Basic concept

The UACJ Group considers “a person who can understand management philosophy and guidelines and act accordingly” as a source of competitiveness. Also important are exercising the management philosophy and placing importance on the training of human resources equipped with the following:

To develop such human resources, we have three basic concepts: Develop each and every employee through self-learning, develop subordinates through work, and Develop people in the organization. As for specific measures, the Human Resources Development Department utilizes the Human Resources Development Center, a training facility at the Nagoya Works, to carry out a wide variety of employee development programs, such as stratified training, holding seminars, and support of self-enlightenment.

Fostering employees for global roles

The UACJ Group stipulates, “In globalization, we must respect the laws, cultures and customs of each nation, and contribute to the development of society” as guidelines, and tries to develop employees who fit into such global roles.

Specifically, we provide language study support, with scores based on the TOEIC points system, and business skills seminars to build experience and knowledge. Additionally, for those to be assigned overseas, in addition to short-term language training, we select the necessary curriculum based on business experience and role at the destination country and provide individual training.

We also conduct training for local staff members recruited by our overseas Group companies. In fiscal 2015, we had manager training (twice) for a local Thai subsidiary, which was attended by about 60 managers.

In addition to these, we introduced an overseas training system fiscal 2014. This system consists of overseas language training for one year and overseas on-the-job training for an additional year. Following two trainees in the first year, we sent another two in fiscal 2015.

Efforts for passing down skills

In order to improve product quality and productivity on an ongoing basis, the UACJ Group puts emphasis on the efforts for passing down to the next generation the spirit, experience and skills that have been built over a long period of time.

Therefore, in preparation for mass retirement of skilled workers, “Flat Rolling School” was established at the Nagoya Works in 2004, where efforts have been made for passing down the skills and know-how of expert employees. Similarly, the “Maintenance School” at the Nagoya Works, “Extrusion School” at UACJ Extrusion Nagoya, which is engaged in extrusion processes, and the “Copper Tube School’ at UACJ Copper Tube, which is engaged in copper rolling and drawing, were established. Initiatives suitable for the respective characteristics of each are being introduced at the respective sites.

We will continue with such activities and study further deployment to other sites.

From the perspective of supporting initiatives to advance into new fields and develop global business further, the UACJ Group actively promotes employee diversity, disregarding factors such as gender, age, nationality and disabilities.

As part of this initiative, we try to create environments where women can be actively engaged in work. In accordance with the action plan based on the Act of Female Advancement, our specific goals include “increasing the percentage of women hired as new recruits for administrative positions to 40% or more and women hired for engineering positions to 10% or more” and “doubling the number of women in management positions by the end of fiscal 2020 (March 2016 being the baseline).” As a result of initiatives such as these, six of the 19 new recruits for career track positions in fiscal 2016 are women, accounting for 75% in administrative positions and 20% in engineering positions. For reference, at the end of fiscal 2015, there are 74 women in managerial roles, an increase of four from the previous year^*.

In order for women to be able to fully demonstrate their abilities in the workplace, in addition to responding to the Act for Measures to Support the Development of the Next Generation, we are committed to creating work environments that realize a balance between work and family life.

* Including unconsolidated Group companies.

To create anxiety-free working environments for employees, the UACJ Group introduced a safety and health management system that is overseen by general safety and health managers at each business site.

As an organization responsible for safety and health for the entire Group, the Safety and Health Committee has been established. It is chaired by the director in charge of safety and health. Other committee members include full-time directors, general managers from plants and presidents of Group companies. Meetings are held once a year.

At the Safety and Health Committee meeting held in January 2016, the summary of 2015 was reported by Safety & Environment Department, followed by a discussion for drafting the safety and health activity policy for fiscal 2016. Business sites that had no accidents for the year were given the President’s Safety Award for 2015.

The companies of the UACJ Group work together to strengthen the safety management system with the aim of eliminating industrial accidents during business activities, as well as promoting employee training on safety and health. The corporate culture of “Safety First” is being produced by developing knowledge on safety and health, and enhancing the awareness of safety and crisis management.

As a result of these activities, after 49 cases in fiscal 2011 before business integration, the number of industrial accidents of the UACJ Group has been on the decrease and was 22 cases in fiscal 2015. The ratio of accidents requiring time off from work was 0.74 and the total ratio was 1.63. We will continue with our efforts for ensuring safety and health.

Note: The figures for fiscal 2012 are the results of combining former Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corporation and former Sumitomo Light Metal Industries, Ltd. The figures for fiscal 2013 are the results of combining the first half of the former two companies and the second half of UACJ.