While a student at a two-year technical college, I was crazy about mini-bike racing. Even more fun than racing them at the circuit was tuning a muffler or engine to maximize performance. Seeing how, for example, adjusting the tightness of one screw could subtly improve engine torque, I fell in love with mechanical things.

That’s why I chose SNM. Before I joined the company, I didn’t know anything about manufacturing huge electrical generation turbines and oil refinery pumps, but the work has a level of complexity and difficulty that can’t help but stimulate the curiosity of someone who loves mechanical things. I’ve now been with SNM for seventeen years, and the technological challenge and interest of the job have only increased with time.

My job is manufacturing steam turbines and process pumps. Used mainly for electrical generation, our steam turbines efficiently convert the heat energy of steam into mechanical energy. SNM offers everything from a huge 70,000 kW turbine to a high-reliability, high-speed manufacturing plant turbine, and delivers products to the US, Australia, and practically every country in the world.

Centrifugal pumps are essential to processes in oil refineries, natural gas plants, and other facilities that turn natural resources into energy. SNM manufactures a wide variety of high-pressure, multistage process pumps that conform to the universally recognized standards of the American Petroleum Institute, the same organization that sets the standards for motor oil grades. Selling pumps to Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, and practically every country in the world, we've earned an overwhelming share of this market.

I’ve taken many trips overseas to install our products in customers’ facilities. One of my most important experiences was an oil refinery project in China, which required two trips to, and a total stay of two months in Karamay, located in the Chinese Gobi Desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Breaking through the language barrier and getting used to local customs were two big challenges for me.

As Japanese people often do overseas, I tried to communicate with simple English, but when that approach failed I frequently requested an interpreter's help. Also, the Chinese method of communication required confirming details with everyone involved at every stage of the project, which consumed a considerable amount of energy on my part. I really loved the people, however, and I was truly moved when the customer threw a birthday party for me (although I decided not to eat one of the dishes—frog!—that was served).

Making every product to order is an exciting aspect of my work. During assembly, we can’t use industrial robots, since all of our processes require meticulous crafting with wrenches, screwdrivers, and other hand tools. As one might imagine, I was in love with tuning up my mini-bike, but now I am in complete bliss.

Another appealing aspect of my job is teamwork: up to ten persons from sales, design, manufacturing, and quality control work together for a year or more on each product. It's exhilarating to join forces with others and accomplish a goal together, be mentored and mentor others, and back up your teammates at all times. Although your experience here determines your position, a manufacturing associate eventually gets to see and do it all. SNM is definitely a workplace where doing your best earns your colleagues' trust. Technology is important, but building good people skills is also an essential part of any career.

If you are an SNM engineer, you strive to improve technological knowledge and skills while deepening your understanding of the customer's perspective. If you focus on the meaning of the task at hand, bearing in mind the importance of every single bolt, in time your technological skills are sure to grow. At the same time, your understanding must go beyond the assembly line: "What does the customer really want? What is the customer concerned about?" The ability to anticipate and solve problems begins with standing in the customer's position, and becoming a true professional takes years.

At first, however, you'll make mistakes and learn the fundamentals of the job. At first I often blanched with fear and embarrassment at the mistakes I made, but my mentors simply told me that something learned by making a mistake could never again be forgotten. As it turns out, the road to mastery is long and difficult.

To perform at your best, you need to take time off to recharge your batteries. For me, the weekends are all about soccer, and I've also been coaching a grade school soccer team for five years. The playful energy of the kids becomes my own. I still ride motorcycles, too, and tour three or four times a year. SNM has many associates like me who value their pastimes, and the company supports a clear division between work and private life.

With only 400 associates, SNM is not a big company, but our incredible flexibility and unity allows us to address challenges quickly. I think the feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction we experience working together would be hard to find at another company. I am also proud that, although we are small, we serve major customers around the world. I look forward to working here my entire career.