Established in 2005 in Washington, DC, the Center for Professional Exchange (CEPEX) is a non-profit (501c3) organization, that provides support and collaboration at the professional level between the US and Japan. Recently CEPEX has been exploring a new initiative in the post/with-COVID-19 era. Yukio Tada, Chairman of the Board of CEPEX, visited 6 states on a fact finding and feasibility study tour for a new program.

In autumn 2018 CEPEX launched a seminar series on U.S. workforce development called “Japanese Innovation and Experiences Implementing New Technology in the U.S./From ‘Product Out’ to ‘Market In’”. This initiative was supported by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) under their U.S.-Japan grassroots program. The main concept was how to nurture next-generation workforce development in the 2020s that was beyond “Just in time (Kanban) & Kaizen” ~ vocational training associated with the transfer and expansion of the Japanese auto and auto-parts industry of the 1980s.

CEPEX organized six seminars in the Midwest and Southeast region including Fort Wayne, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Dublin, Ohio; Fayetteville, Arkansas; plus, Memphis and Clarksville, Tennessee. The initiative was expanded to two seminars in Oregon and a seminar in Jacksonville, Mississippi, however they were unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19.

Today, our society faces a new challenge, as we move from ‘Market In’ to ‘Market Return’. During the COVID-19 lockdown many people were stuck at home and began to buy items online. Increased online sales and deliveries led to more items returned. The total value of returned goods in U.S. retail market dramatically grew from $309 billion in 2019 to $816 billion in 2022 with a return ratio of 16.5% per year. In 2021 the return market size overtook North American automobile industries and is becoming a huge social problem.

In addition to the organization’s existing exchange support program, CEPEX has been seeking new opportunities to promote collaboration with the private sector, government authorities, non-profit organizations and educational institutions, on how to address workforce development issues and the 21^st Century workplace. Following Mr. Tada’s fact finding and feasibility study tour, CEPEX would like to create a new initiative “Japan-America Joint Vocational Training Program on all Returns Market. (Responsible Refurbish, Reuse, Recycle and Reduce)”. More details will follow.

Top: With Yoshihiro Sasaki, CEPEX OH Representative in Arkansas

Bottom: With Yasushi Sunouchi, CEPEX Special Advisor in Washington, DC