The installation training network began as a challenge to solve the shortage of sash and curtain wall installation technicians. Taking on challenges in collaboration with partners, and going from Japan to overseas

In order to enhance those technical capabilities, YKK AP has established installation training centers around the world, beginning with the opening of one in China in 2004, to provide installation training. We spoke to Masao Kurose—Head of the Technology Group, Installation Technology Department, Design and Installation Technology Division, Commercial Business Division—and Takehisa Yokoyama—Head of the Installation Group, Quality Assurance Improvement Office, Design and Installation Technology Division, Commercial Business Division—about YKK AP's installation training amidst the varying challenges we face in each country and region.

At YKK AP, we consider installation companies to be our partners, not just vendors. This is because we believe that the quality of workmanship by sash and curtain wall installation technicians greatly affects the value of YKK AP products, and that it is important for both the manufacturer, YKK AP, as well as the installation company responsible for the work, to cooperate and understand each other.

While YKK AP and the Installation Collective both aim high to create better buildings, the Japanese installation industry is facing a major challenge. That is the shortage of sash and curtain wall installation technicians. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's survey of the installation industry and skilled workers, approximately 34% of those involved in the installation industry as of 2015 were 55 years old or older, while approximately 10% were 29 years old or younger. These numbers are quite serious in Japan, with its aging population. The veteran sash and curtain wall installation technicians who support today's installation industry can be expected to retire in the next few decades, making it vital for installation companies nationwide to pass on veteran skills to younger workers.

Traditionally, personnel development in the installation industry has been conducted through an apprenticeship system. In this system, the master passes on his skills only to his apprentice, and the apprentice hones his skills by watching the master at work. There is a limit to the number of young people that one veteran can teach their skills to, and it is said that it takes about 10 years for an apprentice to master the skills and become independent. This challenge faced by our partners is also a challenge for YKK AP. YKK AP and the Installation Collective considered if it would be possible to establish a system that would allow as many young people as possible to absorb the skills of veterans.

To address this issue, in 2013, we launched the Installation Skills Training Academy (hereinafter, the Training Academy), where veterans of the Installation Collective teach and train younger workers. The Training Academy is set up in a corner of the Namerikawa Plant, which is the manufacturing home for curtain walls and other building products, and trainees make step-by-step progress from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels. Each course is limited to eight students at a time. As the small number of trainees intensively refine their skills, they are asked to output the skills they have learned through practical application in the real world before they can move on to the intermediate and advanced levels. Through this repetition of input and output, the Training Academy aims for trainees to become full-fledged professionals in as little as six years.

Yokoyama, who was involved in the launch of the Training Academy, noted that there was some resistance to the idea. "There were veterans who said, 'Why do we have to teach outsiders the skills we have worked so hard to acquire?'" However, he continued, "In response to those opinions, the belief that 'We don't need to be afraid of people stealing our techniques. We just need to refine our techniques more,' became prevalent among the Installation Collective's members, and due to the spread of this idea, the Training Academy became active."

We are not just providing installation training at our installation centers and opening a Training Academy, but also providing actual on-site installation training for each property project. Up to this point, together with the Installation Cooperative in Japan and YKK AP employees, we have shared the key points for installation and important notes about the products with technicians while conducting actual on-site guidance in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, and other countries. "There are many different installation methods in different parts of the world. We never think that Japanese methods are the best, but rather, we show respect for local methods while steadily searching for the best," said Yokoyama. Since building standards vary widely around the world, providing guidance in accordance with Japanese standards is not appropriate. We support our partners in improving their installation techniques by providing installation training tailored to the culture and climate of each region.

Kurose continued, "Neither we nor the Installation Collective are fluent in the language of each region, but we communicate with each other using the local language, even if it is hard to do. If it's difficult only communicating verbally, we have colored in the architectural construction drawings and moved forward by using analog methods creatively." Remote support via smartphone calls was also provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are continuing to conduct exchanges with each region.