1. A Difficult Launching
1949-
(4) The First Management Policy
- 1952
- The company had unified its efforts towards reconstruction, but the question remained: Where should it head next? The direction of management was under scrutiny. In 1952, President Hayashi announced the company's first “Management Policy,” emphasizing the critical importance of production.
To embark on this path of growth, it was essential to harness the collective efforts of all employees and translate these efforts into tangible results. In December 1950, Shirai Takeaki, the Director in charge of production, represented the views of all executives with his contribution to “DENSO Jiho” titled “What Should We Do First?” Shirai emphasized the importance of prioritizing production capability as the mindset for tackling the company's reconstruction. He stressed that the key to success lay in steady, consistent efforts without rushing.
- Deep DiveContributions by Takeaki Shirai (DENSO Jiho)
- In the DENSO Jiho, Takeaki Shirai writes, "As our nation's industrial sector moves from recovery to reconstruction, it is our duty, as members of this industry, to elevate our production capabilities to a global standard. To achieve this goal, we must strive to improve our facilities, design for mass production, and automate our machinery. Everyone likely shares the desire to accomplish these improvements, but such advancements cannot be achieved overnight. They must be carried out gradually, in accordance with our company's capabilities.
Therefore, rather than immediately setting forth lofty ideals, it is imperative that we begin with what can be addressed right now and gradually work towards those ideals. For this approach, I would like to emphasize three prerequisites: 1) organization and tidiness, 2) strict adherence to discipline, and 3) stabilization of operations. Ensuring these conditions are met will serve as the foundation for accepting and implementing improvements that enhance efficiency."
Building on this, in January 1952, President Torao Hayashi announced the current “Management Policy.” This was the company's first-ever management policy, and it covered a wide range of areas including office management, production control, quality management control, and materials research. However, the emphasis on the importance of production was particularly pronounced.
Reference：Overview of 1952 Management Policy
The successive messages from Director Shirai and President Hayashi provided an opportunity to comprehensively review the attitudes and mindsets of the workers in the production field. This, in turn, inspired the employees on the production floor, driving them towards the goal of the company's management reconstruction.