SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (July 12, 2019) – DENSO, the world’s second largest mobility supplier, announced today that two North American employees were selected to participate in this year’s WorldSkills Championship competition. Adriana Velázquez and Jonathan Hernández will join thousands of young professionals from more than 60 countries as they compete across 56 different skill sets in Kazan, Russia.

Velázquez and Hernández, who began as interns before being hired by DENSO Mexico, are in the process of completing six-month long, advanced intermediate technical training in Japan to prepare for the August competition. Their qualification is evidence of DENSO’s robust internship, co-op and IGNITE programs, and underscores the importance of DENSO’s diversity and inclusion efforts. At the championship, Velázquez will compete in Plastic Die Engineering and Hernández will show his skills in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling.

“Having our associates represent DENSO and Mexico at WorldSkills demonstrates how capable our young workforce is,” said José Cepeda, Machinery & Tools and PE at DENSO Mexico. “The objective is not just to compete, but to develop our people’s abilities to reach a higher level of competence, so that when they return they’ll be ready to continue contributing to DENSO and therefore, to society. We’re very proud of our competitors and honored that they are representing DENSO and Mexico as a country.”

Every two years, WorldSkills hosts its world championships, which attracts competitors from all corners of the globe for the chance to win a prestigious medal in their chosen skill. Participants demonstrate their vocational education and training across six skill sectors – Construction and Building Technology, Creative Arts and Fashion, Information and Communication Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Social and Personal Services, and Transportation and Logistics.

“We see how our younger workforce is impacting the future of advanced mobility, and we are honored to have our associates represent DENSO and Mexico at WorldSkills,” said Kenichiro Ito, senior executive officer for DENSO Corporation and chief executive officer of DENSO’s North American Headquarters. “The competition is a wonderful opportunity for young professionals to not only represent their companies and countries with pride, but to learn from peers and gain a stronger understanding of skilled trades. At DENSO, we are committed to providing innovative education and training programs to contribute to the development of the technical skills of our associates throughout North America.”

DENSO has participated in the WorldSkills Competition since 1971. To date, DENSO associates have won 32 gold medals, 16 silver medals, and 15 bronze medals. For up-to-date news on the competitions, visit here: https://worldskills2019.com/en/media/news/.

For those interested in rewarding and fulfilling career opportunities that help them stand out, go to densocareers.com.

DENSO is a $48.3 billion global mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in its 221 facilities in 35 countries to produce thermal, powertrain, mobility, electrification, & electronic systems, to create jobs that directly change how the world moves. The company's 170,000+ employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO spent 9.3 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. For more information about global DENSO, visit https://www.denso.com/global.     

In North America, DENSO employs 27,000+ engineers, researchers and skilled workers across 31 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs 17,000+ employees across 13 states and 25 sites. Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, in fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, DENSO in North America generated $10.9 billion in consolidated sales. Join us, and craft not only how the world moves, but also your career. For more information, go to https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/.