A ppublicationublication of Bowles Rice LLP FFallall 22014014 THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT “Glocalization” Sounds Scary, but Makes Sense

Kazuhiro Somiya, President Hino Motors Manufacturing USA

Kazuhiro Somiya is the President Glocalization: a mash-up of globalization and of Hino Motors Manufacturing localization. USA.

After serving Toyota for 37 years, I thought I made the word up for this article, but Mr. Somiya transferred to Hino when I Googled it, I learned it was first coined in Motors Limited, in 2012, to become the company’s Production the 1980s. I guess I cannot take credit for it, but Engineering Managing Officer. it is a perfect description of Hino’s presence in the United States. At Toyota, Mr. Somiya started his career in 1975 in assembly production engineering. In 1987, Hino is a global company. It is Japan’s largest he became Assembly Coordinator commercial truck and over-the-road bus at Toyota Motor Manufacturing company, and it sells its products throughout the Kentucky, and six years later he accepted the position of Vehicle world. Initially, Hino served its overseas markets Production Engineering, Deputy by exporting completely assembled trucks. manufacturing facility in Buffalo, West Virginia, General Manager of Overseas However, it became evident that we could not credit the effort of state and local officials to Production at Toyota Motor Corporation. meet customers’ expectations with a “one-size- convince Hino to establish a truck assembly fits-all” export product – Hino had to localize facility in the mid-Ohio Valley. In 2001, Mr. Somiya was named production to adequately satisfy the unique the New Project Office Vice President of Toyota Motor demands of its different markets. Outreach from the state’s office in Nagoya, Manufacturing Indiana. He Japan, prodding from then Governor Joe became the Senior Vice President In a nutshell, this explains how Hino came to the Manchin and Senator Jay Rockefeller, and strong for Production Engineering at United States. marketing from Keith Burdette, then executive Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America director of the Wood County Development in 2006. How we ended up in West Virginia is a separate Authority, were persuasive. But, frankly, Hino story. While it certainly did not hurt that our needed more than pledges of personal support Mr. Somiya received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering parent company, Toyota, had built an engine and commitment of state and local incentives. at the Nagoya Institute of Technology in Nagoya, Japan.

Hino WV Team Member installs rear wheels during final assembly process.

16 Fall 2014 THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT A 338 model rolling off the Hino West Virginia Assembly line. These heavy duty trucks are often used in a variety of applications, including pushing snow and spreading salt for the WV Department of Highways or for utility, beverage, dump and tank vehicles. Opening an assembly plant in West there is a lot of quality in that truck – both with Hino when production started Virginia also had to make good business on the engineering side and in production.” in 2007, I have heard stories and have sense: access to customers and suppliers; a seen the photographic evidence of how skilled and stable workforce; and a fair and Not only has the size of our workforce quickly the mid-Ohio Valley embraced flexible regulatory environment. more than doubled from 80 in 2007 to Hino, especially the ex-pats (we call more than 200 today, in the context of them ‘dispatchees’), and just as quickly, Hino found all this, and more, in “glocalization,” our efforts continue. Our the dispatchees fell in love with the local Williamstown, especially as it relates to sister company, Hino Motors Sales, Hino people and attractions here. And, the dedicated workers. I’ll defer to the words Japan Engineering and R&D, and our mutual respect and admiration has grown of others on this point. own purchasing and quality teams, are even greater since. Hino has supported constantly investigating how to further education, environment, cultural “I have worked for Hino since day one,” improve service to U.S. marketplace exchanges, scholarships … you name it. said Mechelle Wilson. “I did not know demands. In this regard, there is a Japanese There is a strong fabric in the community what to expect working for a Japanese word for continuous improvement – and we are honored to be part of it.” company – it has been a great experience: “kaizen.” It is fair to say that all Hino I have learned skills and been taught entities are committed to kaizen for our As I read back on the comments of our advanced manufacturing processes I U.S. customer base. folks in West Virginia, “glocalization” is never imagined I would know; I work not just about serving the local customers’ with genuinely nice and caring colleagues But, beyond serving our customers and needs, it is deeper than that – it is the and management; and I take great pride providing good jobs in West Virginia (and localization of different global cultures. when I see a Hino truck rolling down the our other locations in the United States), To quote Bill Meadows, that truly is highways of West Virginia.” Hino takes seriously its responsibility to be “pretty cool.” a good corporate citizen. Before joining Bill Meadows echoes Mechelle’s sentiment. Hino in 2012, I spent 37 years with “What we do is really pretty cool. We Toyota, 15 in the United States. I think I get certain parts from Japan, and a understand good citizenship. But, again, bunch of parts from NAFTA countries I will defer to other Hino people on this and, following rigid assembly and safety point. procedures, we marry everything together into Class 6 and 7 medium duty trucks. Steve Stalnaker, vice president and plant Of course I am biased, but I’ll tell you, manager, quoted “Though I was not

THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT Fall 2014 17