tina Portner
3. Daniel McCray
All Participants
Daniel McCray, Jack Welsh, Kyle Plumb, Tina Pornter, Amanda Peeters, Ben Manzella, Dominic Sacco
How long have you been at DENSO?
25 years.
What do you do?
As the Director of Product Design Engineering, I lead three teams including Manufacturing Product Design, Supplier Engineering, and Mold Design Engineering responsible for both HVAC and ECM Products. One of the unique aspects of this role is that these three groups support all TAC facilities and work closely with each other to support the development of TAC Products.
Manufacturing Product Design issues product designs from DNJP, supports ECI implementation, and is responsible for the development of Design For Manufacturing (DFM).
Supplier Engineering supports the development of new manufacturing processes at suppliers, localization of products, and the Design For Manufacturing.
Mold Design Engineering is responsible for the development and procurement of injection molds used to make our larger HVAC and ECM components. Injection molding is a process used to make plastic parts that many of us use every day, even things such as Lego’s. Injection molded parts in DMMI’s products include HVAC cases, radiator tanks, and cooling fans.
What’s the most interesting part of your job?
We get to see vehicles in their infancy and then watch them grow up. From the very earliest stages of design, we see cars develop through concept, quotation, prototyping – all the way to the troubleshooting mass production issues and potentially warranty improvements.
Our PDE Team was reorganized in 2017 to focus on Design For Manufacturing which is also very interesting. In product design, kaizen—continuous improvement by many small changes—can be too late. We need foresight during the design and development process to implement changes before the product is manufactured. Our biggest challenge is in making the product easier to manufacture and doing it during the design phase. It’s a big change for DENSO that we’re working on across North America.
What important lesson(s) have you learned in your career at DENSO?
I think the biggest thing is reflecting on what they do and don’t teach you in school. I pursued a really good education—a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from University of Cincinnati, an MBA from Western Michigan University—but what they don’t teach you in school is that people are your most important asset. Company A and Company B can have same facilities, same technology, but it’s the people that make it happen. The company that focuses on people is the company that will succeed.
My management philosophy is servant leadership. I believe that I’m here to help the individuals on our team that are doing the work. I’m not here to manage them, I’m here to help lead them to be successful. If I do my job well, they won’t need me anymore.
What advice would you give to an associate who wants to advance their career—either through a management path or as an individual contributor?
Take ownership for your future. Every job in this company is important. You need to find the one that will provide you with the motivation to succeed. When you find the right job, success will follow. What drives you to succeed is what you enjoy. No one will hand that to you. You have to find it.
What is your fantasy job?
F/A-18 Pilot
Tell us something that people may not know about you.
I’m actually at my best when my feet are not on the ground. My passion for the last 20 years has been flying, both hot air balloons and single engine aircraft. I’m also certified to inspect and repair Lighter-Than-Air aircraft.
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.
Sarah Frink
Communications, Corporate Services & Compensation (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Creating Connections: Throughout my career at DENSO in Communications and HR, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to create connections, whether that’s connecting an associate recognition story to the DENSO Spirit, or helping associates feel connected to the company’s mission, or using data to connect the dots and address HR problems. Telling great stories and creating connections can be a powerful way to inspire people to action!
Dave Grimmer
Vice President of DENSO Thermal North America Center HVAC & PIC (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Relentless: Nothing of any significant value comes ‘easy’, therefore our objective must be continuously ‘sought’ with desire and courage. Pursuit: Continuous, intentional action!
Excellence: A high quality of life necessitates that we individually and collectively commit to add unique, extraordinary value through our God given gifts and abilities.
Lisa Michler
Marketing Supervisor (Long Beach, Calif.)
Stay Humble, Hustle Hard: Stay humble is an inspiration of how to be – grateful for the job I have and position I hold here at DENSO. Hustle hard serves as a reminder of who I am – a hard worker.
Richard Shiozaki
Senior Vice President (Long, Beach, Calif.)
