Interview with female employees "Bosch Engineering Co., Ltd."

Established in 2006 as the first overseas base of Bosch Engineering GmbH, which was founded in Germany in 1999. In addition to developing and adapting prototypes and mass production projects for automakers, engine manufacturers, motorcycles and racing cars, it also provides engineering services in various fields, such as industrial machinery and railways, as well as sales of motorsports products. Focusing on the importance of work-life balance since its founding, we have realized an environment where employees can work easily regardless of gender, nationality, or age. In 2018, he received the special award of the "Yokohama Good Balance Award".

Joined mid-career in 2018 as a position for female managers. This is the second year. I am involved in a wide range of internal operations, mainly in business management (controllers) in the Management Department. We asked about how women managers work in a global environment.

"In a company that worked before, it was an environment where women could not be heard, even though they were proclaimed to promote the appointment of women. That's why I wanted to work at a company where women managers are really required. In fact, at the interview, the fact that you said, "I want to increase the number of female managers," was a major point in deciding to join the company."

"My mother regretted quit her job after marriage. He said, "I'd better work for a lifetime," so I naturally came to think so. Still, I don't want to be a manager whatever I want, and if I work hard, I think it's better to leave it to me. If you become a manager, of course, you will increase your responsibilities, but you will have a wider range of work and you will be entrusted with the way you envision. I feel the fun of my work there, so I would like to try various things."

"It's been my second year, but I've never felt a mismatch until now. Since it is a small company, it is difficult for female managers to be born one after another, but I feel that there is always a chance. After joining the company, I was surprised at the good atmosphere of the company. Perhaps because of the large number of foreign employees, severe work exchange of opinions is only in the conference room, and there is a culture that does not drag. As a result, it is easy for everyone to propose and have a fulfilling meeting."

"In the controller, I specialize in management accounting with financial knowledge in the background. We provide management with numerical-based business judgment materials. I used to be the same controller in my previous job, but it depends on the color of the company, which figures are the key (whether sales or operating income). It was hard until I got used to it."

"There are company rules, but I work very freely. The management scope of my department is wide, and there is also the pleasure of being able to work outside of my career. In areas with poor experience, we are receiving the support of the general manager and everyone, so our immediate goal is to be able to carry out normal work without support. Currently, we are using a flextime system without core time, so we are able to manage time without stress. In the second year, we can use the telecommuting system, so we would like to use it together."

"For parents, it seems surprising that women can become managers themselves, and at a company with a foresight, they support them as 'a good thing to be rewarding work'. Also, my husband's family lived in Germany, and in Germany, "Bosch" is well known, but my husband's parents were more pleased than me to be in managerial positions there."

"I'm not in my current position. That seems to me because in the company I used to work for, women did not have the right to speak, and they were treated as out of power. Still, I was working while feeling doubtful because I was promoting the appointment of women. I have that experience, and now I am most fulfilling in my career development. At the meeting, there were many remarks made by women who shot the target, and it was a meaningful discussion, indicating that women are also powerful."

"We had a more comfortable working environment than we wanted. Nevertheless, I have come to see the points that can streamline the internal environment on my own, so I hope it will be realized."

The free space with free drinks always boasts a view of Minato Mirai from a wide glass window. It is also a communication space where all employees gather for lunch, break, and gather.

Based on Bosch's electronic control system, which was founded in Germany in 1886, we provide engineering services in Japan that provide functional development and software development. Robert Bosch, the founder of the company, always strived to create an environment where employees can work easily based on the philosophy of "work-life balance is the most economically effective measure." Based on this philosophy, we consider the ease of working for all employees, not only women, but also men and foreign employees. At present, the utilization rate of the telecommuting system is about 50%, and flexible and efficient work styles are spreading along with the flex system. In addition, almost all of the countries where 10 foreign employees come from are different, and most of them do not speak English as their native language. Therefore, English is the official language of the company so that everyone can work without a sense of alienation. Through communication between diverse employees, we deepen our understanding of others and lead to a variety of ideas.
Currently, there are two female managers. Rather than giving preferential treatment to women only under the name of women's empowerment, we want to create a work environment where excellent human resources can play an active role by creating an environment where all employees can work easily. Under these circumstances, we are looking forward to promoting women's empowerment by utilizing the mentoring system with female executives and employees of Group companies to foster role models that can see companies and organizations from multiple perspectives. In addition, since men alone have biased their ideas, I would like to create an environment where women can actively speak and an organization where those voices can be used.

Company name: Bosch Engineering Co., Ltd.
Location: 18th floor of Queens Tower C, 2-3-5 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
URL： http://www.bosch-engineering.jp (external site)
Founded: November 1, 2006
Capital: 100 million yen
Number of employees: 52 (11 female employees and 10 foreign nationals)
Industry: In addition to developing and adapting prototypes and mass production projects for automobile manufacturers, engine manufacturers, motorcycles and racing cars, we also provide engineering services in various fields, such as industrial machinery and railways, as well as sales of motorsports products.
Female Support System: Flex system (without core time), telecommuting system, short working hours system, etc.
Employment information: https://en-gage.net/bosch_engineering/ (external site)