Toyoda Gosei gears up workforce for digital transformation

Kiyosu, Japan - Toyoda Gosei is accelerating the development of digital talent* in response to new-mobility and other changes in the automotive industry, the company announced 28 July.

In line with its 2025 business plan, the company said it “is leveraging its core rubber and plastics expertise to pioneer new business and CASE technologies.” 

Targets include raising the number of ‘core employees carrying out‘ daily business based on digital transformation’ to 270 by 2025 and 400 people by 2030. 

This, it said, will help to “propel operational reforms through digital transformation and providing new value that will meet the needs of society.” 

As well as  external hiring, the company is establishing an in-house training structure to systematically develop digital talent.

Indeed, training for  selected employees started in January, with 80 people with the titles of “digital architect” and “data scientist” certified by July. 

Toyoda Gosei plans to accelerate these efforts, with DX experts hired from outside the company in a central role.

An in-house HR development ‘cycle’ is also being set up to provide general training, guidance and advice to promote digital transformation practices in each workplace.

*Toyoda Gosei’s three categories of digital talent start with ‘digital architect’: people well-versed in and able to implement the latest cloud and other technologies.

Above them are ’data scientists’, who can extract and analyse information from huge amounts of data, and reflect this in operational improvements.

At the top of the pyramid are ‘DX leaders’, defined as employees who “direct digital talent and promote DX.”