Making “Smart Work” a Reality
The Key to Realizing Smart Work Is Good Communication
A café corner and counter space that can be used for purposes like communication between coworkers and concentrating on work
The goals of the smart work that we envision are to improve productivity, to create new ideas, and to achieve diverse workstyles. In order to achieve these goals, it is imperative that we not only encourage workstyles that aren’t limited to one place but also invigorate communication. Right now, most of our offices have already begun introducing free addresses and open communication spaces, with the goal of invigorating communication that crosses the boundaries between different work types and occupations more than before. As one aspect of our personnel evaluation system reforms, supervisors and subordinates have a one-on-one career interview every three months to promote autonomous career development. Additionally, holding most of our meetings online has not only prevented the spread of infection but also contributed to the improvement of efficiency and productivity.
Going forward, under the key phrase “Innovation & Communication,” we will continue to move ahead with further reforms, building a workplace environment where our employees can keep working with a sense of peace of mind while also fully realizing their potential, as we strive to be the world’s happiest company where everyone can feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness through doing rewarding work.
Workstyle Reform Initiatives
Regular Inspections of Custom Detached Houses with Advanced Equipment: Super-speedy Defect Detection
Sekisui House wants all customers who have built their home with us to enjoy living there for many years. So, after handing over a new home to a customer, we carry out periodic inspections after the first three months, and then after the first, second, fifth, tenth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty fifth and thirtieth years. There are 28 Sekisui House Customer Service Centers nationwide that handle our after-sales services, which include conducting periodic inspections and carrying out repairs and maintenance as required. Around 1,500 staff are placed in Sekisui House organizations, and they provide highly-reliable after-sales services that our customers trust and feel reassured by. Since August 2019, we have been using the Smart Inspection system, which uses attic inspection cameras in the 10-year inspection of custom detached houses, inspects their roofs with drones in the 10-year inspection and other times as needed, and then, via the cloud, shares the captured images with office support desk staff to quickly determine if any defects exist.
Improving the Working Environment for Inspection Staff: Advancing Workstyle Innovation Across the Construction Industry
The drones and attic inspection cameras used in the Smart Inspection system can easily be controlled remotely by devices such as a smartphone or tablet, and from any location. This means the inspectors do not have to climb into attics or directly enter other places that are difficult to access, allowing them to avoid possibly dirtying the home during an inspection. These initiatives have improved the work environment for inspection staff, eliminating the need for them to work at heights. Using advanced equipment during periodic inspections is expanding the work opportunities for women, seniors and other employees, and helping to mitigate issues in the construction industry such as labor shortages and an aging workforce.
