November 2021 Volume 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Middle (September 2020) Interviewwith Asahi Forge of America - HiroDegawa What was the biggest challenge of the original Coronavirus wave and shutdown? AFA had no volume, but we had to defend our associates. During the period of no income, we made our associates comfortable. We had no plans to lay off, so if we had cash, then they were protected. What is the biggest challenge now? People and the market condition. There have been changes to these areas. How do we think internally about associates, same as before? How do we use remote work? This is an opportunity to run trials. How will OEM and Tier 1 change with this, will plans change as vehicle requirements change? What type of lifestyle changes will impact us? We are full of questions. Do you feel your governor did a good job controlling the pandemic? From a business aspect…unemployment and everything else was delayed for companies and individuals who were needing it. And since then, manufacturing does not have enough associates because of the government spoiling American workers with fat unemployment checks. We want to make the company a private business and the government is using our taxes to fund this effort to spoil associates. What are your recommendations to the U.S. government concerning pandemics? Make it in the USA. There are many large Automotive OEM’s still purchasing parts from other countries because of low cost. But the pandemic creates problems and parts slowdown from these countries. Education is the basis for everything, and the government should teach more associates trades, and this is the young people that need to be educated. Interviewwith Asahi Bluegrass Forge -Mack Ishigaki What was the biggest challenge of the original Coronavirus wave and shutdown? 1. Keeping our associates free of infection. 2. Not having concerns from our customers concerning our operation. 3. Continuation of our business. These were the three biggest challenges we had to deal with during the beginning of the pandemic. What is the biggest challenge now? 1. Still keeping our associates free of infection. 2. Trying to maintain a profit after 10 weeks of shutdown and figuring out how to return lost profit to the company within remaining fiscal year. 3. Finding ways to help improve local economy. For example, if we work Fridays, we order take out from a local restaurant for a group lunch.

Do you feel your governor did a good job controlling the pandemic? Yes, I do. When COVID-19 came, we felt it was a natural disaster, so we believed the governor and did as he advised. The CARE Act came to help, mask protection was advised, and we were ready. Could someone else do any different? Maybe, but he did a good job, and we believe the creator would not give the world a problem that cannot be fixed. Did the new facility start up change the way you thought about the pandemic? There was nothing different other than a short-term delay, but customer said to move forward so everything is ok. What are your recommendations to the U.S. government concerning pandemics? Provide accurate and steady information and share everything so we may react to protect our associates. Today (June 2021) Hiro Degawa - “It is no use crying over spilt milk.” Since COVID-19 occurred, while shutdown business long time, many people have forgotten a lot of common-sense things that matter in ordinary life. Many people cannot back to normal and it looks like people have forgotten that they need to work to get money. This is the true negative impact of COVID-19. Mack Ishigaki - “Disaster strikes when you least expect it.” It is important to standardize all employee responses, business responses, and regional responses learned from the pandemic with the new normal standard. History repeats itself. ■ Perry Bennett General Manager, Sales Asahi Bluegrass Forge 3007 Bill Robertson Way

Richmond, KY 40475 Phone: 859-358-4173 Email: pbennett@abf-ky.com

FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2021 57