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Employee Interview: 5

Employee Interviews

Shin-Etsu Challengers

5

I want to create an environment for DX to achieve Company-wide transformation starting from small improvements

K.M.
Shin-Etsu Skyward Systems

Seconded to Shin-Etsu Skyward Systems in 2013.

Involved in the management of training programs for developing AI-savvy talents within Shin-Etsu Chemical and the digitization of laboratory notebooks in the Research Centers.

A workplace that expects employees to proactively propose their own contributions

In addition to applying the latest IT to business operations, such as using RPA (Robotic Process Automation) to automate routine tasks, I also conduct training to develop AI-savvy talents. I originally majored in chemistry in my university laboratory, but because of my qualifications in information processing and knowledge of information systems, I requested to be assigned to the systems department, which I was introduced to during my employment interview. In the system construction projects I have actually been involved in, I participated in the entire process from development to release and operation. I feel that it's more important to have a wide range of expertise that grows naturally as you gain experience rather than relying on knowledge acquired as a student. At the same time, we are expected to make use of the expertise we have gained in this way to proactively propose our own contributions.

Boosting employee efficiency by automating more than 200 tasks

RPA is a tool that automates routine tasks to help employees spend more time on higher-value-added tasks. Without a certain level of knowledge, it may not be possible to achieve the desired automation, or the RPA may end up being inefficient, so specialized knowledge is required. RPA is not a one-size-fits-all tool that can automate any task, so it was a trial-and-error process to deploy it within the Company. However, with the help of the system departments at the plants as well as the head office, we were able to boost employee efficiency by automating a total of more than 200 tasks.

Developing AI-savvy talents with practical skills to solve problems

Shin-Etsu Skyward Systems is currently working on the infrastructure development to drive DX at Shin-Etsu Chemical, but DX is not just about tools and systems; it’s also about developing human resources who can make appropriate use of AI and data. Therefore, in 2021, we started a training program to develop AI-savvy talents. It is job-class-specific training implemented by level, including new employees, mid-level employees, and managers. For mid-level employees in particular, we provide training in Python (an AI programming language) to solve the problems that the production department is actually facing, which helps participants acquire practical skills while also solving problems faced by the departments.

Providing the opportunity and environment to create change through DX

I would like to provide an opportunity and create an environment where employees can use data and systems to bring about some kind of change, even if it is something small. As AI and systems continue to advance in today's society, many of our employees are eager to learn these technologies and acquire advanced skills. I would like to encourage them to make the most of their efforts and skills. I believe that, even for people who haven't had an opportunity to deeply engage with this kind of technology until now, if we can change their mind about handling data even a little by providing an opportunity to learn, we will be laying the foundation for Company-wide transformation.

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