Authentic: As a leader and face to our customers, I believe it’s important to be genuine and represent my true nature or beliefs. I feel it’s important to be reliable and trustworthy. This transfers to our DENSO quality standards to provide value through reliability and trust in our brand.
Andris Staltmanis
President (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Leadership = Vision + Passion: Success depends on people! One of my personal missions is to develop good leaders. With this equation, I wanted to illustrate a few of the components which need to be in your core.
Joe Mejaly
Senior Vice President (Long Beach, Calif.)
Passion: Our associates must address each DENSO strategy with a passion to exceed expectations. Be inspired to live each day with a passion to make a difference in your family, personal life, and professional career.
Rachel Walker
Communications (Maryville, TN)
Community: As our company grows, community involvement becomes even more important. If every DENSO location is active in the community, then the entire world will know that DENSO is working every day to protect lives, preserve the planet and prepare a bright future for our generations to come.
Bill Foy
Senior Vice President, Engineering (Southfield, Mich.)
Passion: Passion is important. I encourage my team to dedicate 10 percent of their time on something they’re passionate about because it drives their energy, commitment and focus. Who knows where it could lead.
Stephen Milam
CEO of DENSO Thermal North America Center
Battle Creek, Mich.
Stand Out: As DENSO, we aim to be a product differentiator rather than a low cost leader. In an industry with tough competition, differentiation is tough; we must seek every day to Stand Out by solving customers’ problems (even hidden ones) better than anybody else can even imagine.
Don Tracy
Vice President (Maryville, TN)
Building Trust, Growth Mindset: Building trust is a growth mindset. Through the challenge and the struggle, we gain insight and knowledge that can propel us to new, higher levels of understanding and achievement.
Victor Vulcu
Engineer (Southfield, Mich.)
Problem Solver: As an automotive engineer, we solve a spectrum of problems, from energy efficiency and constantly improving passenger safety while reducing injuries and deaths caused by automobile accidents, to minor ones like troubleshooting a malfunctioning circuit.
Britt Autry
Vice President (Maryville, TN)
Courage to Change: As I have rotated from one division to another, I can feel the positive impact of my personal and professional changes through working in different business environments in a relatively short term. Similarly, DENSO is faced with paradigm shifts in the future automobile society, so as an organization, we need the “Courage to Change” our way of doing things to thrive in this new and challenging environment.
Saadia Ahmed
Finance & Accounting (Southfield, Mich.)
Overcome Challenge: We are all faced with different challenges in our work and personal lives, and learning how to navigate through those challenges successfully usually makes us stronger and better people.
Norihito “Jack” Tanahashi
Senior Vice President (Long Beach, Calif.)
Professional Breakthrough: Being a professional means meeting and exceeding expectations to best serve customers, companies and society. Professionals succeed when they take responsibility and act to make progress. Motivated by an unwavering commitment to our customers, companies and society, this initiative produces breakthroughs that benefit everyone.
Jack Helmboldt
President (Maryville, TN)
Exporting Talent: To me, the key to ‘Crafting the Core’ is to strengthen our management through organizational transformation, to develop future leaders. I want to develop leaders to support DENSO globally, not just at our Tennessee facility, as DENSO continues to grow.
Yolanda McGee
Human Resources (Southfield, Mich.)
Making a Difference: This is my main purpose in life, personally and professionally. Being an inspiration to people does not require a whole of effort or expertise; patience and understanding goes a long way.
Denise Channey
Administrative Professional (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Blessed: I feel that everything I am and have is because God blessed me with my job and has allowed me to be a vessel to help others every day.
Haruhiko “Hal” Kato
President (Long Beach, Calif.)
Ownership & Dream: Making a dream come true requires great passion. However, passion alone is not enough. If you are not fully committed to making it happen, you are literally just dreaming. In other words, a dream without the commitment to follow through will not drive you to take action. Making the commitment and taking ownership are what transform dreams into reality.
