Providing Happiness and Opportunities through Work (IHI Corporation, Chugoku Branch Office)Hiroshima for Global Peace

Providing Happiness and Opportunities through Work (IHI Corporation, Chugoku Branch Office)

Contributing to society with technology

IHI Corporation (referred to below as “IHI”) works to deliver new value as a general heavy industry group, focusing on four business fields: resources and energy, social infrastructure, industrial machinery, and aerospace. IHI is undertaking a variety of initiatives as part of its business philosophy of “contributing to the development of society through technology.” For example, its business of producing and selling biomass fuel by making effective use of the fruit bunches left over after palm oil extraction helps not only to reuse waste but also to reduce environmental impact. IHI is also striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by developing technologies for marine current power generation and the production of biofuels from microalgae. It is because of IHI’s technology that I believe it can contribute to a society where the Earth and humanity exist in harmony.

Illustration of power generation using marine currents

Providing happiness and opportunities through work

The IHI Chugoku Branch Office not only contributes to society through its business but also engages in SDGs initiatives of its own. These are activities that contribute to society through work style reforms and community activities. For example, they have conducted blood drives and visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to think about peace. They have also held study sessions on the SDGs, actively promoted paid leave to improve employees’ quality of life, worked to promote gender equality in the company, and equalized workloads. Mr. Kobayashi, the branch manager, said, “If you are not happy yourself, it is difficult to make others happy,” placing an emphasis on improving employees’ quality of life. Meanwhile, Mr. Saeki, the supervisor, remarked, “By working at IHI, I was able to seize the opportunity to contribute to society,” which made me feel that the company provides a wonderful working environment.

Conducting the interview: (From left) Ms. Date, Mr. Saeki, Mr. Kobayashi, Mr. Tamura

Everyone doing what they can

What surprised me most about IHI was that each and every employee took the initiative to do what they could. After the branch office started its own initiatives and study sessions, the atmosphere in the company and employees’ awareness of the SDGs in daily life gradually changed. For example, it may be a little thing, but some employees started to carry around their own bags or bottles. In line with the philosophy that “human resources are our greatest and only asset,” every employee is working in a lively manner. I was impressed that the working environment at the IHI Chugoku Branch, where employees can feel, even just a little, that their work is benefiting others, contributing to society, and leading to their own happiness, is a role model that can be applied to any company.