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| At the Olympus Ina Plant, every skill and technique
involving microscopes is constantly honed to meet the exacting requirements
of cutting-edge research. |
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What challenges do you presently face at work, Mr. Miyazawa?
Recently, I've started thinking that I must train up some
of my younger colleagues. I don't think I have actualized myself
yet, but even so, I have to do it. We have on file various notes
written by senior employees on such things as the main points of
microscope fabrication and assembly, and things to be careful about.
I find these invaluable.
They've been kept in a very orderly way.
People have been keeping records in them since the days
of handwritten notes. I'd like to make up electronic files based
on these and pass the information on, adding new skills and techniques
in the process. I'd keep doing it as long as I am at Olympus. The
fundamentals are just so important; we must have a record of them.
It would be good if you could compile them in handbook
format, and give everyone a copy.
For example, if a microscope released ten
years ago breaks, with a manual of this kind on hand, there wouldn't
be a problem.
This is a truly practical manual, full of useful information accumulated
over the years.
Such a handbook would have to be for Olympus internal
use only - completely confidential.
Plus, there would be problems impossible to
deal with just at the manufacturing stage, but would need to be
taken right back
to the development and design stages.
Surely it would be a lot of work to compile this confidential
handbook between your normal work duties?
But like you Dr. Wakayama, I enjoy my work, so making
this kind of thing would be no trouble at all. Besides, I had a
hard time myself in earlier years because there wasn't anything
like this available.
At the lab also, we take lots of notes when learning from
someone, but we don't really keep them for future reference. Once
we've learnt and understood things ourselves, there's no need. Putting
down in writing information that we no longer need is a waste of
time, and researchers tend to feel hesitant about training younger
people. They may become our rivals very soon.
Naturally, it's not that I have no resistance to teaching
others. But I do think we need to pass on the most fundamental things
to the next generation.
Wouldn't it be better to keep the handwritten parts as
is? They have more character that way.
Yes, we do keep several handwritten copies in each workplace.
After all, they're important pieces of knowledge imparted to us
by senior colleagues.
In my view, mastering technical skills is about inheriting
the heart and soul of our predecessors as well. In that sense,
I think our discussion today has had tangible implications for
the
study of life science. Thank you very much, Dr. Wakayama, for coming
all this way to visit us today.
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