Hayleys Plantations’ management team returns from AOTS- Japan training programme
A group of 25, corporate leaders and best-performing employees in estate management from Sri Lanka’s leading regional plantation company, Hayleys Plantations, recently returned home after completing the acclaimed AOTS-Japan training programme.
Organised by the Association for Overseas Technical Corporation and Sustainable Partnership (AOTS)Japan, the highly specialised management and leadership development training programme is customised for employees from Hayleys Plantations. The training session aims to enhance employee capabilities in leadership, business strategy and philosophy, and Japanese management systems, including quality management strategies, the company said in a media release.
"By equipping our employees with a detailed understanding of business strategy, innovations, use of quality management tools and best practices in sustainable plantations management, we hope to enhance their skills and capabilities to address future challenges and gain a strong competitive advantage over the long term,” said Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr Roshan Rajadurai.
A collaborative partnership with the Japan Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association (JATSECA), the training programme comprised key classroom learning sessions for an in-depth understanding of management concepts taken up by Japanese corporations from strategic management approaches towards innovation, transformational leadership to team-oriented approaches for employee engagement.
“A particular emphasis was placed on the development of progressive leadership skills, as well as the implementation of sustainable management practices adapted from the tried and tested experience of the Japanese private sector – which is considered the global gold standard for efficiency in management. Backed by this knowledge we are confident that Hayleys Plantations will play a pivotal role in enhancing our local industry through the introduction of global best practices,” noted Hayleys Plantations’ Deputy General Manager- HR and Corporate Sustainability, Anuruddha Gamage.
Over the course of the training programme, Hayleys Plantations employees were given access to individual sessions on Japanese management techniques including 5S, Kaizen, Total Quality Management (TQM), and the world-renowned Toyota Production System (TPS) in addition to special sessions on transformational leadership, business innovations, business strategy and philosophy. The programme included factory visits to several reputed Japanese business such as Toyota, Panasonic, Avex and Kirin Beverages giving participants first-hand insight and practical exposure into effective, sustainable management practices.
The pool of 25 consisted of corporate management team members, including the Managing Director and other heads of operational divisions and emerging leaders in estate management. The training programme conducted at the AOTS- Kansai Kenshu Centre (KKC) in Osaka, Japan concluded with the team committing to the ‘Osaka Resolution’ as the way forward strategy for Hayleys Plantations.