#Japan #Food Industry #Hokkaido #Shibuya #CIRCULATION

Circulation's New Initiative in Hokkaido

Circulation, a leading professional sharing company based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has recently announced its partnership with the Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry. This collaboration aims to provide support for local SMEs in the food manufacturing sector through a new initiative designed to tackle pressing workforce issues. With over 30,000 seasoned professionals in its network, Circulation seeks to leverage this expertise to enhance productivity and foster sustainable growth in Hokkaido’s vital food industry.

The Challenge in Hokkaido's Food Manufacturing Sector

Hokkaido is home to a robust food manufacturing industry, contributing to over 40% of the region's manufacturing output. However, despite an overall increase in labor productivity across various sectors in both Hokkaido and Japan, food manufacturing has shown stagnation. This lack of growth is due, in part, to a pressing shortage of skilled labor and the inability to implement automation effectively.

The Hokkaido Bureau has pointed out that while there is a significant need for automation, many SMEs struggle to define their requirements, primarily due to the absence of core personnel capable of outlining their specific needs for automation. Without an overarching strategy, even existing technologies and examples do not translate effectively into widespread industry practices.

Circulation addresses these challenges by utilizing external professional resources to help companies articulate their issues and create implementable solutions. This approach aims to strengthen organizational capabilities within these companies, allowing them to independently transform and adapt.

Steps for Supporting Local SMEs

Circulation's operational framework comprises several key steps:
1. Conducting Seminars: The initiative begins with seminars held in Sapporo, where the benefits of collaborating with external professionals are emphasized. These sessions aim to lower psychological barriers and enhance the understanding of challenges faced by participating companies.
2. Individual Consultation: Following the seminars, companies will benefit from tailored consultations to define their specific needs.
3. Professional Support: Finally, skilled professionals will be dispatched to a select number of companies to assess their current situations and brainstorm actionable productivity-enhancing strategies. Long-term investment in human resources will also be discussed to ensure sustained productivity improvements.

Comments from the CEO of Circulation

Yuu Fukuda, CEO of Circulation, stated, "The food manufacturing industry in Hokkaido stands as a cornerstone of Japan's food supply but faces critical challenges such as workforce shortages and productivity improvements. By providing 'professional sharing' as a viable option, we aim to enable companies to articulate their challenges in their own words and drive their transformation." Fukuda envisions this project as a starting point for fostering continuous collaboration among local businesses, financial institutions, and support agencies to ensure companies continue to leverage external expertise.

Sustainable Growth Through Knowledge Redistribution

The insights gained from this initiative will be compiled into a 'Support Case Report' and shared across Hokkaido. Circulation is committed to addressing issues that cannot be solved at the local level by collaborating with professional resources, thereby revitalizing the regional economy.

Inquiries

For more information about this initiative, contact:

• - Company: Circulation Co., Ltd.
• - Contact: Hokkaido Branch - Hosono; Public Team - Okada, Takahashi
• - Email: [email protected]
• - Address: 3-21-5 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo, Circulation Building ForPro, 150-0001
• - Phone: 03-6256-0467

When inquiring, please mention the 'Local SMEs Talent Support Program.'

Company Overview

• - Founded: January 6, 2014
• - Website: Circulation Official
• - With a mission to create a society where global experiences and knowledge circulate, Circulation operates a professional sharing business that helps companies solve challenges and achieve their missions through project-based collaborations with highly specialized professionals.