Mr Claes Palm, Vice President of Human Resources at Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE), was rewarded in October for his contribution to strengthening the company’s image as an attractive employer. TMHE conducted an interview after the ceremony to know more about what this meant.

TMHE: What does being elected ’HR Director of the Year 2012’ mean to you?
Claes Palm: I am delighted to have received such a distinction. This is clear proof that we – the company and my colleagues – work closely together and are moving in the right direction. Of course, it is also a very rewarding personal achievement.
TMHE: TMHE was also chosen as ’Employer Branding Company of the year’. What new challenge do you see ahead?

Claes Palm: I believe this is a good moment to further align and coordinate TMHE’s messages to the public and the way in which we approach the market with our offer as a leading material handling supplier, but also as an excellent employer
TMHE: Why would you recommend TMHE to young talents looking for a career launch?
Claes Palm: TMHE offers a wide range of challenging tasks for any young potential and the possibility to build a short-term or long-term career in Sweden and abroad. Anyone joining the company can be surprised how quickly she/he can assume significant responsibilities as a project manager or a group leader – in short, a highly skilled expert.

TMHE: What aspects of your career at TMHE do you value most?
Claes Palm: Our company has the perfect blend of open-mindedness, freedom of speech and evolution, entrepreneurial spirit as well as diversity. The company relies on professionals with a strong sense of loyalty, pride and passion for their responsibilities.

TMHE: With your background and experience, what message would you send to newcomers?
Claes Palm: Personally, I would advise anyone interested in developing a genuine career to join TMHE and thus the Toyota family. We believe, encourage and invest in potential. We also know that trust is important in building long lasting relationships, both with customers and employees and we rely on the contribution that talented and committed people can further bring to our company and to our inherited values.

TMHE: The Toyota Way philosophy is made of 5 core values. Would you pick one and describe what it means to you?

Claes Palm: It is very difficult to choose one value only: they all act as a whole. But I would like to address ’Genchi Genbutsu’. It is a very concrete and useful way of thinking and acting, both in and outside the working sphere. Our leading philosophy is built on transparency, openness and honesty. These are achieved and maintained over the years by analysing, by constantly going to the root of facts and by looking at causes, by questioning ourselves so that we can make greater progress.

TMHE: How do you apply the Toyota Production System (TPS) thinking in your daily work and your private life?

Claes Palm: TPS is always present in my mind. I try to reduce ’muda’ (unnecessary waste) by focusing on practical matters but also by reflecting on how processes can be improved in the ’Kaizen’ way. At a personal level, I try to strike the right balance between the challenging working hours and spending time with my family and friends. Both worlds are important and I have always tried to combine both effectively.