Junpei Hino joined the company as a director in 2007. While handling management duties as a section manager, I am also on-site and involved in production management as a player. ``By taking the first step, you can realize how interesting the job really is,'' says Hino. While looking back on a project that was a turning point, he talks about the real pleasure of production management.
Hino is currently working in the Sales Promotion Headquarters, Third Business Division, Product Direction Department 1, a department that mainly handles the production management of events and displays.
Hino: "We are good at creating designs that add a dramatic element to events such as motor shows, showrooms, pop-up stores, and short-term displays. You could say that this department is in charge of work that is unique to NOMURA"
Despite being in the position of managing team members as a section manager, Hino has been actively visiting the field. The reason behind this is that he is particular about his work in production management.
Hino: ``In production management, there are many things that we cannot answer without working on many production sites.We want students to deepen their learning in each scene, so we say things such as ``You should be careful here'' and ``At times like this... I still try to go out to the field as much as possible so that I can give advice on the spot, such as, ``If you proceed this way, things will go well.''
It is often thought that the role of production management is to be on-site and ensure that the project progresses smoothly, but Hino disagrees with this view. I would like to talk about the best part of my job.
Hino: ``Controlling the site is an important part of my job, but as I gain experience, I have more opportunities to be involved in projects from the early stages.I'm able to direct the entire project while collaborating with designers and salespeople. I think this is where the real fun of production management lies.”
Meanwhile, Hino also serves as the editor-in-chief of ``PD NEWS,'' which disseminates information within the company about production management work.
Hino: “Because our company is large, we don't have many opportunities to learn about the work that other departments do.Therefore, we interview members of each division and create articles that introduce their work. .
"Sometimes we think of small tools to make displays look beautiful, and other times we use video equipment on a large scale to create a lively space. NOMURA has people with the know-how, and by letting not only our junior employees but also our mid-career employees know that there is an opportunity to do this, I hope that it will be an opportunity for them to broaden the scope of their work."
▲ Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore
Hino majored in concept design at university. During his studies, he became particularly interested in interiors concept design, and was introduced to NOMURA by his supervisor. Hino initially wanted to work in concept design. He looks back on how he ended up joining the company as a director:
Hino: "During my interview, I told the interviewer, 'If a building is what gives vitality and value to a place, then I think it's interiors that makes the building attractive.' I was then offered the position of director. It was explained to me that a designer is someone who concept design a space, and a production manager is someone who creates the space. I thought this sounded interesting, so I decided to join the company."
However, at first, he had not been able to let go of his desire to work in concept design, and there were times when he felt a gap between the work he was doing before and after joining the company. At the end of his first year at the company, Hino's first turning point came early on.
Hino: ``Looking back on it now, it's embarrassing, but since I had imagined from the beginning that I would be able to control my work, I couldn't get used to an environment where my superiors and senior colleagues were giving me various instructions.
Then one day, I was put in charge of an displays site. It was the first time I was able to lead a project together with the sales team and cooperating companies. It was hard work, but I got the feeling that I was creating a space with my own hands, and it was an opportunity for me to realize the joy of production management work."
For Hino, who worked hard to hone his knowledge and skills in order to quickly become independent, his second turning point came when he took charge of Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore. I had an encounter that completely changed my outlook on work.
Hino: ``As a production manager, a junior colleague who was assigned to work on a project with me makes suggestions to external designers, saying things like, ``What if we do this?'' ``I think it would be better if we did this.'' I was shocked when I saw it.
Up until then, I had a fixed idea about production management work, and I had been acting in a rigid manner, just completing the work according to the drawings drawn by the designer.
Witnessing the sincere attitude of my junior colleagues in listening to the designers' opinions and ideas and making suggestions to make things even better, the way I approach my work has changed dramatically.''
After that, Hino completely changed the way it worked. By working closely with designers and customers, we were able to make proposals that were one step further than before, and by the time the project was finished, we were seeing a completely different view than before.
Hino: "In my role as production manager, I provided advice on safety and quality, and worked with the designers to refine the plans. With the idea of working together to make something better, I think the opportunities to communicate with concept design team increased significantly.
