DENSO Manufacturing Michigan in Battle Creek makes cars heat up (or cool down) efficiently.

Company

DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. (DMMI)

Regional Location

DMMI occupies 1.38 million square feet of manufacturing, warehouse, and administrative floor space on more than 100 acres of land at 1 Denso Road in Battle Creek, Michigan. Operations began locally in 1986.

The Big Picture

• Denso Global represents more than 140,000 employees at 200 companies in 38 countries and regions around the world.
• Founded in 1949, its global headquarters is in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
• North American headquarters is in Southfield, Michigan

Website

densocorp-na.com

Key Executives On-Site

• Andris Staltmanis, President
• Stephen Milam, CEO of North American Thermal Group

It’s Why

DENSO’s vision for 2020 is “protecting lives, preserving the planet, and providing a bright future for generations to come.” One of the largest global automotive suppliers of advanced technology, systems, and components, the company is pushing the automotive society towards a future where cars put less drag on the environment and drivers have fewer worries about traffic accidents.

Making it in Michigan

DENSO has invested $300 million and created 1,670 new jobs in Michigan from 2012 to 2015.

What They Make Here

More than 134 truckloads of finished goods leave DMMI each day. Inside containers are automotive air conditioning and engine cooling components and systems, including:

• Condensers
• Radiators
• Engine Control Modules (ECMs)—Condensers, Radiators, and Fan Modules
• Heater Cores
• Evaporators
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Units

Look Under the Hood

Automotive heating and cooling products made in Battle Creek can be found in nearly all major automakers’ cars—Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, Subaru, Hyundai, and Nissan.

Products made in Battle Creek are shipped to 11 major customers at 46 locations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Who Works Here

Production management, production associates, machine technicians, and skilled tradespersons. Engineers, quality engineers, and production control operators. Logistics specialists such as supply chain, distribution, transportation, and inventory management. And, corporate functions like accounting, purchasing, business planning, and human resources.

Culture

DENSO is committed to associate development and growth, with many career paths, on-site training, and tuition reimbursement. On-site services benefit associates, including a fitness center with tennis and basketball courts, a full-service medical center for employees and their family members including a pharmacy, an on-site OMNI Community Credit Union branch, and a full-service cafeteria.

Commitment to Community

DENSO is strongly committed to the local communities where it does business. In 2015, DMMI was was recognized as the Large Business of the Year by the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Career Educator & Alliance Employer of the Year, and an Environmental Leader by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. DMMI was awarded the United Way Heritage Award in 2016 for its long history of partnership and served as the flagship sponsor for Battle Creek’s Making Strides campaign.

…And Transformative Learning Experiences

DMMI is committed to strengthening STEM-based curriculum and robotics education in regional K-12 classrooms. A number of its engineers support Project Lead the Way coursework at places like Lake Center Elementary, Otsego Middle School, Gull Lake Middle School, and Lakeview High School.

Now Hiring

The facility has expanded 11 times since DMMI started operations in Battle Creek. Most recently, DMMI announced a $37 million investment in machinery and equipment to expand automation for next generation products. Part of this July 2016 investment was the creation of 300 lead associate positions, predominantly filled by existing employees, and the hiring of 125 new employees.

Seeking Spirit

Because DMMI serves as the hub for North American thermal product manufacturing, there is a wide variety of functional opportunities available locally. Production needs call for skilled trades journeymen, machine repair technicians, electricians, team leaders, and assembly/machining roles. In addition, there are professional openings in production engineering, quality engineering, profit planning, purchasing, and occupational health.

DENSO looks for skilled candidates who exhibit the DENSO Spirit—its values of foresight, credibility, and collaboration. Apply at densocareers.com.