To encourage regular and formal communication between employees and their supervisors, Mazda has introduced quarterly career meetings.
The Tobiuo HR Management System is based on the idea that people will work hard and maximize their potential when they agree with the roles and responsibilities they have been given. Career meetings are a way for employees and their supervisors to set individual work goals and review achievements, as well as to communicate personal ambitions. Results of employee opinion polls taken yearly show that these measures are successful and lead to increased employee motivation.
The Main Themes of Career Meetings
- Development
· Assessment of personal ambitions and to what degree they can be achieved through work
· Review of skills and activities that will lead to improvement - Success
· Setting individual work goals
· Review of achievements and discussion of challenges that lie ahead
Career Challenge System (In-House Announcement & FA)
In January 2004, Mazda established the Career Challenge System (in-house job postings & the 'free agent' voluntary job transfer system) as a part of our employees' career development assistance. In-house job postings publicize the work experience and skills required by the company for a position, whereupon the systemand then recruits personnel to take on these challenges. Free agents (FA) are Mazda employees that use a "FA declaration" to publicize their capabilities and work experience within the company. This enables them to seek additional challenges in new work occupations or divisions based on their career experience. Together with the career meetings mentioned above, this system broadens the possibilities and options for employees to further develop their careers.
Full Career Development Support System
Mazda has in place a full career development support system to assist the growth of each and every employee.
- Overview of Representative Education and Training Systems
| Program | Objectives and outcomes |
|---|---|
| Optional training (group training, e-learning) |
This program enables all employees to gain key business skills. Employees may elect to undergo training during working hours. (16 courses) |
| Leading Mazda 21 | This elective program is designed to mold middle managers into next-generation leaders by training them in strategic decision-making from a global point of view. |
| Mazda Business Leader Development (MBLD) | Mandatory for all employees, the course aims to develop leaders who have a comprehensive understanding of the whole company. |
Mazda Technical College
A training institution recognized by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Mazda Technical College offers two-year courses to high school graduates and selected employees. The college aims to provide students with the basic skills and techniques that are needed in a manufacturing workplace. The college runs a comprehensive curriculum of basic and applied skills and trains students to take responsibility for their own actions as members of a corporate culture.
Skill Olympics Training Program
Training for the WorldSkills competition, which is held at regional, national and international levels, involves a two-year specialist program for employees under 21. This training helps technicians improve both their skills and mindset and raises Mazda's overall technical level.
Since 1962, we have sent 390 competitors to the national and international competitions. At the national level, 29 have won and 154 have been prize winners. We have had four winners and 12 prize winners at the international competitions.
Advanced Technical Skills Training Course
This course began in 1996 to pass on core automotive skills and develop excellent technicians. During the two-year program, one expert trains two apprentices on a personal basis. Upon completion of the course, students are awarded the title of "Production Engineering Meister," and receive the "Meister badge."
At present, 24 subject courses are available in 13 fields?iron casting, die casting, forging, powder alloys, heat treating, machining, engine assembly, axle assembly, transmission assembly, stamping, car body, painting, and vehicle assembly.
Between July 1996 and March 2007, 94 employees have completed these courses, with 45 named Production Engineering Meisters, 10 being qualified as Hiroshima Prefecture award-winning skilled workers, 10 as Contemporary Master Craftsmen, and eight receiving the Medal with Yellow Ribbon.
Welding Skills Training Program
This course teaches arc welding techniques to technicians aiming to be Japan's leaders in the field. Alumni of this course include seven national champions and 19 award-winners.
Compensation and Grading System
For employee compensation, Mazda has decided upon a "compensation and grading system" that does not have age or years of service as its criteria.
Personnel are graded according to "ability levels (technicians and medical)" and "work levels (clerical and engineering)," and their base salary and bonuses directly reflect their actual performance.
Personnel Development Committee
We systematically train personnel, and for each field of business or headquarters, periodically hold a Personnel Development Committee with management level employees as members.
The Personnel Development Committee discusses evaluations of personnel and their future functions based upon the results of career meetings. Furthermore, the committee carries out personnel reassignments based upon their influence on individuals' training plans, and upon the idea of appointing the right person to the right position.
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