About Mitsubishi Electric Factory AutomationThe Road to Automating the WorldInterviews with People Involved in the Factory Automation Systems Business
Enhancing Japan’s Monozukuri Culture for Greater Safety and SecurityYuya Nakamura
Service Business Planning Group, OT Security Business Development Department.
Joined Mitsubishi Electric in 2018.
2025-12
Mitsubishi Electric’s FA systems business aims to enable employees to fully demonstrate their ideas, technologies, and beliefs to achieve the common goal of “Automating the World.”
Through the “Road to Automating the World” series, we share their authentic voices from around the world.
This article features an interview with Yuya Nakamura, who is in charge of planning and promoting digital services for OT (Operational Technology) security.
Promoting the Adoption of OT Security from a System-wide Perspective
── How did you come to join Mitsubishi Electric?
Nakamura:Since childhood, I dreamed of working in a field where I could create tangible things. While job hunting, I considered joining a home-appliance manufacturer so that I could contribute to improving people’s lives. Among those companies was Mitsubishi Electric, which produces both home appliances and automotive equipment, a field I have always loved. I felt that I could grow while pursuing my interests at Mitsubishi Electric. After joining the company, I was engaged in the design of automotive motors at Sanda Works (now Mitsubishi Electric Mobility Corporation). In 2023, I transferred to my current department via the company’s internal job posting system.
── Please share with us what your current job responsibilities are and what your mission is.
Nakamura:I belong to a team that plans and promotes digital services for OT (operational technology) security, protecting equipment and systems used at production sites and other facilities from cyberattacks. My responsibilities include planning new services and building systems to monitor customers’ networks and servers (i.e., operational design for security operation centers (SOCs)). I also provide customers who have newly adopted our services with support for improving their businesses and enhancing efficiency (i.e., system integration support for introduction).
── What kind of challenges do you face when promoting OT security?
Nakamura:It’s the fact that people are yet to realize how important OT security is. Many companies invest in IT security because it affects PCs and other devices that we use every day. However, when it comes to security at production sites, the majority of companies have yet to take any measures for various reasons, often because they simply don’t know where to start. While an increasing number of countries are becoming more aware of the importance of OT security, I am working hard to promote its adoption here in Japan as well.
── With that ambition in mind, is there something specific you are trying to do?
Nakamura:I am trying to understand the big picture. I believe it is also important not to be afraid of entering uncharted territory. But by understanding the whole scope and by pushing forward with projects with that perspective, I believe I can deliver better results.
Supporting Society from “Behind the Scenes of Monozukuri”
── What made you realize the importance of understanding the big picture?
Nakamura:I was appointed a project leader about just over a year into my career at Mitsubishi Electric. Unfortunately, I ended up stepping down halfway through the project. I felt I had become overwhelmed by the unexpectedly large volume of tasks, the uncertainty in the direction of the project, as well as the insufficient understanding from relevant departments. Under the guidance of my senior colleague, who took over as the project leader, I regained my focus and motivation and started to understand the whole scope of the project and the necessary steps. I was later re-appointed as the leader to bring the team together. My understanding of the big picture allowed me to take the initiative in coordinating stakeholders, resolving problems, and enabling the project to be successfully completed. Through this experience, I have developed a holistic perspective, which is helpful in my current duties, when coordinating and driving projects.
── Following those experiences, what do you find the most rewarding in your current job?
Nakamura:It’s when I acquire new knowledge or deepen my understanding. As OT security is a new field where no right answers have been established, it requires a broad perspective that spans all aspects of technology, operations, and business. While there are challenges, that’s exactly what makes it engaging and rewarding. It is an opportunity to learn through trial and error.
── What sort of future do you want to create through your job?
Nakamura:Monozukuri (the Art of Manufacturing) has an appeal as it contributes to people’s lives through tangible value. At the same time, “behind the scenes of monozukuri,” in which I am involved, also has great significance and appeal as it supports the safety and reliability of operations. As the environment surrounding the manufacturing industry and its infrastructure is dramatically changing, OT security is essential for building monozukuri with safety and security. Therefore, I believe that a wide-spread OT security culture needs to be established in Japan. As a result, I am aiming to create digital services that will generate new value in the future and bring peace and security to people daily lives.
*This article is based on interviews conducted in December 2025.
