Forging a two-way street
At its
core, the program is a chance for people to both learn and teach. Through
short-term secondments typically lasting 1–3 weeks, employees from Ovako travel
to Japan, and vice versa. The exchange can include any of our teams, across our
mills, research & development, environment and safety, and even finance and
executive management.
You will find
Japanese talent embedded in all three of our business. They are helping us
boost productivity, quality control, and strategic development. And now, teams
are heading to Japan as well.
Our goal is
to refine the practices and technologies that will drive our company forward, and
uncover new ways of thinking and doing. But more than that, we want to
strengthen the ties between our colleagues across continents. When someone gets
chosen for this assignment, it’s a sign that we recognize them. We want to
spotlight their skills, and we want them to return energized, proud, and
confident in their role as ambassadors for Ovako.
I have
asked some of our recent participants to share their personal reflections on
the benefits of global collaboration.
Q&A: Insights
from across the seas
Mikael
Schylander, VP Product Unit Tube & Ring, Ovako
Q: What new learnings did you bring home with
you? A: A lot of processes in Sanyo and Ovako look
the same, for obvious good reasons. However, how we set up and run our
production flows can vary due to market conditions. In Sweden, we lean toward
flexibility; in Japan, the focus is on structured
execution. Secondly, the high focus on productivity stood
out. Every operation is continuously scrutinized to optimize cycle times and
save as much time as possible. The emphasis on inspecting material at every
step was impressive.
Q: How was the culture different in the steel
industry? And what similarities did you find? A: The level of hierarchy is very different. In
Japan, decision-making has a more defined structure, which is good in some ways
and less agile in others. In Sweden, we might have a slightly shorter pipeline
between idea and execution. But one core similarity stood out: professionalism.
Regardless of the country or the level of automation, our people take pride in
doing their jobs well.
Ludovic
Gailleton, Head of Group Technology, Ovako
Q: What new learnings did you bring home with
you? A: During my visits to Sanyo Special Steel in
Himeji and Nippon Steel in Muroran, I was struck by the structure and
discipline of their processes. From the shop floor to senior leadership, the
level of engagement was remarkable. Secondly, their investment in inspection
technologies and quality assurance was eye-opening. The systems are so precise
that it’s nearly impossible for defects to go unnoticed. That commitment to
zero defects aligns strongly with our own standards.
Q: How was the culture different in the steel
industry? And what similarities did you find? A: Structurally, Japanese steelmakers are more
diversified but rely on a smaller pool of domestic equipment suppliers. Europe,
especially Sweden, tends to have a broader ecosystem thanks to centuries of
steel heritage. In terms of challenges, both sides face aging work forces and stiff international competition. Ironically, those shared
pressures are helping us find common ground to begin solving the problem.
Takeshi
“Ken” Nakajima, Segment Leader Automotive, Ovako
Q: What motivated you to take on a new role in
Sweden, and how does your experience support Ovako’s growth? A: I joined Ovako in November 2023 after 37
years at Nippon Steel and a period at Sanyo. My career has focused on export
sales and joint venture management, and I now lead the strategy for the
automotive segment at Ovako, which represents about 30% of our total sales. Having lived and worked largely in Japan,
coming to Sweden was a big change, but a logical next step. I am aiming to work across all business units and
serve as a bridge between our companies, aligning customer needs and internal
planning. At the end of the day, our goal is to create value for customers
globally.
Q: What are your impressions of Ovako so far? A: Ovako is still distinctly Nordic, but you
feel that international energy. The partnership with Nippon and Sanyo is not
just the result of a boardroom handshake. It’s real. We’re standing in the same
mills, actually solving problems together. I’m more of a realist than an
optimist, so you should believe me when I say that the path ahead looks
promising.
Always looking for the next opportunity
Another of
our safety teams is already preparing for their upcoming exchange in Japan this
autumn, following a visit by Japanese safety experts to Sweden and Finland last
year. We may have more updates then! |
