I worked in the Quality Assurance Department of the Semiconductor Division for about 10 years, primarily handling tasks such as verifying and compiling shipment data. During that time, I took childcare leave for about a year, and after returning to work, I became involved in automating tasks using RPA (Robotic Process Automation) tools. This led me to the Engineering Department, where I learned programming languages. Currently, I study ways to automate routine tasks and tedious, repetitive tasks that are done manually, and I develop applications using RPA tools and programming languages in response to requests from various departments.

The company is actively working to improve operational efficiency throughout the workplace, and each department has drawn up a list of tasks that can be automated. For example, in wafer processing, where the processing recipes involve intricate combinations of conditions depending on the specifications and grades, we created an application that automatically matches over 40,000 device-specific recipes against a master database. This eliminates human error while improving yields and reducing time on task, which reduces overtime and makes work more comfortable.

I am currently taking advantage of the short-time work system in order to balance my work promoting automation in the Digital Engineering Department with child-rearing. This system allows employees to choose to work six- or seven-hour days until their child finishes the third grade of elementary school. It is used by employees who find it difficult to balance full-time work with child-rearing and employees who want to have more time to spend with their children.

In the past, some male employees were reluctant to take childcare leave, but since then the Japanese government revised the Act on Childcare Leave and Caregiver Leave and a lot of male employees’ concerns about childcare leave have been alleviated. As a result, the workplace environment has become more positive about taking childcare leave. In addition, the Personnel Department coordinates with employees and their supervisors in the workplace, creating an environment where employees can take childcare leave with ease. One male employee who took childcare leave reported, “When I mentioned that my wife was pregnant, my supervisor encouraged me to take childcare leave, and I was able to take it without feeling I was a burden.” Another reported, “It made me want to continue to do my best as a father even after returning to work.”

I have come to realize that balancing work and childcare is much more difficult than I had imagined. Sometimes I feel tension between wanting to devote time to work and wanting to participate in my children’s events and watch them grow up, and I wonder if I should return to full time work or continue to work shorter hours. However, to maintain work-life balance, we need the understanding and support of those around us. For this reason, I keep in close communication with those around me to ensure that my work does not pile up, and I try to adopt a mindset of eliminating waste to focus on productive work. In addition, with efficiency as my motto, I am striving to effectively fulfill my managerial duties as a section chief within the limited time available.