Director Interview Takashi Hikiba

What is your mission and strategy?

Our mission this term is to sell products that will delight our customers and increase sales.

For several years, we have been expanding our business in various industries both domestically and internationally. This term, we have established a new project to focus on doubling sales and strengthening the sales of automotive-related products.
We also plan to obtain certifications related to automotive industry quality, such as VDA6.3 (German Association of the Automotive Industry) and IATF16949 (International Automotive Task Force). Obtaining these certifications will positively impact our contributions to many customers. Additionally, we will also focus on window films.

Furthermore, we believe that IoT-related products used in smartphones and tablets, which are our main film products, still have potential. Although some products have struggled in recent years, there is definitely demand in the industry as a whole, and we will continue to focus on this area.

What we will focus on this season

There are two main categories.
First, we will continue to focus on Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Film for Industrial Use ( Prosave™ ), which has been a promising new product since the previous fiscal year. We would like to strengthen and deepen the ties between KIMOTO products with "adhesion" as the keyword. For example, we will respond to a wide range of fields such as hard coat + adhesive, light-shielding film coating layer + adhesive, light diffusion layer + adhesive, and sell it both domestically and overseas.

Secondly, we aim to enhance our overall strength through teamwork. Our members are experienced, and if we bring out the best in each other, both sales and personnel will grow significantly. By recognizing each other and sharing opinions, we foster important communication. With enhanced overall strength, we will create an environment where any member can always make the best proposal to any customer.

What has left a lasting impression on you in your work so far?

The happiest moment was when a customer called me 'brother.' It means 'well done!' right? It was said when I made a proposal considering what was best for the customer, rather than just meeting their requests.

In a situation where I had to make it now, I went toMie Plantabout 100 days a year and worked with the factory members to create a product, which was a great asset. I think it is a success story because of communication.

What is a work philosophy that you hold dear?

I have cherished the saying 'effort surpasses talent,' but last December, President Kimoto said, 'passion surpasses effort,' and I have started to realize the importance of being passionate about something.
Effort does not betray, but I want to do work that makes me 'passionate,' which surpasses effort.

※The above content is all from the time of the interview (June 2020).