Matteo Biglia: Lead by Example and Leverage DENSO's Expertise to Drive Innovation
Matteo Biglia, Director of R&D at DENSO Thermal Systems (DNTS)
Profile
Matteo began his career in July 1995 for Magneti Marelli Climatizzazione, soon after he graduated from college. The company was established as a joint venture between Magneti Marelli (75%) and Nippondenso (25%). In 2001, it was renamed DENSO Thermal Systems S.p.A. and fully owned by DENSO Corporation.
Currently, he is responsible for the R&D group that takes care of identifying the future needs in thermal management and comfort that arise from all different stakeholders in our European environment. These needs come from our society at large, including the regulatory bodies, the OEMs, and the end customers.
Where he works
Matteo's field has always been in new product development, with many years dedicated to expanding DENSO's European share of engine cooling systems. Later, he moved to Thermal Systems R&D, where he gained a broader perspective on thermal management and cabin comfort issues.
DNTS is in Poirino, located southeast of Turin in Italy. Unlike DENSO's traditional way of working, DNTS has a slightly different history. However, we have successfully applied DENSO's way of working, and all company departments work together in harmony to deliver new products. We maintain the spirit of simultaneous engineering while ensuring quality assurance throughout the development process.
Working in DNTS, especially in the area of HVAC design, allows one to participate in the whole development progress, from early contact with the customer to the offer phase to the definition of the manufacturing process and the final start of production, all under one roof.
Remove complacency from previous successes and start to lead by example
I take some inspiration from a quote from President Kennedy's inauguration address.
"... All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days... But let us begin."
To me, it means that we must persevere, day in and day out, to reach the goals we set for ourselves. Setting goals is the spotlight; executing to get them is the "work in the trenches" where we show our mettle.
I believe that every day, we face the high-level goal of combatting climate change, preserving the environment, and promoting cultural and economic inclusivity in our societies. As DENSO, we have a clear mission to achieve carbon neutrality and create a safer world, and it's important for everyone in our organization to stay focused on that goal at every level.
And this is very important today, as we are in the midst of a whirlwind of change in our industry. These days, many of us realize that doing business in the usual way is not possible anymore as the automotive market is shifting its priorities away from continuous volume growth.
We really need to shake off the complacency that our previous successes have created. In front of these significant challenges, it is fundamental to take visible steps. My take on this is to try and lead by example, not letting go of the critical things we have decided to reach our goals, regardless of whether the journey will take a hundred or a thousand days.
Leverage DENSO's wealth of knowledge to deliver innovative products and services
The journey I just described can deliver success for DENSO as a company but also for its people and the society of which we are part. The company has a wealth of knowledge at its disposal, which is sometimes difficult to tap into.
Suppose I take thermal management issues as a reference topic. In that case, the general issue of reducing thermal losses and recovering waste heat can lower the environmental footprint of energy generation in many cases, be that of a battery electric vehicle, a domestic water heater, or an efficient way to deliver refrigerated food safely to our homes.
Working across different domains, we are organized in the ability to deliver innovative products and services.
What do you like about DENSO?
Working in DENSO for many years now has allowed me to enjoy the spirit of being one big family, where you feel at home despite the continent you are in. The company is vast, which allows for this encompassing spirit of belonging, but sometimes this makes for slow change.
Despite this trait, I really appreciate the drive towards future-proofing the company, making it more in-tune with what is happening around it globally so that it can continue to provide solutions for our customers and an enjoyable place to work for all colleagues around the world.
Working with Matteo
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Sergio Pujols, VP of Engineering at DENSO International America Inc.
I have had the pleasure of having known Matteo Biglia for about 15 years, and I have been blessed by the opportunity to build a relationship that extends beyond a business relationship, and I am proud to call him my friend. I don’t know anyone who does not see Matteo as a strong, kind, and respectful person. He is like this both in his professional and personal life. He is true to his character, which makes him an authentic leader.
Throughout the years, I have been in many meetings with Matteo, and he has always impressed me with his balanced approach to conversations. He always demonstrates a good balance of technical and business approaches, listening and speaking, calmness and passion. This balance has helped him in engagements and negotiations with both internal and external stakeholders which have led to significant growth of DENSO. He has great understanding and respect for multiple cultures and is able to navigate through the differences. This has also made him a great leader at DENSO.