Mid Career Purchasing Department Joined KOITO in 2019｜S.A.
INTERVIEW Unprecedented shortage of semiconductors.
New challenges for a Purchasing Department.
Q.Tell us what kind of work you do.
Purchasing Department selects suppliers for our raw materials and components, and we conduct price negotiations. Recently, there has been an unprecedented amount of semiconductor shortage that has been impacting the global supply chain. We’re a Stable Supply Group that was created in the Purchasing Department as a result of this condition, and we’re very working hard to procure semiconductors. Semiconductors are produced mainly in oversea factories, with Asia being a prominent producer. However, COVID-19 greatly affected our suppliers’ production. Every time a shortage occurred, we carried out negotiations to procure parts and adjusted our production with factories and our company’s relevant personnel. As a result of working relentlessly with my teammates, we were able to continue our production without having to cause issues for our customers. This has become something that I’m proud of.
Q.What will you like to try in the future?
It might sound dramatic, but I feel a sense of accomplishment and responsibility knowing that what I do is directly connected to KOITO and the global automotive industry. If we include small screws, one automobile is made up of 30,000 parts, and it is said that its number will further increase with various functional advancements. Procurement is dynamic, but one of its best parts is price negotiation that heightens product competitiveness and contributes to company’s profit. That’s why I would like to work as a buyer who does price negotiations one day.
Q.Do you have any advice for people who are job searching?
KOITO is a lamp company that manages safety functions of an automobile. So many people here are serious about their work. Job search allows us to consider what kind of career paths we want to take. I encourage everyone to see as many companies as possible and find a company that can envision challenges that you may face in the future. It would bring me great pleasure if the company that you choose is KOITO Manufacturing.

Q.What kind of company is KOITO to you?

KOITO is a leading company of automobile lighting. In an age where automotive industry is entering a once-in-a-century revolution, we have a huge field in front of us to challenge new things as a company that has a top global market share.