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.
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.”
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.”
Our team in Maryville, Tenn. just celebrated a major milestone: its 30-year anniversary! Join us in applauding them for decades of quality service and important contributions to the Volunteer State.
We recognized the achievement at a socially-distanced and digital-ready ceremony, where DENSO and state leaders highlighted the location’s significant impacts on DENSO, Blount County and the auto industry. Thank you, Maryville team for your DENSO Spirit, and here’s to 30 more.
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.
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/
Each year, the DENSO Veterans Network at DMMI runs a t-shirt fundraiser to raise money for the Talon’s Out Honor Flight. The mission of the Honor Flight is to give transportation to America’s veterans so they can see memorials dedicated to those who have served and made sacrifices for our country.
Despite the global pandemic, 400 t-shirts were sold with profits of $2,500 being donated directly to Talon’s Out.
THANK YOU to everyone involved; without your support we would not have been able to support the event this year. And thank you, to Brenda Carter and Alicia Dupperon who were dedicated to safely selling t-shirts for the cause.
The DENSO Veterans Network (DVN) resource group at DMMI formed in 2018 and began supporting this Talon’s Out event last year. If you are interested in joining DVN, contact Cindy Dawson (x8303) or Jack Carlsen (x8490).
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.
Earlier this month, DENSO employees/associates from our thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, participated in the Krazy for the Kazoo Day, a community event aimed at beautifying the city. The group, along with others in the community, picked up a combined total of 72 bags worth of trash, cut down enough brush to fill over two semi-trailers (estimated to be 6,240 cubic feet of brush!), and planted 30 native plants.
Not only was this event great for the community, DENSO Spirit shined bright through the collaboration, teamwork, and Kaizen demonstrated by the associates/employees who participated.
We chatted with Jody Smith, an engineer in Battle Creek, who spearheaded the activity, to learn more about how DENSO got involved. Here’s what she had to say:
What is Krazy for Kazoo?
Krazy for the Kazoo is an annual effort to clean up streams and rivers in the Kalamazoo River Watershed, which extends 123 miles from Albion to Saugatuck, emptying into Lake Michigan. The event grew out of a successful cleanup program conducted in the Battle Creek and Marshall areas for more than 15 years. It’s spread to many other locations including Charlotte, Otsego, Kalamazoo, Albion, and others. Powered entirely by volunteers, each year they clean up many miles of the river, take care of places with illegal dumping problems, plant new trees, remove problematic invasive plants, and much more.
The cleanups take place throughout the year and are hosted by many different partners. The particular one that DENSO participated in is organized by the City of Battle Creek and focuses on locations in and around Battle Creek.
How did the opportunity to partner with them come about?
DENSO has had a strong relationship with the City of Battle Creek since operations began here. DENSO environmental staff participate in various city committees, such as the Battle Creek Area Clean Water Partners, City of Battle Creek Wellhead Protection Team, and the Sustainable Battle Creek Committee. The City of Battle Creek solicits volunteers for Krazy for the Kazoo from across the community and DENSO has been participating since 2014!
How many DENSO associates/employees participated in Krazy for the Kazoo?
This year we had seven associates/employees and three children/family members participate.
What was the day like?
It was an unseasonably cool morning with temperatures in the mid 30s when we first began the cleanup at 9:00 am. But it was very sunny and warmed up quickly, especially once we started working and enjoyed some hot chocolate provided by Mike Myszka!
We collected a large garbage bag worth of trash and then spent most of our efforts removing invasive vines and shrubs along 700 ft. of the Kalamazoo River. We completely cleared two areas along the river to provide gorgeous views from the Battle Creek Linear Path, which is a paved bike and walking path along the river. We finished by planting three native shrubs along the riverside — a Red Twig Dogwood and two Summer Wine Ninebark shrubs.
What kind of impact was DENSO able to make on its community?
It was great to see school groups, local businesses, local government, and people of all ages come together to improve the environment. For our DENSO group, it was a fun collaboration of associates/employees from different departments and even more impactful to include some younger family members who joined!
Are you looking forward to doing anything similar in the future?
We plan to participate in this event every year! DENSO is also participating in the City of Battle Creek Police Department’s Trunk or Treat event later this month and we participate in the City of Battle Creek’s Children Water Festival every spring.
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.
As part of our continued celebration of Manufacturing Month, we hosted a panel discussion this week on the value of safety, health and environment (SHE) practices in the workplace.
Shawn Bryant (Maryville, Tenn.), Ryan Hodges (Maryville, Tenn.), Jody Smith (Battle Creek, Mich.) and Steve Graham (Battle Creek, Mich.) chatted about DENSO’s SHE practices, explaining how our facilities across the country have adapted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DENSO Spirit tenant of collaboration has been critical during this time, as we’ve all come together to create safer, stronger work environments. Though some processes have changed, one thing remains the same – DENSO is committed to protecting people’s lives, the communities we operate in, and the facilities that our employees work in.
