AKEBONO REPORT 2014

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with me, making it easy to leave to engage in project activitieswhenever necessary. I’m so thankful for their support and am committedto making a full use of this opportunity to foster greaterunity throughout Akebono Brake Sanyo Manufacturing, therebyreturning the favor. I also hope to facilitate the ambitions of mycolleagues to develop Sanyo Manufacturing into a key productionbase for the Group. I’m excited about what Sanyo Manufacturingcan contribute to the centennial of the Group’s founding. I alsoaspire to help provide colleagues Groupwide with a pleasant workplacethat makes their jobs even more rewarding.Okada: As a project advocate with associates engaged in the commemorativeevents, my hope is that we can help those associatesgain some beneficial insights applicable to their daily performanceof duties. I believe that the events will provide them with a chanceto think of and experience something outside of their regularduties and I believe that’s why getting all of them involved is ofgreat significance. In the course of leading this project, I myselfhave gained a range of experience that could, in turn, enhance mydaily performance. I’m certain that the Company’s business willbecome even more robust if each associate works hard to gainsuch experience. At the individual level, I suppose that a major goalof the project is to facilitate the personal growth of associates byhaving them organize and run commemorative events from theground up. I thank the Company that it has given me such achance to grow.Changes Prompted by the ProjectImaizumi: In addition to “Building a Sense of Unity: A Celebrationfor All Associates,” the themes of the 85th anniversary year commemorativeevents encompass Reviewing Our History” and“Considering the Future.” Feeling the weight of history and cognizantof how the past informs the future, I began giving seriousthought to the Company’s future. I came to have a sense of urgencyand stronger drive toward persistent improvement, a striving to gobeyond my own “comfort zone.” I’ve heard that at times in its 85years of history, Akebono had faced internal conflicts related to itsstrategic direction. On learning about our predecessors’ perseverancein the face of such challenges, I realized that we also need toremain committed to pushing forward past the barriers in our way.Nishiyama: Of course, simultaneously handling regular duties andproject tasks can be challenging. However, as my colleagues beganto join in the project activities at my encouragement, I was able torelax now that the pressures and burdens that had previously fallenon me alone were shared. Moreover, I came to see things from abroader perspective and began willingly incorporating opinionsfrom a greater cross section of people. Even challenges that cannotbe overcome by a person acting alone can be met when we allwork together. Moreover, we can achieve even better outcomes.That’s what I realized in the course of this project.Fiebig: When I joined the team, I was wary about taking partbecause I was afraid of being burdened with even more work thanI already had. However, once the team began to produce concreteplans, I got excited about promoting the project. Eventually, theproject activities became a joy. I admit that many associates mightbe facing difficult challenges in performing their duties. I wish,instilleven greater pride in the Company. I believe that the projectcan also help create a vibrant workplace by encouraging associatesto think about Akebono’s future.Imaizumi: Not only is there no unified commitment to the commemorativeevents among production site staff, everyone at theAi-City headquarters has a different idea about how to best celebratethe anniversary! Therefore, I believe that it is essential toincrease the number of volunteers.Seko: It has been less than a decade since Akebono Brake SanyoManufacturing Co., Ltd., the business base I work at, joined theAkebono Group. So, this is the first time for me to participate inthis kind of event. My impression is that it is not so easy to nurturea strong sense of unity, even when no specialevent is involved.However, my colleagues in my department have gladly cooperatedAkebono Brake Sanyo Manufacturingjoined the Akebono Group in 2005.“Kickoff” events at each company sitewere held on April 4, 2014. The projectmembers presented the outline of thecommemorative events at their respectivesite locations. They also shared goalsset by the heads of each location to markthe 85th anniversary year with attendees.To welcome new recruits, Iwatsuki Manufacturing holds a marathon every April. In2014, the marathon was dubbed the “Commemorative Race” to mark the Group’s85th anniversary and all the project members ran in it. This demonstration of commitmentwon a lot of support for the project.

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