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When an SSK person is at a loss, wondering where
he/she should go, not knowing whether he/she is doing
the right thing that matches the Company’s policy,
they can consult in their own mind with the statements
spelled out in the Vision, the Guideposts and the Flag
Motto, and the statements might well give them a solution.
These statements are written by Japanese calligraphy
on the signboards put up on the wall in many places
in our offices.
The Japanese-style calligraphy was partly written by
me, and I must confess that I am pretty much ashamed
of its poor quality, but I nevertheless allowed it to
go public in my earnest hope that it is the embodiment
of the resolution held by each and every SSK person,
and just one of those guys ventured to write.
Quite often, these statements are read aloud in unison
by the attendees to the inter-office conference at the
end of the meeting.
Now, I wish to call your attention to our “Efforts
for Change” which constitute an important element in our pursuit
of the goals called upon in the above-mentioned statements.
It is 121 years since the Sasebo Navy Base where the
Navy Dockyard, SSK’s antecedents, took root, and
64 years since SSK succeeded the Navy Dockyard, and
started doing business as a civilian shipbuilding and
repairing company.
All SSK persons are expected to keep and cherish the
tradition thus far cultivated over years, and to utilize
it in the actual work we do. But, sticking to the old
tradition, content with the status quo, will bring nothing
but a slow death of SSK. We have to start changing,
keep changing, so that we may adapt ourselves to the
trend of the society, or even act as the vanguard of
the trend. We have to change the way we do our work,
change what we do, and change our mindset in the outset.
I realize that it is my most important job as the President
of SSK to lead these “Efforts for Change”
by SSK, and I am calling out to each and every SSK person
for that goal.
SSK launched about 2 years ago an activity called “Henkaku-Juku”,
or, “Education energizing Evolution” (E.E.E.)
program.
It is a company-wide activity sending out 20-30 young
employees from various departments both on production
sites and in support sectors, and let them undergo a
wide range of off-site education and on-site training,
with such subjects as manufacturing process engineering,
production management, et al, taught by outside experts
and SSK ‘s own senior workers. Each student under
the program is expected to work and learn and come up
with their own ideas and proposals for improvement and
innovation on the productivity and quality control.
Once I give it a go to any of the proposals, they and
their seniors and peers as a whole can go ahead with
the plan positively. There are already quite a few “Improvement
proposals” that have been approved and put into
practice, but I am urging Henkaku-Juku members to soon
come up with some “Innovation proposals”
which could sometimes mean radical change to the company.
Another policy item which I have put into action is
the “Business Development & Innovation Dept.”.
Focusing mostly on E&E (Energy and Environment)
areas of business, this Office is pursuing vigorously
new businesses in conjunction with partner companies,
academics and institutions, and aiming to create new
businesses in the near future. Probably, SSK would be
a different creature over years, doing different businesses
and activities, in addition to the main-line traditional
businesses.
With best regards
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