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Talk
Aiming to be a company which raises the quality of the environment in a broad sense.
Dr. Taikan Oki Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo
Michijiro Kikawa President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
What is Hitachi Construction Machinery thinking, and where is the company intending to go? The following is a talk between Professor Oki of the University of Tokyo, who is studying a broad range of environmental issues including the hydrologic cycle, and Mr. Kikawa, president of Hitachi Construction Machinery.
This is the fourth year since the start of substantial activities by Hitachi Construction Machinery related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). What do you think about the CSR-related activities so far?
Kikawa : For me, CSR activities mean forming a way for companies to continue to exist. I believe that companies can survive if they make solid contributions to stakeholders, including employees, suppliers and customers. Today, companies are not accepted by society simply because they make a profit. Companies cannot continue to exist if they neglect the global environment and people's quality of life.
Oki : Companies can contribute to society by continuing to exist. It is wrong to think that companies can do anything they like to generate profits. Firms must raise their profits in a fair way, which includes proper employment and complete compliance.
Kikawa : I agree. For that to happen, I believe it is important to have a corporate atmosphere which allows open communication. I make an effort so that employees feel they can communicate openly at any time. I take part in the Top Caravan project where executives explain the present state of the company at offices and factories overseas, and listen to employee requests. When I communicate with employees, I repeatedly talk about the fulfillment of compliance, the importance of safety and other similar matters.
Oki : CSR-related activities should not be promoted only by the department in charge of CSR. So, if the president of the company leads CSR-related activities, they will become soundly rooted in the company.
What are your thoughts on the role of Hitachi Construction Machinery in society?
Oki : Hitachi Construction Machinery machines are used to construct buildings, roads, waterways, railways and so on, all over the world. In this way, Hitachi Construction Machinery machines contribute to the wellbeing of society as a whole. In addition, your machines are designed to reduce their impact on the environment. It will become increasingly important for companies to give consideration to conserving the environment.
Kikawa : Our machines are used to build the base of people's lives and contribute to the affluence of people all over the world. What we should attach the highest importance to is the conservation of the environment. We always develop our products considering the recycling of resources, so we market a product that sorts and processes construction debris at the worksite, a product to support thinning in forests, and other similar products. We also make efforts to reduce noise and vibration. Society wants our way of manufacturing.
Professor Oki
Oki : For instance, in the medical field, patients used to be told they should put up with pain while their ailments were being treated, but these days, efforts are made to reduce the patient's suffering as much as possible by using technology. In the same way, I believe it is important to devise technologies that enable developments that are kind to towns and to the people in the construction industry. I want technologies to contribute to people's happiness.
Kikawa : You are right. Hitachi Construction Machinery is trying to develop electrically-operated construction machinery and construction robots in order to prevent global warming and reduce the impact on the environment. I consider our role is to find out the needs of the present time and to make use of technologies to conserve the environment.
What sort of company should Hitachi Construction Machinery be in the future?
Kikawa : In addition to conserving the environment, we lay importance on the development of human resources. Naturally, we have substantial employee training programs. Also, in the case of China, we provide funding for staff training and a tie-up with a vocational school for the education of young people. I believe that this is meaningful for the company, as well as for the whole of society.
Oki : It is important to make investments to increase people's capabilities from the long-term viewpoint of the continuance of the company and contributions to society. I think such investment is a shortcut after all. A concept called "human security" is attracting the attention of the people of the world. This concept is thinking about what we should do to protect people from various threats, such as poverty and global warming, and to ensure the safety and happiness of people. It is my belief that Hitachi Construction Machinery can do a lot more for human security.
Mr. Kikawa, the president
Kikawa : I think about the environment in a very broad way and include, for instance, the environment of the people at worksites. I trust Hitachi Construction Machinery will develop technologies that will improve the environment in a broad sense, which provides a foundation for people working and living, and for the company to make contributions to people and towards conserving the environment.
Taikan Oki
Completed the Civil Engineering Course from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 1987, and Graduate School of Civil Engineering in 1989. He became a professor at the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo in 2006 where he studies environmental problems as a specialist of hydrology, the study of the hydrologic cycle.
