Engineers Interviewed
A. H.
Assistant Manager, Application Sales Planning Department, Marketing Division, Sales Headquarters
After joining TAIYO YUDEN in 2010, A. H. gained experience ranging from product design to mass production launch in the department responsible for the development of component-embedded boards. He then moved to the New Business Planning and Development Department, and currently serves as a Field Application Engineer (FAE), involved in marketing, market expansion, and technical support.
Y. M.
Product Development Department, Multilayer Capacitor Division, 1st Business Headquarters
After joining TAIYO YUDEN in 2016, Y. M. has been involved in the development and mass production of 1005 size embeddable MLCCs in the Product Development Department.
T. K.
Product Development Department, Multilayer Capacitor Division, 1st Business Headquarters
After joining TAIYO YUDEN in 2019, T. K. worked at its subsidiary, NIIGATA TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD., on secondment for two years, and was involved in the mass production launch of embeddable MLCCs, among other work. He is currently in charge of developing 1608 size MLCCs.
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Note:Department names and other organizational affiliations are those of the interviewees at the time of the interview in February 2026.
Development Challenges and Efforts to Address Them
Y. M.
Embeddable MLCCs have been mass-produced for a long time. However, as they were conventionally designed for PCs and smartphones, new issues have arisen in developing high-capacity MLCCs for AI servers. We take on each issue every day, including how to apply external electrodes and plating, while identifying the technologies required to ensure stable mass production.
To address these issues, we have also changed our equipment settings while cooperating with the Analysis and Quality Assurance Departments within the company. We also hold regular meetings with the FAE Department where A.H. works, and share information on the progress of product development and customer feedback. Instead of trying to address issues within the Product Development Department alone, we cooperate with various departments to develop cutting-edge products.
T. K.
While I was on secondment to NIIGATA TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD., I faced many challenges in launching mass production of MLCCs. The company is responsible for mass-producing cutting-edge products that were first brought into mass production at the TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. Tamamura Plant in Sawa District, Gunma Prefecture. We had to manufacture products while taking into account productivity, production stability, yield, and other factors to achieve profitability, which made me keenly aware of the importance of taking a broad view of things. Based on this experience, I also share Y. M.’s view that it is important to strengthen cooperation with other departments and sites so that we can take immediate action whenever issues arise.
Job Satisfaction
A. H.
The development of AI servers involves many companies through a horizontal division of labor, including server and semiconductor manufacturers, as well as manufacturers of circuit boards on which electronic components are mounted. As our embedded components require structures that enable their embedding into boards, manufacturing them is highly demanding for each manufacturer. This makes it all the more crucial to establish relationships with these manufacturers. I get a sense of job satisfaction particularly when I consult with members of the Product Development Department to analyze customer problems and issues, consider how to overcome them, and provide technical support.
Y. M.
Close communication with members of the FAE Department allows us to recognize customer feedback promptly, and this close relationship with our customers helps us stay motivated. We can take action based on a thorough understanding of customer requests, thereby approaching our work with a sense of responsibility.
T. K.
I get a sense of satisfaction when, in developing products, I set a final goal and develop a roadmap toward achieving it, proceed along the roadmap, and successfully achieve that goal in the end. In addition, minor issues often arise during the mass production stage, and when I identify their root causes and fundamentally resolve them, thereby contributing to cost reduction, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going.
Future Goals as an Engineer
A. H.
I would like to continue focusing on making proposals to a wider range of customers so that many of them will think of TAIYO YUDEN when it comes to embedded components. Since expanding our product lineup is also important, I wish to proceed with product development together with members of the Product Development Department.
I believe that trust is at the core of an FAE’s job. I have always kept this in mind, and I would like to remain an FAE who is trusted both inside and outside the company, with people thinking, “I can leave this matter to him.” Even though the AI server market is particularly competitive, I will continue to make every effort to support our customers.
Y. M.
Among all of our products, this embeddable MLCC is special to me, as it has been developed and brought into mass production in collaboration with various departments. Therefore, I am committed to my work with a great sense of responsibility. Even though I expect various challenges ahead, I would like to face and steadily overcome each of them.
T. K.
As an engineer, I would like to launch a product that will become one of TAIYO YUDEN’s flagships. As I was seconded to NIIGATA TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. in my fourth year after joining TAIYO YUDEN, I was able to learn about the mass production framework at a production site at a relatively young age. I would like to leverage this experience as my strength and engage in product development while keeping mass production in mind.
While I proceed with my work in collaboration with various departments, I believe that the Product Development Department bears responsibility for final technical decisions. With this awareness and sense of responsibility in mind, I would like to continue to manufacture even better products.
