Automotive Business

Made-in-China Raw Materials

Our raw materials made in China have been been used in Japanese automobile parts, paints and adhesive markets mainly in China, but also shipped to Japan and ASEAN countries.
Unlike typical made-in-China materials, we offer materials that do not have foreign matter mixed or lot-to-lot difference.

Metal Sulfides

Our solid lubricants (metal sulfides) offer an extensive product line, which have been used in automobile parts and resin compounds. We provide materials that meet detailed requirements including particle size, appearance, and sliding properties.

Case 1：Sensing of long-term durability test of rubber

Challenge

The test is to be continued until the rubber breaks, and it has been for a while, but no changes have been observed, including the inside of the rubber.

Solution

The distortion of the entire product including the inside of the rubber as well as the change over time in the stress distribution were successfully measured.
The most suitable sensor used for measurement was selected from various choices including laser markers and strain gauges.

Case 2：Quote calculation and integrated information management with 3D product database

Challenge

Making quotes for manufacturing of parts take quite some time and effort since much coordination is required among multiple departments and many skills belong to individual employees.

Solution

Utilizing software to integrate management of 3D data such as CAD and point clouds, information of similar cases in the past can be referred to.
By linking data such as cost of material, design, and logistics, calculation of quote based on various orders have been optimized for efficiency.

Case 1："Visualization" of production status of old and new equipment by retrofitting sensing

Challenge

Both new and old equipment are mixed, and we want to improve the production efficiency by on-site management that depend on individual employee, by deploying the IoT including the old equipment to understand and analyze the capacity utilization more accurately.

Solution

The signal output from each equipment is investigated, where data that can analyze the capacity utilization with the same index is acquired from the sensor.
A system with alerting function was constructed for quick improvement in the case when production efficiency declines.

Case 2：Life predicting AI for cutting tool

Challenge

Even when the blade of the tool is the same and new, the time until it breaks and the number of times used vary, so we want to be able to predict the lifetime in advance at least to some extent.

Solution

We conducted the 3D analysis of the tool shape to construct an AI model that predicts how long it can be used for processing using the measured values.
Since it is possible to estimate the number of times it can be used, or the time it will take until it is damaged, we were able to improve the non-efficiency such as emergency stops with the broken blade or replacing the blade that can still be used.

Case 1：Automation of visual inspection of iron plate

Challenge

Sheets of iron plate are processed then inspected by human labor for appearance, but we want to automate the inspection process using a camera to detect scratches.

Solution

Human inspection is reproduced with multiple cameras. Constructing a system to mark the position of defect detected by AI reduced not only the cost of labor but also complaints about quality.

Case 2：Image recognition for cable inspection in engine room

Challenge

The cable connection in the engine room is checked manually, which is taking a lot of manpower.

Solution

For automobile engine rooms, we have prepared a high-accuracy image recognition model that can distinguish even the slightest differences, reducing the inspection time. In addition, management cost is reduced by saving labor.

Case 1：Preventing loss of returnable boxes with RFID tags

Challenge

Having an overwhelming number and types of returnable boxes makes management more complicated, and there are many cases of loss and/or unknown location.

Solution

By attaching an RFID tag to each returnable box, it is now possible to accurately record and distinguish which box is out of the company warehouse and which box currently is stored in the company warehouse, without human control.

Case 2：Systematic management of material shipped out of warehouse

Challenge

When the material is shipped out of the warehouse, details are indicated on a sheet of paper for record, etc., but the number of inventory and details are often incorrect due to entry errors of the number or the name of products. Also, there is duplication of effort as the data is then input in a spreadsheet in Excel.

Solution

Utilizing a software that runs on a tablet device and record the data electronically reduced handwriting errors and saved duplicating work of re-entering the data into Excel.
In addition, linking with the core system made it easy to update data and share them in the company.