Fiscal 2017 Employee Initiation Ceremony Opening Address from President Okada

Welcome everyone!
On behalf of the Group, I wish you a warm welcome as you become members of the UACJ family here today.

The flat rolled aluminum industry, where you are beginning your career in the business world, has a bright future.
The UACJ Group considers automotive and can materials as highly strategic products among its many aluminum products. We foresee the use of aluminum to expand in the automotive industry in the medium to long-term, and the demand for beverage cans has remained stable for some time. In order to strengthen our global production and sales networks for these products, we have established new bases and reinforced our operations in North America and Thailand. We are also carrying out aggressive investment in these areas, including a number of M&As among other activities.

Fiscal 2017 is the final year of the UACJ Group’s Global Step I Mid-term Management Plan. We now have production and sales networks worldwide, and we’re looking forward to seeing some tangible results in the future. These initiatives will lead to improvement of our global competitiveness in all aspects, including cost, product quality and production volumes; tangible results that we will soon be able to see.
Now that you have joined UACJ, I look forward to you exerting your youthful ability and sensibility to the fullest in the positions assigned to you in the future, and developing into and flourishing as a substantial part of the workforce in the UACJ Group.

I would like to take this opportunity to point out three things that will enable you to grow immensely throughout your career rather than simply feeling content and comfortable on a small scale.

First, “place priority on taking action.” Excellent strategies alone will not produce end-products. You must first take action to achieve a result.
One thing always discussed internally is the importance of taking action based on an awareness of present conditions, doing so without pessimism or optimism. It is human nature to hesitate and refrain from taking action due to pessimism, optimism or complacency. Under all circumstances, please maintain a healthy sense of the environment and current situation at all times and take action accordingly.

When you take action, it should not be random. At UACJ, we utilize an approach called “policy control,” the aim of which is to clarify and share information, thereby creating a unified vision. This is accomplished by the organization and employees being committed to sharing all issues and timelines, and in doing so, we highly encourage the use of so-called “PDCA cycles.” These efforts ensure that the capacities of both the organization and employees continue to grow.

I want you to keep in mind that one of the basics as a member of society is to gain experience. This is done by accomplishing tasks one by one. However, instead of simply just doing something because it is assigned to you, please approach every task proactively, thinking about what is required of you to complete it properly.

As you do this however, without a doubt, you will experience making mistakes too. Everyone does, including me! But please, when you make a mistake, instead of regretting it, reflect on what led you to making it, determine the cause, and learn from it so that you do not do it again. Life is full of opportunities for trial and error. The experience and habit of thinking on your own and taking action will help you grow immensely, and give you the power to attain goals no matter how high they are.

The UACJ Group always supports the challenges taken on by its employees, even if unsuccessful. I hope you will never regret not having tried something because of the fear of failure.

The second point is, “the importance of self-motivation.”
The business environment surrounding the UACJ Group places us at the center of global competition, with dramatic change occurring all around. If we simply maintain past perspectives tied to traditional values and behavioral patterns, we could lose our value of existence. In order for the UACJ Group to continue contributing to society and survive, each employee must be motivated, have foresight and a good understanding of the surrounding environment at all times.

In order to grasp changes in the environment and customers’ needs in a timely manner, an outward-looking perspective and customer- oriented approach are required. Furthermore, being able to meet customers’ needs and develop competitive products requires targeting ever-higher levels of quality, performance and cost-efficiency. In order to overcome our competitors at home and abroad, far more advanced inventions, new ideas and challenges are paramount to our success. Please approach your work with the attitude of “outward, upward and onward.”

Third, is trust. It is vital that people can trust you, both as an individual and as a member of UACJ. The management philosophy of the UACJ Group stipulates that we should “strive to offer products and services deserving of our customers’ satisfaction and trust, and believe that should and sustainable business development is key to making broad-reaching contributions to society.”
Please approach jobs and tasks assigned with sincerity and integrity, whatever they may be. Equally important is to ensure strict compliance with all laws and regulations. If all employees show continuous and steady improvement, both employees and the Group as a whole will garner a high degree of trust from customers in terms of “safety, the environment, and quality.”

Regarding relationships with people related to work, both in- and outside of the company, respecting and understanding each other’s positions and acting based on your own firm beliefs and values—without being influenced by others—will lead to a deeper sense of trust. With global business opportunities expected to increase, I would like to draw particular attention to being conscious of and having the flexibility to accept and understand overseas cultures and customs. Please focus on developing your ability to convey ideas and opinions accurately and patiently at all times, in order to be accepted. In other words, please work on your communication skills. Naturally, language skills for communications are required as well, so please work hard to excel in this area too.

In addition to these three points, there is one other issue I wish to mention that takes even greater priority. That is taking care of your health and ensuring safety throughout your career. Please keep in mind that safety comes first, and that as a member of society, it is important to maintain your physical and mental health.

UACJ offers employees a wide range of opportunities in many fields, with important roles both in Japan and overseas. Be proud of having joined the UACJ Group, as we are honored that you are here. Together we will work together supporting member companies that are contributing to society through a strong tradition of manufacturing that satisfies customers around the world.
In ending, as new employees of UACJ, I wish each and every one of you success as a member of society and throughout your business career. Thank you.