One Team
Interview with Sumitomo Electric
Every two years, young skilled professionals from around the world come together to showcase and compete in the skills they have developed at the WorldSkills Competition. As a sponsor of the Information Network Cabling skill, Sumitomo Electric has supported the competition since 2013.
Our commitment goes beyond simply providing products. By contributing to skills development and the training of the next generation of skilled professionals, we strive to help advance the industry as a whole. We spoke with members of our Mechatronics Products Department, who have been leading these efforts with this vision in mind.
The WorldSkills Competition (hereinafter referred to as “WorldSkills”) is the world’s premier skills competition, where young skilled professionals selected from countries and regions around the world compete in their respective fields.
In the Information Network Cabling skill, which Sumitomo Electric supports, competitors demonstrate their expertise in optical fiber splicing and network cabling installation.
For many competitors, WorldSkills is such an important stage that some devote an entire year to training for the competition. Many have aspired to compete in WorldSkills since high school and continue to pursue their dream of competing even after joining a company. For them, WorldSkills is a challenge they dedicate themselves to wholeheartedly.
Another aspect that makes the competition so fascinating is that there is no single right answer. Competitors create their own designs and aim to achieve the highest possible quality in the shortest time. Even in something as simple as how they arrange the cabling, each competitor brings their own ingenuity. Watching them skillfully use a wide range of products to complete an entire series of tasks is truly a demonstration of professional craftsmanship.
Sumitomo Electric first became a WorldSkills sponsor at the 2013 competition in Leipzig, Germany. Although it was an unprecedented initiative for our company, the strong conviction of the manager in charge at the time paved the way for Sumitomo Electric’s involvement.
Initially, however, there were some questions within the company. While our fusion splicers are prominently featured in the competition, there are also products such as fiber optic termination boxes and field-installable connectors whose Sumitomo Electric origins are not immediately apparent.
In response to the question, “Is there really any value in doing this?” the manager in charge at the time gave a clear answer:
“This isn’t about whether we can promote our products. We have a responsibility to develop talent, pass on technical skills, and contribute to the growth of the industry as a whole. That is our responsibility—and our social responsibility—as the leading manufacturer in the industry.”
More than a decade later, this conviction remains at the heart of everything we do.
I also serve as a judge at the national competition, where ensuring fair and impartial judging is always my top priority. At the same time, Sumitomo Electric provides technical support that only a manufacturer can offer.
As competitors become highly familiar with using fusion splicers, they often have specific requests for customization to suit their individual preferences and techniques. We work closely with each competitor and fine-tune the equipment settings to help them perform at their very best. This is a level of support made possible by our expertise and know-how as a manufacturer.
Sumitomo Electric’s support goes far beyond providing equipment and sponsorship funding. Through detailed support from the competition design stage all the way through to the day of the event, our years of experience and accumulated expertise have earned us the strong trust of the WorldSkills organization.
What moves us most through this initiative is seeing the competitors themselves. Having watched their efforts closely over the course of a year, we can truly appreciate just how seriously and passionately they have dedicated themselves to the competition.
Things they could perform flawlessly in practice do not always go as planned on the day of the competition due to nerves and pressure. We have witnessed many competitors shed tears of frustration. On the other hand, there are also moments when competitors perform to the full extent of their abilities, reach the top, and shed tears of joy.
And their stories do not end with the individual. Everyone cheers together, celebrates together, and shares in the disappointment together. Witnessing these moments is truly moving. With no personal interests involved, we are deeply touched each time we encounter the competitors’ pure passion and wholehearted dedication. It inspires us to do our best as well and leaves us with a renewed sense of purpose.
After competing at WorldSkills, many competitors continue to demonstrate the high level of skills they have honed through the competition. Some go on to train the next generation of medalists as instructors, while others pass on their skills at worksites overseas. Some are recognized as Contemporary Master Craftsmen or receive the Medal with Yellow Ribbon, one of Japan’s honors for outstanding skilled professionals.
The skills and experience cultivated through WorldSkills transcend the lives of the individual competitors and are steadily passed on to the next generation.
In 2026, the WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai. Japan will then host the WorldSkills Competition in 2028, making this year an important step toward that milestone.
WorldSkills is still not widely recognized, particularly in Japan. Yet while Japan continues to emphasize its strength as a “nation of manufacturing,” the passing on of skilled expertise to the next generation has become a serious challenge. This competition makes a significant contribution to passing on skills to young professionals and advancing installation technologies. It is an extremely important platform for showcasing Japan’s advanced technical expertise to the world.
Our purpose as a company is not simply to pursue profit. We want to develop talent that can contribute to the industry as a whole, and nurture the next generation who can help carry Japan’s manufacturing excellence into the future. While not many manufacturers actively take on this kind of role, this is the kind of company we aspire to be.
By engaging with each individual and bringing something positive to society as a whole, we believe that our efforts will ultimately come full circle and contribute to our own growth as well.
We will continue to embrace the passing on and advancement of skills with a strong sense of purpose. Through our sponsorship of WorldSkills, Sumitomo Electric will continue to support the future of the competitors and the industry.
Sumitomo Electric Industries, LTD.
Mechatronics Products Department