Paul Jakubiak
Security & Emergency Response (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Be Ready: My passion is in encouraging others to be prepared for emergencies. Emergency preparedness, in my opinion, is key to long term wellness, whether as a business or as an individual.
Leonard Manfre
Engineer (Southfield, Mich.)
Accountability: Regardless of who I’m working with, or what project I’m working on, I want people to know they can count on me to deliver. Working relationships are so important at a company like DENSO, and I think accountability is key in achieving that.
Guolin Li
Engineer (Southfield, Mich.)
Collective Love: It’s our job, collectively, to infuse love into our products, to be thoughtful in the design, evaluation and production. We must ensure the safety of our end-users, our loved ones.
Dylan Green
Purchasing (Battle Creek, Mich.)
Meaning Drives Purpose. Value Drives Creation: It’s very important to me to understand “The Why”— why my job or any specific task is important to the success of the company. Once I understand my value, it really drives me to be successful for DENSO.
Melissa Smith
Community Affairs (Southfield, Mich.)
Our Future: My role within DENSO is to create opportunities to support talent development, student engagement, community outreach, and road safety awareness. In this role, I’m actively working on projects for the future of DENSO, our communities and my own family.
David H. Williams
Director of OES Sales Planning & Marketing (Long Beach, Calif.)
Vision & Integrity: A leader is ultimately the keeper of the dream, an ideal for others to rally behind. A leader’s integrity is measured by how closely they follow their own vision while adhering to the values of the organization.
Ashley Fromm
Corporate Communications (Southfield, Mich.)
People and their stories: People and their stories are what inspire and motivate me everyday at DENSO. I want to help influence change and make improvements at DENSO by sharing associate stories and best practices we can all learn from.
Jesus Abdiel Juarez Ortega, technician from DENSO Mexico, took to the stage all by himself at this year’s WorldSkills Competition, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in October. He was carrying the Mexican flag proudly as the only representative from his country and for DENSO in North America.
“It all started as a project at work,” said Juarez. “DENSO asked people to participate in this competition, and the only requirement was that you had to be able to measure. I was looking at it as a way to progress my career. After an intense selection process, Juarez embarked on a grueling training process, which included 12-13 hours of training per day, more than three months spent at a training center in Japan, and one month in Thailand. He even learned Japanese to prepare for his trip! In the end, Juarez came out on top with a new perspective, approach to work and role at DENSO. Juarez is now a coach for others who want to improve their skills or prepare for a future WorldSkills.
What’s WorldSkills
Established in 1946, WorldSkills is a premier world event for skills recognition and advancement, helping to raise quality, promote professional development and drive improvements in vocational training. It’s an “Olympics” for young professionals to test their skills and compete in various categories, including information and communication technology, manufacturing and engineering, transportation and logistics, and others.
DENSO At WorldSkills
DENSO has participated in the WorldSkills Competition since 1971. To date, DENSO associates have won 32 gold medals, 16 silver medals, and 15 bronze medals. This year, DENSO participants from Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mexico competed in eight categories, taking home a gold medal and bronze medal.
Nearly 200 associates from locations throughout our region gathered on historic Mackinac Island, Michigan, for this year’s North America Quality Circle Competition (NAQCC). While the island doesn’t allow cars, DENSO teams across North America presented innovative ways to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of our manufacturing processes and automotive parts.
Teams spent time learning from one another, networking, and even found time to make a community impact—assembling and decorating superhero capes for Camp Quality Michigan, an organization that provides free summer camp and support services to children battling cancer.
This year, NAQCC teams saved DENSO a total of $2,110,264!
Congratulations to DENSO’s team in Osceola, Arkansas, for taking home the 4 Million Man Hour Safety Award!
DENSO Manufacturing Arkansas was recognized by the Arkansas Department of Labor, Arkansas Insurance Department, and Arkansas Workers Compensation Commission for more than 4 million hours of work without an accident, injury, or illness between June 15, 2013 and January 31, 2017.
Thanks, Arkansas team, for your commitment to safety!