Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd. specializes in sheet metal fabrication and industrial machinery manufacturing. In addition to sheet metal fabrication, which accounts for 70% of their orders, they also manufacture industrial dryers used in film processing, pharmaceuticals, and other fields. Since their founding, they have made continuous efforts to meet customer needs in terms of airtightness, design, and short delivery times.
The company is reportedly receiving a flood of visitors not only from within Japan but also from overseas. "Of course, our employees handle all aspects of dealing with visitors. This means that we have to interrupt our work, but that's not a problem. In the long run, it will definitely lead to the growth of each individual employee," says President Shigeru Yamada.
So what is it that's attracting public attention? It's the 3S activities (Sort, Set in order, Shine) that the company is diligently promoting. They have designated places for everything, from tools to chairs, and they thoroughly clean every corner of the factory. President Yamada says that each employee has the mindset that they are the main player.
For example, there's a study group hosted by veteran engineer Mr. Yoshioka. Mr. Yoshioka considers passing on his technical skills to younger employees his own challenge and has created an annual plan. He uses his lunch break twice a month to work on training younger employees. He also asks new employees to submit book reports, but President Yamada himself writes comments of the same length on each report, saying, "I want to convey the feeling that we'll do this together." He demonstrates through his actions his desire to cherish the trust he has built with his employees.
These initiatives, which can be considered part of the company culture, have become a major topic of conversation and are frequently featured on television and in newspapers. The large number of visitors is a testament to this positive response. "Our company aims to be a place where individuals can grow into self-reliant people. Our corporate culture is our greatest added value." Yamada's philosophy, which captivates many visitors, is beginning to spread widely beyond the company.