When Taguchi Sho first arrived in Singapore in 2021, it wasn’t straight to the plant floor. Instead, his new chapter began with a one-week quarantine, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It felt like being released from prison when it ended,” Taguchi laughs.
Taguchi spent five years at Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC)’s Plant Engineering Center in Kanagawa, designing Air Separation Units (ASUs) for customers in Japan. Today, as Manager of Plant Operations & Productivity in the Gas Production division, he oversees daily operations of the main and on-site ASUs, leads construction projects, and drives productivity initiatives across the LNOX group.
Delivering Results In Productivity
Taguchi’s technical expertise has delivered big wins. Last year, his team replaced the molecular sieve adsorbent at our MMG15,700 liquid plant. The upgrade, which was completed in-house, is expected to save the group approximately SGD 500,000 annually.
In FY2025, his contributions supported the 30MM Productivity Program, where LNOX group achieved SGD 4.68 million in total cost reduction – more than 5% of the total cost stack.
Blending Cultures, Building Trust
From day one, Taguchi knew that success here wasn’t about copying the Japanese ways of working.
“I focused on understanding and adapting to the local culture first,” he says.
Over time, he has blended positive Japanese values such as attention to detail, punctuality, and responsibility with the open-mindedness and flexibility that make a multicultural team thrive. Celebrating colleagues’ traditions, whether it’s Deepavali, Chinese New Year, or Japan’s own Setsubun, has been one of the highlights of his time here.
Growing as a Leader
Working in Singapore has sharpened Taguchi’s decision-making and taught him the importance of empowering his team.
“Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about guiding the team to perform at their best.”
A Taste of Local Life
Outside of work, Taguchi has embraced Singapore’s food culture. “At first, I wasn’t used to adding chili sauce to my food but now I can’t live without it,” he says with a smile. He’s also picked up a few ‘Singlish’ phrases, like “Can lah” and “So fast ah?” which helped him connect with the colleagues here.
Looking Ahead
In the months ahead, Taguchi is focused on helping our group achieve its 30MM Core OI target and support the deployment of a remote operation system connecting ASUs in Singapore and Malaysia.
His Message to his Colleagues
“Thank you for your daily support and teamwork. I truly appreciate the warm working environment you have created, and I’m committed to contributing as much as I can during my time here.”
