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“AOTS E-Newsletter” is published by the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS).
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<Index>
1. Management Training in Japan (Subsidized program).
2. Online Seminar (Subsidized program).
3. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies.
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1. Management Training in Japan (Subsidized program)
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We are pleased to announce the release of the following Management Training Programs in Japan.
1) Program for all countries subject to Japan’s ODA [Language: English]
(1) The Program for Quality Management [PQM].
Upgrade the participants’ capabilities of implementing a quality oriented management system designed for mainly senior managers with responsibility for improving the quality of products and services.
Duration: 7 to 20 February 2024.
Place: AOTS Tokyo Kenshu Center (Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan).
Application deadline: 21 Nov 2023.
(2) The Program on Corporate Management -Learning from Ethos of Japanese Corporate Management- [PJCM].
PJCM is designed for participants to learn about the characteristic management methods of excellent Japanese corporations and the thinking behind these methods to explore and apply them to their own companies.
Duration: 14 to 29 February 2024.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan).
Application deadline: 4 Dec 2023.
(3) The Program for Quality Problem Solving [PQPS].
Strengthen and improve the problem-solving abilities of mainly managers, supervisors or engineers of companies, with a view to improving quality.
Duration: 28 February to 12 March 2024.
Place: AOTS Tokyo Kenshu Center (Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan).
Application deadline: 4 Dec 2023.
(4) The Program on Transforming to Circular Economy Business Model [CEB].
CEB is a newly developed program for participants to learn the concepts and methods of the circular economy to promote the transformation to a circular economy business model for the future growth of their own companies.
Duration: 6 to 19 March 2024.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan).
Application deadline: 15 Dec 2023.
2) Program for Vietnam [Language: Vietnamese]
(1) The Program on Problem Solving through AI & IoT for Vietnam [VNAI].
Participants will develop solutions to their company’s challenges by using AI & IoT, such as digitizing business models, products and services, and operations. In addition to lectures and company visits, participants will experience a hands-on technical exercise using an IoT sensor and AI modules.
Duration: 28 February to 12 March 2024.
Place: AOTS Tokyo Kenshu Center (Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan).
Application deadline: 14 Dec 2023.
3) Program for South Asia [Language: English]
(1) The Quality Control Training Course for South Asia [SAQC].
Through hands-on exercises, company visits, and lectures, this course will deepen the participant’s understanding of the proper way to promote TQM and quality management activities.
Duration: 29 February to 15 March 2024.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan).
Application deadline: 15 Dec 2023.
4) Program for Latin America [Language: Spanish]
(1) The Program on Organizational Revitalization for Latin America [LAOR].
Understand and examine the attitude of leaders who promote organizational revitalization.
Duration: 21 February to 5 March 2024.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan).
Application deadline: 4 Dec 2023.
5) Program for Egypt [Language: English]
(1) The Program on Family Business Management for Egypt [EGFB].
Learning about characteristics of Japanese family businesses in terms of management methods and how Japanese long-established family businesses carry out human resource development and skills transfer to the next generation.
Duration: 30 January to 12 February 2024.
Place: AOTS Kansai Kenshu Center (Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan).
Application deadline: 21 Nov 2023.
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Please visit AOTS website for more details.
https://www.aots.jp/en/what-we
The latest information will be updated accordingly.
Please stay tuned and don’t miss out on this great opportunity!
Inquiry: AOTS Overseas Cooperation Group
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +81-(0)3-3888-8256
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2. Online Seminar (Subsidized Program)
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We are now open application for the following online seminar!
1) Program for African Countries Subject to Japan’s ODA [Language: English]
(1) Digital Marketing Practice [ORAF06].
Learn how to use digital tools to gain customer insight and improve customer engagement.
Date: 30 November 2023, 4:00-7:00PM (Japan Time).
Application Deadline: 15 November 2023.
Participation Fee: Free of charge.
Apply here: https://survey.zohopublic.com/
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For more details, you can download Program Outline & Leaflet from the link below:
https://www.aots.jp/en/what-we
Inquiry: AOTS Overseas Cooperation Group
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +81-(0)3-3888-8256
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3. Insight: Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies
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Thoughts on the Management Philosophy of Various Japanese Companies – October 2023
In this column, I would like you to learn about the nature of “right management” by sharing an anecdote involving Katsuhiko Wakabayashi (aged 90), inventor of Hardlock Nuts-the “fasteners that never come loose”-and founder of the company that makes them.
In fact, before he invented Hardlock Nuts, Wakabayashi started a business after devising another product called metal friction nuts, which employed leaf springs.
It took some time following the company’s establishment until the product began to sell, but its struggle was rewarded and it achieved some success.
Just as it did so, however, a complaint was made about the product.
It was found that if it was used in equipment that sustains repeated strong impacts over time, such as piledrivers or jackhammers, loosening of the fasteners would occur.
There was no problem with the product itself, but it was unable to withstand impact exceeding the guaranteed usage conditions.
With the need for metal friction nuts expanding to include a variety of purposes, the product was now being used for applications that went beyond what Wakabayashi and his colleagues had envisioned.
An entrepreneur who shirks their responsibility on such an occasion, believing that “customers who use products for unforeseen purposes are wrong,” is not qualified to be a manager.
Wakabayashi, conversely, sought to make it an “opportunity for self-reflection.”
He believed that “the fact that there are complaints means that customers are not yet satisfied. We still have some margin for improvement.”
Actually, the company had used hyperbolic catchphrases such as “never comes loose” and “the ultimate in metal friction nuts” to sell its products.
These were bold statements with no proof, and the difficulty it now faced was accepted by Wakabayashi as payback for putting profits ahead of true customer satisfaction.
After thinking long and hard about it, he arrived at a conclusion. It was a new challenge: “to develop fasteners that never come loose, no matter what happens,” for the benefit of the public.
This marked the appearance of the “spirit of altruism” which became his personal management philosophy.
After that, he continued to fret over development of the new product, and eventually, thanks to his inspiration and judgment, achieved great success-but that’s a story for next time.
To be continued in the next edition.
Stay tuned for the next AOTS E-Newsletter.
Rikio Suma, Author