You can watch their conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4ZTth7qdwg
We also hosted panels on Robotics, Women in Manufacturing and Skilled Trades. To view these webinars, click the links below:
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!
Our Thermal Business Group (PG1 Engineering) and Sales associates from DIAM are showing us their #DENSOspirit by volunteering at Southfield Public Schools’ Farmers to Families Food Box distribution center. This United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program, in collaboration with Perfect Pact, LLC, provides fresh produce and dairy items for families in need. Not only are these associates able to make a difference, but they are also keeping safety in mind by participating in this no-contact, socially distanced, outdoor activity. We’re so proud of everyone for continuing to make an impact in our communities. Keep up the good work, team!
The FCA Sales team recently showed us the importance of collaboration and teamwork – a key element of DENSO Spirit.
Some of us may be feeling some semblance of “normal” with the auto industry restarting and with the implementation of our phased Return-to-Work protocol, but the fact of the matter is that COVID-19 is still very real. While we’ve increased production across North America, we continue to prioritize the safety of our associates, customers and communities and look for ways to take care of each other.
The FCA Sales team worked together on several wonderful community projects to help support local health care workers:
“I’m so proud of the team for taking the initiative during a really trying and challenging time to do something so positive for the community. So many people have asked how they can get involved and help,” said Derek Sneideraitis, Sr. Sales Manager, DENSO. “While DENSO has stepped up to help in big ways, the efforts of our associates are a true showing of DENSO Spirit. Seeing our team come together like this has given me a lot of hope for our future.”
DENSO Eco-VISION ACTION 10’s third commitment is to doubling our clean efforts. This commitment has a particular focus on cleaning our production locations through water consumption reductions, improvements in recycling, elimination and reduction of toxic materials and increasing education for all.
In addition to supporting our environmental sustainability goals, this commitments also supports two of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
DENSO locations across North America have been working with suppliers to minimize the use of Substance of Concern chemicals in our products. DENSO has integrated compliance checks into our product development process to assure requirements related to Substance of Concern are met prior to start of production.
DENSO locations also have comprehensive waste management programs that strive to maximize the reduction, reuse and recycling waste materials. Associate input has seen programs expand to returnable cans, bottles and K-Cups at various locations.
COVID-19 has created a situation with a low demand for recycled materials.
Associates can aide by not generating scrap and ensuring strong segregation when sorting recycled materials. Mixing of waste and recyclables lowers their value and more likely to be sent to landfill
Take your DENSO Spirit to find clean efficiencies in your life. Some examples:
Share how you are supporting ECO VISION 2025 and DENSO’s energy commitments by sharing your activities and tips on social media and use #DENSOSpirit. Click here to learn more.
As DENSO North America President and CEO Ken Ito said in his message to associates, DENSO is committed to supporting the communities it calls home. In this period of uncertainty caused by COVID-19, the DENSO North America Foundation (DNAF) provided grants to non-profit organizations doing critical work in our communities. The grants supported food pantries, healthcare workers and their efforts to treat patients, childcare workers supporting essential workforce, and those providing financial assistance to the individuals and families most impacted.
When COVID-19 first struck, we launched the #DENSOspirit campaign to help each other stay connected and show how all of us worked together to be a force for good. Now, as stay-at-home orders are lifting and we safely return to work, we have a new opportunity to show how #DENSOspirit continues to shine bright which is why we are broadening the themes to include Quality, Inclusion, Environment, Innovation, Community Support and beyond.
Recently, our North American CEO Kenichiro Ito shared how, to him, DENSO is not only a family but a company that deeply cares about each and every one of us, our customers, communities, society and the planet. And right now, showing that we care means placing a focus on things like quality, inclusion, and the environment.
How are you showing #DENSOSpirit in these areas?
Are you or someone you know doing something or taking part in a small or big project, either inside or outside of work, that showcases high-quality work, diversity and inclusion efforts, and/or care for the environment? These actions could include how you’re working with and supporting coworkers, uplifting your family, friends and neighbors, or how you’re participating in DENSO’s calls to action regarding inclusion, quality, environmentalism, and more. Submit your story by tagging us and using #DENSOspirit on social media or by emailing DENSOspirit@outlook.com.
Click here to learn more about our DENSO Spirit values:
We’ll continue to share your content each week. Make sure you follow our social and internal channels to see how your colleagues across North America are bringing DENSO Spirit to life.
As a reminder, here are some helpful tips for posting your stories on social media:
A special thanks to everyone who already shared their amazing work. It was inspiring to see so many of you come together and support your communities in fighting COVID-19. Whether your actions are big or small, we’re excited to continue showcasing our collective #DENSOspirit!
