I am in charge of the cabinet top processing process on the cabinet production line. My main job is to operate a large press that can apply several tons of pressure to process the components, and then attach reinforcements to each one with a spot welder.

There is a lot of heavy lifting involved, and there aren't many women in the workplace. However, for me, who graduated from a technical high school with a dream of manufacturing, being in a predominantly male environment was actually the norm.

I've always been someone who doesn't like to sit still, so I like working on-site, where I can walk around and use my hands all day. I obtained a qualification for mechanical sheet metal work at my previous job, and after joining Itoki, I obtained a qualification for forklift operation. Now, I'm entrusted with the entire process, from transporting materials to processing them and handing them over to the next process.

I feel that the fact that I can now make more decisions on my own is proof that my experience has been recognized. I don't have to ask for instructions every time because of the trust my superiors have in me.
Of course, it comes with responsibility, but I am now given the freedom and discretion to do my job, which has made it easier and more enjoyable.

In my work, I am conscious of quality, especially the beauty of "spot marks (weld marks)." The tabletop that I am in charge of is a very important part that is in the customer's line of sight when the product is assembled.

If the spots are not beautiful, they will be very noticeable and affect the overall appearance and impression of the product.
What made me so particular about this point was an experience I had some time after I started working on tabletops.

One day, someone in charge of the later process pointed out that the spot marks were noticeable, and I had to redo the work. Since then, I've always been thinking about how to make the finish even more beautiful when I'm working. Now, I can achieve a finish that I'm confident in with almost no mistakes.

In manufacturing, many people work in each process, from upstream to downstream. If a defect occurs in one process, it can cause problems in other processes, and ultimately affect the quality and cost of the product.

Sometimes I get too picky and nervous, but I want to be particular about the process I'm in charge of until I'm satisfied.

With the birth of my child, I became the first employee working at the Shiga Factory to take maternity and childcare leave.
My current goal is to return to work after my maternity leave and balance my work and child-rearing.

Before I started working at my current job, when I was looking for a job where I could use my sheet metal skills, I was passed over for employment many times because I was a woman.

However, at Itoki, being a woman was not seen as a negative thing, and I found an environment where I was encouraged to take on the challenges of doing the work I wanted to do. As I gained experience, I came to like this job even more.

However, even at Itoki, people were surprised when I told them that I was planning to return to work after my maternity leave. Women are still a minority in manufacturing, and it is not common for women to choose to continue working.

However, I'm sure there will continue to be women who want to raise children while working on-site, and there's a possibility that I might have a second or third child. By embodying the idea that "it's possible to balance work and child-rearing even on-site," I want to make it more commonplace.

"My challenge is just beginning," says Yoshioka. Balancing work and child-rearing is possible thanks to a corporate culture that is flexible and supports each employee's work-life balance, allowing them to take the next step with peace of mind.

Yoshioka's daily life, working on the front lines while continuing to hone his skills, gives us many hints when thinking about how we should work in the future.