Nissan Highlights Diversity by Empowering Women
Women management has reportedly climbed to 4 percent from its 1.6 scale in 2004 under Nissan’s Diversity Drive, and the company is targeting 5 percent by March 2008. Women make up 10 percent of management overall in Japan, compared to 42.5 percent in the US, but they end to be underrepresented in manufacturing.
“Things are definitely changing,” said Kumi Hatsukano, a manager for car body design at Nissan. “But what would be ideal is if we could stop talking about this topic of being a woman or a man altogether.”
When Hatsukano, 38, joined Nissan in 1993, she had her share of run-ins with sexual harassment. Male workers gave her unwanted attention and asked personal questions about her love life, especially when she was working late.
When Chiharu Ikahata, 26, was hired as the first woman on her assembly line in 1999, the women’s restroom was so old and dirty one had to be built at her request. Today, she is plant manager after studying production methods for two years at a Nissan-run school, and hopes to be a role model for women workers.
One reason women feel more empowered at Nissan is the unmistakable message from the top executive. Brazilian-born and French-educated, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn is determined to make diversity a buzzword, citing the success of the Nissan-Renault alliance, set up in 1999.
“We are creating a corporate culture committed to diversity, where merit alone opens every door.” he told shareholders at a forum held recently.
With Nissan’s drive for diversity, it not only aims to set a trend among other car companies, but it also aims to make the word a true part of the Japanese culture. While they have took the women for granted, this move by Nissan has shown that they are willing to efface that by sharing the innovations of the car industry with them. (reference: Associated Press)