Leading the Global DENSO Team

When Koichi Fukaya, a young graduate of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, joined DENSO Corporation in 1966, the company was in the middle of its transition from “DENSO of Japan” to “global DENSO.” Business was growing around the world, and the first sales office in the United States had opened. Fukaya comes to the post after serving as president of DMMI and then Managing Director of Thermal Group.

Q: What did you think when you were named the ninth president of DENSO?
A: I wondered if I would be the best person for this job. There are many brilliant executives at DENSO, so I am very honored and humbled to have been chosen.

Q: It’s early in your tenure, but what do you hope to achieve in your term as president?
A: My first aim is to achieve the goals of DENSO VISION 2005. Then we need to begin to formulate our next vision. DENSO achieved solid results under the leadership of former President Okabe, but the automotive industry continues to change at a rapid pace, and we have to be ready to respond to new challenges.

Q: What are some of those new challenges?
A: The automotive business is continuing to globalize, so global growth will be the key. To do that, we must have a global perspective. The time I spent in the United States as president of DENSO Manufacturing Michigan taught me the importance of respecting and learning about different cultures, values and ways of doing things. Understanding others and accepting diversity is the first step in developing a global perspective.

Q: What do you think are DENSO’s strengths?
A: Clearly, monozukuri — which means achieving high quality in technology, product development and production — is our greatest strength. Making excellent products drove DENSO’s growth, first in Japan and now worldwide. Of course, to make excellent things we need outstanding people. That’s why DENSO promotes associate education and respects the strengths and opinions of each group company and each associate. By listening to the voices of the people in each group company and maintaining open communication, we all can share expertise and knowledge.

Q: How can DENSO use those strengths to continue growing as a company?
A: I believe there are three conditions for future growth.

First is technological development. We will continue to look to the future; anticipating future technology and developing and producing it faster and better than other companies.

Second, we will continue to develop and produce excellent products. We need to strengthen our regional networks for technology development, production and sales so that we can customize our products to the needs of each customer and region.

Third, we have to continue to develop outstanding people. Today, DENSO’s associates need not only top-level work skills, but also a global mindset. Only people with that outlook can lead us to global success.

Q: What principles guide your work?
A: For my own work, “effort and determination” have always been the words that motivate me. As far as DENSO is concerned, I’m a strong believer in the power of teamwork. We can achieve some measure of success working on our own, but it won’t be a great success. Working together is the key to achieving greater success. If we combine all the knowledge, expertise and creativity of all the DENSO group companies, can you imagine how strong DENSO would be? That’s a lesson ilearned when I was in charge of designing new production transfer line systems.

Q: How did that experience teach you the value of teamwork?
A: A production line will only work properly if the people who design the line and the people who make the machines do a good job. It will only turn out high-quality products if the operator does a good job. Every member of the team plays a vital role, and if even one link in the chain is missing, we can’t make products that will satisfy our customers.

By combining our efforts, we achieve great things. I will do my utmost to create a corporate environment where teamwork can thrive.

Q: What are your hopes for DENSO and DENSO associates?
A: I want DENSO to be seen as a company that respects the environment and is a good corporate citizen with associates who play an important role in society. And I want DENSO to be a company where people are happy, proud and fulfilled.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your work at DENSO, and how you like to spend your spare time.
A: During my career at DENSO, I have worked as general manager of the Production Engineering Department, the Production Engineering Research & Development Department and the Air-Conditioning Manufacturing Department. In 1995, I was appointed to the Board of Directors and became president of DENSO Manufacturing Michigan; in 1999, I was named managing director of Thermal Systems Group, and in 2002 I took up my former post as senior managing director of the Production Promotion Center.

Doing my absolute best at work is important to me, but there must be a balance between work and family and friends. So on weekends, ilike to play golf, and on Sundays I usually relax at home with my family or enjoy neighborhood activities like softball games and barbecues with friends.

This article is reprinted with permission from Orbit, Nobuaki Katoh, Executive Editor; Shino Nakamura and Julie Kerr, Editors.

A DENSO Career 1966: Fukaya joined DENSO Corporation. He worked in the production technology field for many years, achieving particular success with the design of automated lines for production of type-3 alternators. The photo above shows Fukaya (front center) at DMMI. 1990-1993: General manager in charge of Production Engineering Dept., Production Engineering R&D Dept., and Air Conditioning Manufacturing Dept. Fukaya valued good communication and teamwork among members of his departments, and often joined them for a drink or a meal. 1995: Fukaya was appointed to the Board of Directors and named president of DENSO Manufacturing Michigan. While there, he succeeded in expanding air conditioner sales to GM. 1999: Fukaya became managing director of the Thermal Systems Group. In 2002, he was appointed senior managing director in charge of the Production Promotion Center. The photo above shows Fukaya announcing DENSO’s CO2 air conditioner at the SAE World Congress.