Adopt Disciplined Industrial Talent from Japan

Japanese culture which carries the values ​​of discipline, high work ethic, and target orientation needs to be explored so that it can be adopted by Indonesian human resources in the process of transferring knowledge and technology.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The production process of All New Kijang Innova and All New Fortuner cars at PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia 1 factory in Karawang, West Java, took place some time ago.

The collaboration between Indonesia and Japan in the manufacturing industry has sparked the birth of human resources that prioritize discipline and commitment to achieve the best quality. Economic cooperation between the two countries also strengthens technology and the role of Indonesian manufacturers in global supply chains.

The Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, likened the relations between Indonesia and Japan as two sides of a coin. ”Very very close, both economically and diplomatically. The choice of Indonesia as the first visiting country for the Emperor of Japan shows the importance of Indonesia in the eyes of Japan," said Agus when contacted, Thursday (22/6/2023).

The relationship between the two countries also contributes to the formation of ethics, culture, and work attitudes of human resources in the homeland. He mentioned that Japanese industrial players in Indonesia show an adoption of culture that upholds discipline and productivity.

This resulted in Japan's recognition of the increasing quality of Indonesia's human resources. Several Indonesians are also trusted to lead large Japanese factories in the country.

Read also: ASEAN Japan Equal Partner

The survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) shows that around 73 percent of Japanese companies in Indonesia project to have a profit by 2023. This figure is higher compared to projections in Thailand and Vietnam.

The survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) has shown that around 73 percent of Japanese companies in Indonesia project profit in 2023. This number is higher than the projections in Thailand and Vietnam.

Agus is also optimistic that Japan will make Indonesia its electric vehicle (EV) production base because Indonesia is strengthening its position in the EV supply chain and ecosystem.

Many national industry players collaborate in business with Japan, such as PT Kalbe Farma Tbk. The President Director of PT Kalbe Farma Tbk, Vidjongtius, stated that the company works with several Japanese partners, such as Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceutical and Astellas, in producing Morinaga-branded milk.

In 2019, Kalbe Farma also established a joint venture in the laboratory services sector with two Japanese companies, Hokken Kagaku and Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

Vidjongtius assessed that Japan's high quality standards encourage the improvement of human resources' quality in companies as well as services to the community.

"The values of cooperation are mutually beneficial in the long term with high quality Japanese quality systems and standardized work systems. Continuous improvement or kaizen has become the pattern of innovative work that Kalbe learns from Japanese partners," he said.

"He hopes that the high quality standards of Japan can be applied to other fields such as agriculture, fishery and marine processing, as well as innovation and research."

The strengthening of human resources quality through collaboration with a Japanese company has also emerged in the cooperation between PT Lautan Luas Tbk and Ajinomoto.

"There are several important points in our employees' work attitude. First, honesty, punctuality, politeness, discipline, and hygiene which are the fundamental values emphasized by our colleague, Ajinomoto. Then, product quality, compliance with applicable laws, and responsibility to the company," said Investor Relations & Corporate Communication Manager of PT Lautan Luas Tbk, Eurike Hadijaya, on Friday (June 23, 2023)."

BPMI-SETWAPRES RI

Vice President Maruf Amin received PT Ajinomoto Indonesia leaders at the Vice President's official residence, located at Jalan Diponegoro Number 2, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (May 16, 2023).

Inspiration to grow

The strong partnership between Indonesia and Japan is also reflected in PT Suntory Garuda Beverage (SGB), which was established in 2011 as a strategic alliance between Suntory in Japan and Garuda Food in Indonesia. The partnership provides access for Suntory to enter Indonesia as one of the fastest growing markets in the world.

"The Indonesian market is a unique market that demands every company to understand the characteristics of the consumers," said CEO SGB Neeraj Kumar Goyal.

He added, SGB is driven by the value of growing for food which inspires us to continue to grow, both as individuals and as a company. By continuing to develop, SGB expands its capacity to improve the quality of society by prioritizing the principle of sustainability.

”Inspired by the blessing of water, in January 2019, SGB launched the Suntory 'Mizuiku' program. In Japanese, mizu means water and iku means education. Mizuiku teaches the younger generation the importance of clean water and conserving water resources," said Goyal.

The Indonesian market is a unique market that demands every company to truly understand the characteristics of its consumers.

SGB, added Goyal, also applies the value of kaizen, namely continuous improvement that combines strengths within the company. Kaizen is an act and a philosophy espoused at the Suntory Group. Kaizen builds a culture where all employees are proactively engaged to innovate.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Emperor of Japan, Naruhito accompanied by JICA Policy Expert Representative for the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Kikuta Tomoya, while visiting the Pluit Reservoir Pump Station in North Jakarta on Sunday (18/6/2023) to see a Japanese grant aid water pump.

Work ethic

The Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers Association and Vice Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for Maritime, Investment, and Foreign Affairs Coordination, Shinta W Kamdani, stated that Indonesian entrepreneurs highly appreciate and value the work ethic of Japanese industrial actors, which are disciplined, orderly, and open to sharing and collaborating.

"The work values have a positive impact on productivity, economic development, and the quality of human resources in Indonesia. So far, Japanese stakeholders have been very open economic partners in adapting to Indonesian culture. Furthermore, several Japanese businesspersons prefer to communicate in Indonesian language rather than English, which reflects their good intention to better understand each other," he said.

Also read: From Kijang to Ratangga, Marking Milestones of Japan-Indonesia Relations

Not only on human resources, Shinta argued, Indonesia-Japan could strengthen cooperation in deepening the manufacturing supply chain and improve the quality of the service sector. This is related to the development of information technology in order to support the competitiveness of national digital products. To enjoy this potential, Indonesia needs to focus on promoting the competitiveness of the business climate and strategic investment projects as well as facilitating market penetration of Indonesian products to Japan.

The Japanese culture which emphasizes discipline, high work ethics, and target orientation needs to be continuously explored in order to be adopted by Indonesian human resources.

The Ministry of Trade noted that Indonesia's trade balance surplus against Japan during January-April 2023 reached US$2.26 billion. This value is sourced from imports of US$5.28 billion and exports of US$7.55 billion. This surplus value is 1.44 percent lower compared to the same period the previous year.

Rossanto Dwi Handoyo, an economic observer who is also a lecturer at the Department of Economics at Airlangga University, Surabaya, said that Indonesia and Japan have long been strategic partners. It is necessary to maintain good relations. “Especially related to the consistency of government policies. Regarding fast trains, for example, Japan was welcome at that time, but because of the government's calculations, in the end China chose," he said.

Japanese culture that carries discipline, a high work ethic, and is target oriented also needs to be continuously explored so that it can be adopted by Indonesian human resources. Strengthening these values ​​is felt to be important in addition to the transfer of knowledge and technology in any Indonesian-Japanese cooperation.