Via the University of Michigan CJS mailing list.

Dec. 8, 2011, 11:45 am
Novi, MI

Dear Colleagues:

On Thursday, December 8th, JETRO invites you to a special seminar “Japan’s Automotive Industry: Achieving Recovery and Growth Through Monozukuri,” (ものづくり復興セミナー～ものづくりを通じた復興と成長-日英同時通訳付) taking place at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan.

This luncheon seminar will examine how Japanese automakers and suppliers were affected by The Great East Japan Earthquake in March, how recovery in production was quickly achieved through intensive collaboration efforts, and how the shared mindset of Monozukuri accelerated the recovery and will enable future growth.

The seminar will begin promptly at 11:45 am with a luncheon presentation from Neil De Koker, President & CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).

• Neil De Koker is visiting supplier companies in the Tohoku region of Japan in late November to see firsthand how supplier companies were adversely affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and how they’ve managed to regain full production. He will offer his perspectives of this trip during the luncheon.

The seminar portion of the program will feature two speakers from Japanese OEMs Toyota and Nissan, and two speakers from Tier 1 supplier companies Keihin and Toyoda Gosei. Simultaneous translation between Japanese and English will be offered during this part of the seminar.

• Nampachi Hayashi is a Senior Technical Executive who led the collaboration effort of OEMs and suppliers working to rebuild key supplier and component companies that were heavily damaged by the earthquake/tsunami disaster. He will give Toyota’s perspective on disaster and recovery management, and future prospects for Toyota in Japan and abroad.

• Nobuhiro Ozawa, Plant Manager at Nissan’s plant in the coastal city of Iwaki, Japan, will discuss the situation during the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the intense two-month recovery effort to restore production, and how strong management and communication with employees enabled output to be restored two weeks ahead of schedule. He will also discuss future prospects for Nissan in Japan and abroad.

• Dave Thomas, Plant Manager at Keihin IPT Mfg., LLC, will give a presentation on how Keihin’s Miyagi plants were damaged/recovered; how the Japan supply chain of Tier 2/3 affected Keihin; how Keihin managed it’s N.A. operations during this difficult time even with a sudden 50% drop in OEM orders; and how they managed to avoid layoffs of their N.A. workforce through voluntary leaves with benefits and training programs.

• Hiromi Ikehata, President of Toyoda Gosei, will provide a compelling story on how Toyoda Gosei not only had their Japan operations affected by the earthquake/tsunami, but how their Kentucky plant suffered a direct hit by a tornado in April. The Kentucky plant’s production was recovered in just days, and Mr. Ikehata will explain how their culture of Monozukuri enabled this to happen.

A networking session hosted by the Japan Business Society of Detroit will take place immediately after the seminar. The cost of this luncheon seminar is $50.

Online registration is available through OESA. Fax registration is also available. For registration information, contact Felece Hickman at 248-952-6401 ext. 237 or fhickman@oesa.org.

For program information or media registration, contact Kevin Kalb at JETRO Chicago: 312-832-6023 or Kevin_Kalb@jetro.go.jp.

ジェトロは１２月８日（木）に、「ものづくり復興セミナー～ものづくりを通じた復興と成長」（日英同時通訳付）をミシガン州ノーバイ市のサバーバン・コレクション・ショープレイスにて開催いたします。

東日本大震災によって多大なダメージを受けた日本の自動車メーカーやサプライヤーが、相互に協力することでいかに迅速に復旧を成し遂げたか、日本の「ものづくり」の心がどのように復興に貢献し、未来の成長に貢献できるかがテーマとなります。

日本から、主要サプライヤーの復旧に向けた各メーカーの共同支援作業を陣頭指揮したトヨタ自動車の林南八技監と、従業員の結束により予想より２週間も早く生産の復旧を成し遂げた日産自動車いわきエンジン工場の小沢伸宏工場長にご参加いただき、震災後の現場で何が起きていたかについてご講演いただきます。また、ケーヒン、豊田合成には米国側での対応を中心にお話いただきます。

セミナー後にはデトロイト日本商工会主催のネットワーキングセッションが開催されます。新たなビジネスネットワークを構築する好機です。

セミナー参加費は５０ドル（昼食含）となります。参加には添付のＦＡＸフォーム又は　ＯＥＳＡ（米国自動車部品工業会）の ウェブサイトからの事前申し込みが必要です。本件についてのお問い合わせは、ジェトロシカゴ事務所　柴原までお願いいたします。

柴原　友範 TEL:312-832-6004 Mail: Tomonori_Shibahara@jetro.go.jp