Developing technical personnel

It is engineers who are at the heart of our development environment and create new products and solutions that have never been seen before.
Through the Advanced Engineer Recognition System, Canon recognizes top-class engineers, contributing to existing business and seeding new business. Recognized engineers are offered compensation commensurate with their contribution to the company. The career paths of Advanced Engineers are mainly divided into two types: “In-depth Technology” and “Technology Deployment.” To allow engineers to deepen their areas of expertise in their respective career paths, Canon provides them with opportunities tailored to their needs, including an overseas study program and multiple internal rotations across different departments. In this way, they grow to become technical personnel on a global level. Canon offers engineers an environment that encourages them to take challenges, thus creating innovation.

Advanced Engineer Recognition System

The Advanced Engineer Recognition System of Canon aims to contribute to existing business and seed new businesses by finding and supporting employees who lead R&D. Under this system, top-class engineers involved in the development of technologies that are decisive for the success of existing business or the creation of new business, and key technologies expected to contribute to profits over the medium to long term, are recognized as “Top Scientists,” “Top Engineers,” or “Technology Leaders.” Recognized engineers are offered compensation aligned with their contributions to the company, such as a certain amount added to their salaries as an incentive. In addition, they have more opportunities to contribute to the development of science and technology through participation in academic societies and industry organizations as individuals responsible for the core of Canon's technology.

Overseas study program

Since 1984, Canon has been offering an overseas study program for employees to acquire core technologies and to broaden their horizons and build personal connections with outside researchers through R&D activities on a global level. To date, more than 100 engineers have studied at Stanford University, Imperial College London, and other institutions through this program. After their return to Japan, they have worked in positions supporting Canon’s technical core, for example, as the heads of R&D divisions or managers in charge of overseas R&D bases.

Career paths of Advanced Engineers

Career paths of Advanced Engineers at Canon are roughly divided into two types: “In-depth Technology” and “Technology Deployment.”

■ In-depth Technology path
On the In-depth Technology path, engineers will deepen their expertise in recording, sensor, and other core technologies through overseas study and collaboration with external parties. They also develop peripheral technologies required for commercialization and company-wide standardization (integration into platforms) to achieve a broader scope.

■ Example of an In-depth Technology career path of an engineer

①	Applies for engineer overseas study program and studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, for two years.
②	Writes a paper on protocols for early Wi-Fi technology, which is selected as the best paper at an academic conference.
③	Devises a new Wi-Fi method for setting up wireless connections between devices, which wins the President's Prize for Excellence in the Invention Awards of the company.
④	The developed wireless technology is implemented in Canon’s first digital camera with built-in Wi-Fi.
⑤	Creation of telecommunications technology platform. Wi-Fi technology is standardized and built into all camera products.
⑥	Wi-Fi technology is built into all multifunction office printers, reaching beyond the boundaries of the product area.
⑦	Focus on obtaining patents required for international telecommunications standards.

■ Experience of an Advanced Engineer on the In-depth Technology career path
The turning point in my career was studying abroad. Research brought me both challenges and rewards, but I was very fortunate to be invited to participate in a project where I could put my research to use. It was launched after my return to Japan, and I became one of its starting members. My subsequent career cannot be described without mentioning the team. I believe that a major factor in the success of the project was the fact that the team members helped each other and worked together in friendly competition under the three strategies of incorporating the technology into products, acquiring patents, and achieving international standardization.

■ Technology Deployment path
On the Technology Deployment path, engineers develop their careers while refining base technologies such as optical technology and automation technology through system design and implementation. Through multiple internal job rotations across different departments, they help to deploy technologies in various products and areas using abstractions and models.

■Example of a Technology Deployment career path of an engineer

①	Involved in equipment design technology at the Production Engineering Headquarters.
②	Acquires expertise in automation element technology for inkjet printer heads and ink tanks through work.
③	Involved in the development of automatic assembly equipment for inkjet printer heads.
④	Involved in the development of automatic assembly equipment for mirrorless camera bodies by horizontal expansion of automation technology.
⑤	Systematizes the flow of building automated equipment systems as learned from experience with multiple automation projects. Systematization for expansion of automation to other products.
⑥	Transfer to Digital Printing Business Operations.
⑦	Focus on deploying “standardized automation machines" that produce each unit constituting a multifunction printer and inkjet printer, by use of equipment based on a common concept. Currently working on automating entire factories, including in-factory logistics, in addition to automation of assembly.

■Experience of an Advanced Engineer on the Technology Deployment career path
In Canon's culture, development and production work in unison to evolve manufacturing. Here, I have accumulated experience in collaboration across divisions and positions to achieve common goals. The environment at Canon allows cooperation with respect for each other’s expertise and encourages challenge, and this leads to growth and results. I feel that it is this culture that nurtured me as an engineer. Canon is the ideal place for anyone who is truly passionate about manufacturing.