Tremendous Passion for Motorcycles:
All-rounder’s Challenge Pursuing a Unique Career
Ralph Ronald Monta Asinas
Sales Department I, Sales Division, Motorcycle Business Supervisory Unit
CAREER
- 2017
Joined Honda Motor Co., Ltd. as fixed-term employee for discharge process, Yorii chemical module, Yorii Finished Vehicle Factory, Saitama Plant, Production Division
- 2018
Appointed as a regular employee, Production robot operations, Yorii chemical module, Yorii Finished Vehicle Factory, Saitama Plant, Production Division
- 2020
Electrical components, Cost Management Section, Purchasing and Planning Department, Life Creation Business Headquarters
- 2023
American Honda liaison, North American Group, Sales Office 1, Sales Division, Motorcycle Business Supervisory Unit, Motorcycle and Power Products Business Unit
Arrived in Japan at age 16
I am from the Philippines and visited Japan for the first time when I was 16. My mother was working in Japan, and I originally planned to stay there for just three months and go back to Philippines, but I felt more at home than I had expected, so I decided to continue to stay. What impressed me the most in Japan was that people were very nice and polite.
After graduating from high school in Japan, I went to a vocational school and started working in an airport as a ground staff member which is called “ramp coordinator”. My job was to support the safe operation of airplanes by making detailed coordination with each department and the pilots and crew to ensure that flights departed on time. Although my mother recommended me that I should have worked in the airport and she was happy about my situation, I loved cars and really wanted to work in car industry. While looking for a job close to what I wanted to do, I found an opening for a fixed-term worker that would allow me to challenge myself even with no experience. The reason why I chose Honda out of all the automakers was very simple: I liked the Civic Type R and NSX. This is how my career in Honda began.
Outstandingly dynamic, the path to wide career opportunities
After working as a fixed-term worker for one year, I could get hired as a full-time employee thanks to recommendation from my boss. Normally, temporary workers are assigned to a specific line, but I was interested in processes other than my own, so I asked my boss to let me try to work on other processes, and I got to work on all processes in my department. As a result, I became an all-rounder, and people began to say like this “If there’s a problem, leave it to Ralph.” They gave me a lot of opportunities to advance my career, and gave high evaluation to what I had done, I think, which brought me full-time position.
After that, I was transferred to the Purchasing Department with the recommendation of my previous supervisor. However, when I found the selling price of a product could be lower or higher depending on the adjustment of parts prices, which would eventually affect the customers’ desire to purchase the product, and affect the company’s profit, I realized the importance of my role and how interesting it was to think from a management perspective.
COVID pandemic awakened interest in motorcycles
The turning point for me was the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the place where I lived was far from work and commuting was not convenient, so I bought a Cub. I started riding it simply as a means of transportation, but it was fun, and to my surprise, even though I had always driven cars, my interest quickly shifted to motorcycles. I wanted to enjoy motorcycles even more, so I got an ordinary motorcycle license, and I started to hope to do a job related to motorcycles.
Honda conducts an in-house “Challenge Open Recruitment” initiative in which employees can request to be transferred to various positions within the company. As I was getting addicted to motorcycle more and more, I found an opening for an overseas sales position in the Motorcycle Sales Department. The system is attractive, but applicants need to think carefully the impact of transferring to another department. I dare to tell my supervisor what I thought, and he told me, “You should experience many new things while you are young,” and my colleagues also encouraged me to take on the challenge. I was then transferred to the motorcycle department, and here I am today.
keywordChallenge Open Recruitment initiative
This initiative is designed to motivate every employee to take on new challenges in order to achieve their own dreams and goals, as well as to further enhance Honda’s vitality. Applicants may be assigned to a department or job of their choice after passing a document assessment and an interview.
Always work with respect for others
My current main job is a sales contact with American Honda Motor, our U.S. subsidiary. I receive vehicle orders from the U.S., adjust production volume based on sales targets and performance, and control wholesale prices and sales volume. Just as the head office has its own ideas, the U.S. sales office, Kumamoto Factory, and Thailand have their own needs. We need to make mutually beneficial proposals based on an understanding of the culture and rules of each location, and always try to negotiate while respecting the other party’s position and ideas.
I am able to do this kind of job because I have English skill, a deep-seated love for motorcycles and a desire to help the people I work with. Honda has a philosophy of “Respect for the Individual,” which emphasizes open communication without being bound by hierarchical relationships, and bottom-up decision-making is very common. Since joining Honda, I have never felt that I am working as a foreigner, and people around me always treat me equally. Because of this environment, I would like to treat everyone equally and value the “Respect for the Individual.”
Wanting to contribute to the entire motorcycle business
If you rase your hand and tell what you want to try, Honda gives you a opportunity to try it. From the time when I was working at the factory to today, I have had many experiences at various locations. I am who I am today because I have been working based on the “Three Reality Principle,” which emphasizes genba [actual place], genbutsu [actual thing] and genjitsu [actual situation], and Honda is a company that allows its employees to take on challenges. In the future, I would like to be involved in motorsports-related work. I would like to do a job in other countries but Japan to contribute to the motorcycle business in the future.
keywordThree Reality Principle
Honda’s management philosophy that emphasizes the importance of making decisions based on real, firsthand information. This is an important concept that has been handed down since the time of founder SoichiroHonda,and refers to a mindset in which the three “gen” (actualities) are respected.
My work-life balance
I am a part of an in-house racing team and spend most weekends at the circuit race. I also got a license. I am studying to be a mechanic, but I hope to participate in races as a rider. I am practicing hard, hoping that my participation in races will encourage even one of the younger employees to take an interest in motorcycles.
*Content and employee organizations are accurate as of the time of the interview.
The Diversity of Honda Associates