Another big change was that I began to imitate my juniors' communication methods of exposing themselves and loosening up the other person's heart, and started creating a more relaxed atmosphere by occasionally making small talk.
It was worth it, and after the construction was completed, I continued to say, ``Thank you for your hard work.'' We have seen that relationships that used to end with "Please come back again" are now being relied on by customers, such as being consulted on other projects on the spot. This project gave me the feeling that I was able to do work that was unique to me, and at the same time, I felt that a different relationship was created than before.''
▲ Fuji Speedway Hotel/Fuji Motorsports Museum
For Hino, there was a project that helped him gain confidence as a production manager.
Hino: “From 2020 to the following year, I was involved in a project for a training facility for a major company, and I had the opportunity to work with an in-house designer who was highly trusted by the company.
If you are a person who is particular about details, do you really want to go this far? I thought that many times. Looking back now, I realize that I was desperately trying to get the most out of it, but this time taught me that paying attention to detail is what increases the value of a space.
When we struggled to finalize the details that were essential to concept design, the designer simply said, "I'll leave it to you, Hino-kun." This was the most difficult period, when I and the other members of concept design team were at the center of putting it into the actual spatial concept design, but it was also a time when I learned even more about the joys of work."
When the concept design team was stumped, Hino's suggestions sometimes led to a solution.
Hino: ``The training facility was supposed to process wood related to the founder and display it on the wall, but we couldn't come up with an answer on how to arrange it, so there was a deadlock. Let's put them side by side.'' When I showed the designer what I had assembled temporarily in the warehouse, he said, ``This is fine.'' He was praised for his efforts to prevent the metal fittings from being visible. , the proposal was adopted as is.
"I've heard rumors about it, but I'd like to see how far I can go," I was told, so I felt a lot of pressure working on it, but I was also allowed to proactively make concept design suggestions, and it was a project that allowed me to grow significantly as a production manager."
After that, Hino will team up with the designer again for the 2023 Fuji Motorsports Museum.
Hino: "They asked me for my opinion on what we should do, and I could tell they trusted me even more than last time in terms of both concept design and the fit. What made an impression on me was that they only handed me the CG perspective drawings and asked me to draw up the blueprints on the production management side. Without any implementation drawings, I worked with concept design team to create the spatial concept design, even down to the way the lighting was fitted. For me, who originally wanted to be a designer, this job was the culmination of my experience as a production manager."
Hino says that he feels a sense of satisfaction in working on production management. Thinking back to the words he said during his job interview, he talks about the best part of his job.
Hino: “Since I have come to understand the essence of production management, I have been able to proactively make proposals to designers, sales staff, and customers, and I feel that I am now in a position where I can direct the creation of spaces. I'm finally starting to understand what the interviewer meant when he told me, 'This is a management job.'
Hino's current goal is to work under his own name. We have a clear future vision for production management.
Hino: “Currently, I am in charge of the work assigned to my department, but I would like to be able to get involved beyond my department when there is a project in an area that I am good at. Just as I'm sometimes asked to do work by saying, ``I want that designer to do it,'' I want to be in the position of production management where people say, ``I want Hino to be in charge.''
To achieve this, failure is not an option and requires determination, but I would like to be involved in a variety of jobs in a responsible position.''
Hino says that there are members of production management within the company who feel stuck in their work, just like he once did. I would like to send this message to them.
Hino: "The further you go into production management, the more interesting the job becomes. Production management involves not only on-site construction management, but also going into the realm of concept design and being involved in creating spaces. In fact, there are quite a few people in our company who have the ability to go into the realm of concept design. I want you to get rid of your preconceived ideas and take a step forward."
As a key player in space creation, Hino will continue to take on challenges.
*The contents are as of December 2023.
As a director, he is involved in the production management of a wide range of fields, including corporate displays and events, as well as showrooms, commercial facilities, stores, and museums. In 2020, he was promoted to section manager. Not limited to production management, he works with designers on multiple facilities. He is still active as a management player.
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