Safety and Prevention

The Mitsui Chemicals Group established its first Plant Operation Technology Training Center in Mobara in 2006, and then in Nagoya in 2007, to train plant operation personnel. Chemical plant operators are trained in Mobara, and the Nagoya center provides training programs for operators of fabricated products plant. We are striving to develop a pool of talent who are "strong in operations and facilities with a focus on safety" through hands-on, experiential training utilizing DX technology, including simulated experience training using virtual reality (VR) technology, targeting not only our Works but also our R&D centers and indirect departments, as well as employees of our domestic and overseas affiliates.

Furthermore, in fiscal 2025, we plan to launch a new course on non-technical skills with the aim of enhancing human skills (the ability to appropriately choose and execute actions when engaging with others).

Since fiscal 2020, the Plant Operation Technology Training Center has introduced simulated online training programs as substitutes for hands-on, experiential training. These programs are provided to Mitsui Chemicals’ plants as well as domestic and overseas Group companies.

Each training program is custom-designed to meet the specific needs of each company, including the skill level of participants and the types of risks they are likely to encounter. Using AI-based simultaneous translation, the programs are delivered in local languages such as English, Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, Spanish, and Dutch. Attendees have reported that the web training programs are easy to understand and provide a good insight into the work, even though they cannot physically experience it. Although we recognize that such web training programs cannot replace real physical training programs, we continue utilizing it as a sustainable training style that is suitable for the digital society, with benefits such as not requiring lecturers and trainees to travel.

Since fiscal 2018, the Plant Operation Technology Training Center has been conducting on-site training programs by dispatching staff directly to the Company’s Works and affiliates.In fiscal 2024, 307 employees at our five Works and 771 employees of our affiliates participated in the program. The VR safety training program, which allows participants to realistically experience the dangers and severity of accidents through virtual simulations, has been offered since fiscal 2020 as a new training opportunity involving equipment lending.

Since fiscal 2018, we have been proactively focusing on developing human resources that will serve as the foundation to support the global business of the Group. We offer educational programs and training support not only for Mitsui Chemicals but also for domestic and overseas subsidiaries and affiliates, customizing them to the specific needs of each company.

For affiliates in the Southeast Asia region, the Operation Excellence Training Center (OETC) of the Siam Group in Thailand has been giving training courses in Thai and English. The Siam Group is capable of providing the same level of training as in Japan, utilizing the training system and knowhow licensed from us. In addition, with training in local languages now feasible using AI-powered simultaneous interpretation, online training has helped to increase training opportunities for overseas affiliates, such as organizing curricula in accordance with the needs of each company.

Our training centers have been open to other companies since fiscal 2015 so that they can train their employees to handle hazardous materials. The demand for human resource development and training for production site safety is extremely high, and many companies from different industries utilize our Centers. Our programs are highly rated by attendees with comments such as: “I learned many things that I can utilize in my company,” and “It was easy to understand through experienced-based training through case studies of past accidents and injuries.”