Engineer position (CPS solutions)

Q1: What prompted you to join the company? Reasons

Building a business model from scratch

• 

  Saito

  All three of us here today, including myself, have experience as field application engineers (FAEs) in the semiconductor business. I heard that you two were transferred to the Innovation Strategy Business Division in response to an internal job posting when it was established. Could you tell me why you decided to transfer?

• 

  Woods

  Since joining the company, I have consistently provided technical support for products from American semiconductor manufacturers. I was in charge of products equipped with industry-leading technology and found the job of supporting customer development very rewarding, but I wanted to take on the challenge of being involved in a new business venture launched by the company and building a business model from scratch.

• 

  Sakura

  I also wanted to transfer for the same reasons as Mr. Mori! I was in charge of technical support for semiconductor products, but I particularly enjoyed taking on new challenges within that work. I wanted to jump into unknown territory for both myself and the company, so when the job posting came up, I immediately put my hand up.

• 

  Sakura

  It's rare to find a trading company that can develop such a system, isn't it? Macnica is known as a "technology trading company," and it is a company that excels in technology.

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  Woods

  That's right. And as a result of this challenge, the next issue has become clear. What we learned from actually trying it out is that while it is possible to develop and provide systems for a small number of customers, as the number of customers increases, it may become difficult for Macnica to provide support in its current form. We will consider this current situation when considering our future business.

• 

  Saito

  Certainly, the more customers we introduce the system, the more inquiries we receive and the need to develop additional functions, which inevitably requires a lot of internal resources.

• 

  Sakura

  The startup phase of a business is unique in that it requires repeated trial and error to explore business models.

• 

  Saito

  Everything we do is groping. Because it's the first attempt, there's no right answer that says, "If you do it this way, it will work."

Q3: Future outlook

Aiming to spark business expansion

• 

  Saito

  What skills and mindset do you think are necessary for engineers who want to take on the challenge of Services & Solutions business?

• 

  Sakura

  I think listening skills are a must. Engineers in Services & Solutions business need the ability to clarify the business issues facing customers and identify potential problems. To do this, they need to draw out the customer's thoughts and efficiently understand the current situation.

• 

  Woods

  That's exactly right! We are "companions" who work closely with our customers to solve their problems.

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  Sakura

  And precisely because we are "companions," we think it is important to first try out a proposal, even if the "quality" of the proposal is only 50 points rather than 100 points. Because our relationship is not that of "customer and supplier," we first put in "quantity" and then work together with the customer to refine it. In a good sense, we "don't seek perfection too much."

• 

  Saito

  There is no right answer in our business.

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  Woods

  In that sense, I would like to point out that a mindset of "passion" is essential. Because there is no right answer, I think you cannot move forward unless you have a strong desire to "do things this way."

• 

  Sakura

  I totally understand! Macnica 's employees are all passionate people, so it feels like they all have the talent (laughs).

• 

  Woods

  Mr. Saito, what do you think about the skills and mindset required?

• 

  Saito

  I think it's about acquiring technical knowledge "broadly and deeply" rather than "narrowly and deeply." Our business requires a wide range of knowledge, including basic knowledge of AI and IoT, as well as image processing, statistics for data utilization, and cloud-related knowledge. I have over 15 years of experience as a semiconductor engineer and have developed a "core" for technical acquisition, so I would like to continue studying to broaden my horizons as an engineer. Finally, could you tell us about your future goals?

• 

  Sakura

  I would like to further expand the business I am in charge of! Since the department was established, various services and solutions have been created, but I believe there are still few cases where customers are using them. My goal is to firmly link these challenges to sales and profits.

• 

  Saito

  At first glance, it may seem like a glamorous department, but in reality, we're struggling to figure out how to implement solutions in society. I'd like to contribute even more to the company in terms of numbers! What are your future goals, Mr. Mori?

• 

  Woods

  I would like to increase the business results of "Re:Alize," which I am in charge of. "Re:Alize" is a service unique to Macnica that supports customers considering introducing AI solutions, from technical verification to operation, but there is still room for business expansion, and I would like to increase awareness so that people in the industry will think, "When you think of Macnica, you think of 'Re:Alize'." I want to spread the AI business so that people all over the world will recognize Macnica as a service solutions company!

• 

  Saito

  AI business has the potential to solve various social issues, so it may see explosive business growth. Let's work hard with a passionate "passion" in our hearts, even as we struggle, to become the catalyst that will make that explosion happen!