IT is a case of Kon'nichiwa from Washington on a visit to Japanese-owned Calsonic Kansei.

The automotive component manufacturer is one of Nissan’s biggest suppliers and one of the North East’s major employers, although the name Calsonic Kansei may not be as familiar to you as its famous Wearside client.

With four facilities in the region including an on-site assembly plant at Nissan, the company has made significant investments in recent years with a huge commitment to the region and its supply chain.

Founded in 1938 the Calsonic Kansei Corporation has around 21,000 employees worldwide in Europe, Japan, North America, and Asia, and opened in Sunderland with just seven employees in 1986.

With a global overall consolidated growth turnover of 27% worldwide in the last two years and now with a North East work force of 1400, you may soon become more familiar with this manufacturer.

For those not in the automotive industry, what do they actually do?

“We make parts for cars. Simple,” said John Barnett, Operations Director of Calsonic Kansei North East.

The next time you’re sitting in your car take a look around. The cockpit module - AKA the dashboard - electronics, climate control and the car’s exhaust all have to come from somewhere and chances are, if you drive a Nissan, they’ve been manufactured up the road in Sunderland.

Working alongside one of the giant’s of the car industry, not to mention one of the lynchpins of North East industry, being a major Nissan supplier must come with responsibility.

“I’m often asked if it’s a benefit or a hindrance that we predominantly work with Nissan,” said Mr Barnett.

“I absolutely see it as an advantage. With more investments being announced we’re confident about the future and are able to streamline our manufacturing to provide a perfect product.

“As Nissan’s biggest supplier in the region, there is pressure. We work on just-in-time manufacturing so to say our operations run like clockwork is an understatement. We also must ensure we remain competitive, providing cost reduction and cost improvements, but it’s a relationship that works well.”

There are several selling points that Mr Barnett believes makes Calsonic Kansei such a successful partner for Nissan. “We’re based inside Nissan or within ten minutes driving distance, so that’s definitely an advantage.

“The geography of the North East is a plus, with our access to our ports and airports. As a Japanese owned company, face to face meetings are important and the proximity of Newcastle Airport means I can be at a meeting in Japan and be back in Washington for the rest of the working week if I have to.

“You can safely say that wherever you might find a Nissan factory worldwide, Calsonic Kansei will be nearby,” explained Mr Barnett.

“We’re constantly available to our client. Hindering the production lines at Nissan is not an option and we’re proud to have a relationship based on trust and reliability.”

With changing models, styles and improving emission standards this is a business open to adaptability and ready for the next innovation.

“If the last few decades are anything to go by, we’re aware we need to be ready for change,” explained Mr Barnett.

“Our business doesn’t stand still and we work with our head office in Japan and with our clients to develop a clear strategy with innovative product lines.

“For example, we manufacture exhaust systems. The increasing popularity of electric vehicles could be a huge concern for us, after all, the one thing electric vehicles don’t need are exhausts. But we’d rather see this as a challenge.

“We have a state of the art press shop, welding capabilities and the ability to produce plenty of intricate components that are needed in every vehicle around the world, so there are a number of options for us to safeguard the jobs of our employees if the situation arose.”

As one of the region’s major employers it’s clear the protection of jobs and investment into its people is extremely important to this manufacturer.

Every member of staff is expected to go through rigorous company training including health and safety, the philosophy of the business, quality assessments and waste reduction. They even go so far as testing walking speed. Too slow and you may be wasting valuable time within a just-in-time environment. Too fast and you may be at risk of an accident. It’s a well-oiled machine.

Calsonic Kansei is now well established in the North East and looks even further than its commitment to its clients and employees.

Mr Barnett explained: “We make parts for cars, we do it extremely well but I see our role in our region as more than that. Of course our main priority is to provide our clients with the highest quality parts but we have another duty – to deliver more and better jobs.

“If we continue to grow our business we can continue to offer good careers and employ the right people for the right jobs. As well as offering good customer service and being cost effective we are passionate about providing a stable future for our employees, some of whom have been here for 30 years. We have fathers and sons working here together and we have a duty to them.

“We do a lot of work with local schools, visiting them and inviting them within the factory walls to see what goes on inside a business, whether that’s on the floor or within sales, purchasing, finance or delivery.”

As an engineer himself, Mr Barnett began his career as an apprentice in 1983, and is passionate about promoting the benefits of engineering.

“We do as much as we can to show various options. I might be biased but I believe an engineering background can lead to great things. Young people considering an engineering apprenticeship should think of the long term benefits, be prepared to put the work in and not expect instant success overnight.”

Calsonic Kansei is an active supporter of Work Discovery Week and has plans in place to face a potential shortage of skills in the North East due to a shortage of apprenticeships over the last 15 years.

“When it came to people retiring or being promoted there was no one in the pipeline waiting for their chance. We offer a range of apprenticeships from technical, product to manufacturing engineering, depending on the requirements of the business. It’s important to us and the workings of our business that our pipeline remains full.

“We also work with graduates and run a Management Development Programme encouraging time on the factory floor to show exactly how the business works and learn management skills.”

With such a responsibility to the region Calsonic Kansei works closely with Sunderland City Council with monthly meetings to share plans for the future and receive support in applying for government grants to make the business even stronger for its employees, both current and future.

This manufacturer may have roots in Asia but it is now firmly at home in the North East.

“We want to continue the proud history of North-East manufacturing. Whether it comes from our industrial roots or not, our region’s people have a strong work ethic and sense of pride in their work. We’re proud of what we do and we want to do a good job,” said Mr Barnett.

And if you’re wondering what car he drives? A Nissan, of course.

James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce had the opportunity to tour all four of Calsonic Kansei’s North-East sites.

“Calsonic Kansei is an NECC member doing remarkably well,” he said. “Not often in the headlines, it’s easy to forget that this company is one of the region’s top employers and the North East is indebted to the hard work they continue to do to deliver more and better jobs.

“Their commitment to their employees, apprentices and graduates is clear to see and I look forward to seeing how their work alongside education providers progresses in the years to come.

“Nissan and Calsonic Kansei continue to work extremely well in partnership and are undoubtedly valuable attributes to North-East exporting.”