DMTN’s Jon Callies says it’s important to “recognize the good” by thanking the people who sew masks to help keep our communities safe! We’ve been floored by the amount of good our associates are doing in their communities – it’s #DENSOspirit!
Jimmy shared his #DENSOspirit this week by giving thanks to Kathy, a DENSO nurse, for her hard work and dedication on the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Thank you each and everyone for your #DENSOspirit submissions! What you’re doing is truly inspiring. Keep up the great work!
We’re still accepting submissions! Please keep sharing how you’re spreading joy, kindness, and support in your community.
On social media, post a photo or video, use #DENSOspirit and tag:
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.
As we begin to increase production, our quality business lead at DIAM, Yoshihiro Tsuzuki, is reminding us to “work together with a smile.” Everyday we are inspired by your positivity and can-do attitudes. Keep your #DENSOSpirit shining bright!
Another week brings another great round of #DENSOspirit submissions. The work our associates are doing every day to help their communities continues to inspire us!
Know of a team member doing their part to help others? Share it through the channels below, we would love to hear about it!
Shared by Joanna Vega
Check out this great team who helped get our Battle Creek facility ready to go. Thanks to Joanne, Scar, Deb, Nicole, Brenda, Eiko, Connie and Tyler!
Shared by Sarah Fox & Brian Stawowy
Sarah’s husband Brian worked with a local distillery to provide hand sanitizer to our public housing residents in Ferndale, MI.
Shared by Christina Khim
Christina’s beautiful baby Grace shows off her own #DENSOspirit while her mom helps translate back to work materials into Burmese!
Shared by Faith Baker-Forbush
Faith had the great idea to make masks out of recycled materials
Shared by Eutimio Cardenas
Eutimio is doing his part by giving away face shields!
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.
It’s only been five days since we launched, but we’re overwhelmed by the responses we’ve received from you so far showing us your #DENSOspirit. From making signs to thank essential workers, donating clothes, and sewing masks, your efforts are inspiring and making a difference in the communities where you work and live.
Each week, we plan to share all your posts and pictures here. We want to know how you’re helping fight COVID-19, how you’re staying entertained at home, and how you’re adjusting to this new normal. While many of us stay home and stay apart, sharing a little glimpse into your lives helps us still feel connected during this time.
Please continue to post your photos or videos with #DENSOspirit and tag DENSO on Facebook (@DENSOinNorthAmerica), LinkedIn (@DENSO), Twitter (@DENSOinNA) and/or Instagram (@DENSOnorthamerica). You can also email your story to DENSOspirit@outlook.com.
+++
Shared by Stepan Krouzek
Stepan and his coworkers are making homemade masks for everyone.
Shared by Charles Brinkley
Charles is proud of DENSO’s support of Arkansas State University’s off-road team.
Shared by Caitlin Gaylord
Caitlin and the FCA Sales team coordinated with a local Michigan Jersey Mike’s Subs to donate 50 meals for front line workers at the Henry Ford Health System.
Shared by Brian Nolan
Brian helped cut out swathes of material at his home for the making of free cloth masks.
Shared by Russ England
Russ shared the sign he made with his granddaughter supporting essential workers.
Shared by Seth Atkinson
Seth created a website that sourced local graphic designers to create hoodies supporting health care workers, small businesses and the elderly. Seth was able to raise $400 for charity and deliver several hoodies!
Shared by Jessica Krauss
Jessica decorated her windows with a festive Easter theme to boost the mood in her neighborhood.
Shared by Murlene Bullock
Murlene purchased a health care worker appreciation lawn display. The proceeds go to buying lunches for hospital staff!
Shared by Pam Gibson
Pam has dedicated hours each day to sew masks for her local community. She has made over 250 so far!
Shared by Melissa Smith
Melissa has been making masks for family/friends, sponsoring dinner for the fire department and even fostering cute kittens!
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.
We’ve always supported the places we all call home. First, our philanthropic arm, DENSO North America Foundation, is donating to local organizations across North America battling COVID-19. Grant recipients have been selected and in the process of being notified, and we look forward to sharing this information with you next week.
A few weeks ago, we’ve also created a COVID-19 Cross-functional Community Contribution Task Force which will focus on:
“We feel called upon to support our communities and those working so hard to protect us,” said DENSO’s North American CEO and Executive Officer Kenichiro Ito. “We’re grateful and hope our small contributions help improve the greater good. With our advanced manufacturing network and strong community ties, we’ll continue to look to use these assets to try to help as many people as possible.”
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve also:
Our cross-functional task force team is working hard on many other activities that can help combat and mitigate the COVID-19 crisis. We look forward to sharing those activities, as well as all the DENSO Spirit actions our teams and associates are doing to make a difference during this unprecedented time.
To see all of our other COVID-19 updates, click here.
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.”
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!