With Japan facing a major decline in construction workforce numbers, companies need to think differently to find effective solutions. For logistics and building firm KND Corporation, that means embracing overseas recruitment and human resource (HR) strategies, including a successful technical intern program teaming one Japanese worker with four to five foreign technicians for large-scale construction of homes. The program allows a team to complete the wooden structure of a house in a day, with over 1,200 housing units per year built by the company while also improving the skills and development of incoming staff. Facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), KND has conducted specialized training in Myanmar since 2017, producing 370 skilled graduates. The ongoing program features technical internships and worksite Japanese language lessons taught alongside safety and quality awareness.
“Our program has trained around 400 technical interns in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and the training is ongoing,” said President Mitsuru Kanda. By leveraging this expertise, KND aims to become the leading company in on-site lo
gistics and wooden building construction. Driven by customer demand, the firm created the bukko business model which means combining logistics and construction, and then further integrated HR services. These services have contributed to customers’ business development and have been recognized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism with its Future of Construction Award. As a proud member of the Asian community, Kanda said he also hopes his foreign staff working in Japan will adopt KND’s business model and then spread Japanese skills throughout the region. Upon their return home, they will contribute to their country’s development. “With our overseas business expansion, we will improve the environment for bukko in housing construction across Asia. This is our mission,” said Kanda.
