At the forefront of used car exports! Ensuring “Sync Logistics Quality” though a high level of teamwork and efficient yard operations.

Profile of Wataro Nakazawa, Kyushu Yard Section, Yard Operations for Automobile Exports Department

Graduated from the Faculty of Sports and Health Science of Fukuoka University. He joined Sync Logistics mid-career in 2019, and was assigned to the Yard Operations for Automobile Exports Department. Currently, he is the head of the Kyushu Yard Section where he is committed to smooth yard operations.

Transporting Customers’ Vehicles in a Better Condition

The job of the Yard Operations for Automobile Exports Department is to manage customers’ (used car exporters) vehicles at port facilities called yards before they are exported. Sync Logistics’ yards are located in Hakata, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and others; and I am in charge of operations at our Hakata Yard.

A yard is where cargo (vehicles) is stored temporarily before shipping, and where we do all the necessary preparatory work before the vehicles are exported. Such preparatory work include bringing used vehicles bought by customers at auctions to the yard, checking the condition of the vehicles, making repairs, taking photos for customers’ websites and for our own in-house management, and vanning (packing vehicles in containers). In addition, problems that may occur while the vehicles are being processed by each person-in-charge are dealt with promptly.

For customers who buy used cars on online auction sites, we check the car on their behalf and inform them of the car’s condition because there are cases when we can’t really tell what condition they are in. If we think the car needs to be cleaned or repaired to pass pre-export inspections, we will suggest this and work on the car, which happens a lot.

Our role is to transport cars entrusted to us by customers, and to transport them in an even better condition than they were in. Each used car has a different condition than the rest, and customers also have different kinds of requests on managing the cars. The work to be done on them also varies depending on the destination country. We handle each car one by one and treat each one with the utmost care.

Cooperation with Various Partner Companies is a Must

For vehicle management operations to proceed smoothly at the yard, we must cooperate with many people, including our partner companies. Such outside companies include overland transport companies that bring vehicles from auction sites to the yard, drayage companies that transport containers loaded with vehicles, and inspection companies that conduct export inspections. Aside from roll-on/roll-off (RORO) transport where vehicles are loaded directly onto the ship, we also offer vanning where multiple vehicles are packed in a container for transport so we also have subcontractors who specialize in vanning.

We cannot do our work without the cooperation of such specialists, so we communicate and cooperate thoroughly with them to ensure the smooth delivery of vehicles to the yard and their removal from the yard.

Achieving Optimal Yard Operations while Prioritizing Efficiency and Safety

I value efficiency and safety in work. A limited number of people must complete all tasks within a certain period of time.

For this reason, I am most concerned about the layout of how cars are arranged in the yard. The yard is very big, so if the cars are not properly arranged, work efficiency will go down. Every day, I try to make the optimal layout that factors in the details of the customers’ requests and the number of storage days before export so that other team members can work efficiently and safely.

Our in-house system “La-Plus” which allows us to share information with customers is also helpful in managing vehicles efficiently. At the yard, we can register car information and photos which customers can access anytime which is advantageous to both the customer and yard workers.

With our Slogan “Sync Logistics Quality” and Teamwork, We Pull Through

When customer requests come all at the same time, there are times when the number of cars we manage more than triple. It’s very hard work, but the yard team is always thinking about maintaining “Sync Logistics Quality” that only we can provide.
How can we provide high quality service with a limited amount of time? Each team member thinks about this, and when problems arise, we overcome them through teamwork. It’s rewarding and fun when everyone works well together and achieves our goals.
Honestly speaking, when there is so much work, there are times when we think there is no way we can finish everything by their deadlines. Nevertheless, if we analyze each task, and carefully do them properly while considering efficiency, we can find ways to finish them by their deadlines. I’m happy whenever I complete a task by the deadline, and I feel like I’ve grown a little.

Working at a Yard is Physically Challenging. Seriousness and Attention to Detail are also Essential.

I think that those who are physically fit and serious are suited to yard management work. It might be a difficult job for those who aren’t confident in their physical strength because much of the work is done outside. You can get soaking wet on rainy days, or you’re sweating under in the sun in 40 C temperatures during the height of summer.

This job also involves many repetitive tasks that stay the same, and the working environment doesn’t change much. Nevertheless, I think this job is suited to those who can work carefully and pay attention to detail without cutting corners.

I used to play in a rugby club, and this job suits my personality because I can do my work the way I did club activities. The work atmosphere is also comfortable. I would like to continue working with the yard team and our partner companies in promoting efficient yard operations.

Wataro Nakazawa (during his rugby-playing years)

I look forward to working with you all.