A career that began with an interest in manufacturing

I am the operations manager for the fret section. I manage the team that cuts, inspects, packs, and ships all our frets. The reason I got this job was because I was always skilled with my hands, and I liked making things. I always enjoyed making things since I was a child, and the thought that “it would be exciting to be able to create something with my own hands.” That was the deciding factor in selecting a path in manufacturing. Although I was not particularly interested in musical instruments, I found myself devoted to a career making frets for over 25 years.

Manufacturing has a deeper meaning

When I first joined the company, my initial image of manufacturing was “push a button” and something is made. However, I quickly realized that it is not the case, this job requires a great deal of hands-on involvement and wisdom. It is not just about running machines; it’s about having ingenuity and a desire to improve. In my experience, fret manufacturing relies heavily on the skill and experience of the craftsmen to ensure the quality of our products does not diminish.

Your patience will be tested through repeated “trial-and-error.”  That’s why it’s important to increase your mental capacity for such things. A lot of times there is no set answer, and you must find the best solution on your own. Such a series of challenges may be the real joy of manufacturing.

Rewarding Moments

The frets we make are used in musical instruments such as guitars and ukuleles.

There are many rewarding moments in this line of work. The ones that stand out the most are when a prototype we make in response to a customer’s request gets evaluated and then utilized by the customer in their production lot. It makes me feel like our technical skills are being recognized.

Another rewarding experience is being able to show my family the results of my hard work. I think it is a joy that is unique to working in manufacturing, being able to tell your children, “Your father made this fret.”

Who is suited for Sanko Seisakusho?

This job, in my opinion, is best suited for people who find fulfilment in “trial-and-error.” Rather than performing a task with a predetermined result because when a problem occurs, you need to think, diagnose, repair, test, and check. If you are a person that that can look at manufacturing through repeated “trial-and-error,” and is willing to “try this” and “try that,” then you will find this work to be rewarding.

Sanko has a culture that supports challenges. I am encouraged by my superiors and seniors to “give it a try,” and I feel that the accumulation of their encouragement has led to my personal growth. I think this is the perfect environment for those who are willing to take on new challenges.

Developing and training the next generation

My position now enables me to mentor junior team members, not because I am a manager but because of the knowledge and experiences I have collected over the years. When I teach, I explain the background of “why this work is necessary” and “what is the purpose of this work.” If we don’t explain that point it becomes a simple task and won’t require any thinking. Instead of telling them how to do something, I try to tell them why the work is necessary and how they should think about it. It allows them to seek their own answers and find their path, while understanding the background and purpose of their work.

Becoming a craftsman does not occur overnight, you become one after years of experience. That is what I want my junior team members to take the time to learn.

Continuing walking the path of manufacturing

I have been involved in fret manufacturing for over 25 years, and yet there is still no end to what I can learn. My goal is to continue to make better products, while learning new techniques and manufacturing methods.

I want to continue working through “trial-and-error” and to pass on the joy of manufacturing to my younger colleagues. If the frets that I have assisted in processing are used in guitars all over the world and bring the joy of music to many people, then there is no greater joy than that.