Furukawa Electric DX Strategy



Medium-term plan for promoting DX

Toward FY2025 “Improve MONOZUKURI capabilities by accelerating the introduction of DX”

Focusing on MONOZUKURI DX, we are drafting and planning highly effective measures and working to establish AI/IoT solutions

At Furukawa Electric, DX has been positioned in the medium-term management plan as a management strategy to be conducted top-down, and we have created a vision and policy and shared them within the company. The Digital Transformation & Innovation Center (DXIC) is the organization responsible for promoting DX companywide, and it is working to propose DX, establish AI/IoT solutions and implement ICT infrastructure (work operation apps, infrastructure governance). During the term of the 2025 Medium-term Management Plan, we are working with priority to draft and plan highly effective MONOZUKURI DX measures and accelerate the generation of effects.

Preparing data and an environment

SAP has been introduced as the core system, and while renewing the legacy factory systems and expanding the acquisition of data through IoT, we are steadily enhancing both the quality and quantity of data. However, the data is still not being sufficiently used in daily work operations and shared between worksites and organizations.

We are working to install “data integration infrastructure” for centrally managing the accumulation and analysis of data companywide, as well as promote the consolidation and use of that data.

Expand the scenes in which data is utilized

With the aim of improving data-driven business management with the ability to immediately respond to changes in the business environment, we will promote digitalization at every level, and realize faster management decisions throughout the organization.

Specifically, the management dashboard will be enhanced at the same time the SFA/MES/production planning systems are prepared. In order to accelerate the expansion of the scenes in which data is utilized, for the important solutions in high demand, we will prepare “standardized digital solutions” that combine the collection, accumulation, processing and utilization of data, and quickly deliver them to the business divisions.

Train data utilization skills, and make the use of data a common practice

In order not to fall behind the accelerating AI developments and use in business processes, along with strengthening the capabilities of the specialist teams, we will strengthen the initiatives for increasing digital user literacy companywide, and accelerate the training of personnel who can use AI/data (increase the capabilities of all staff members).

  • Prepare a platform
  • Provide training in analysis tools
  • Utilize conversational AI

Framework

Establish a framework with lateral functions for promoting DX within Furukawa Electric Group, focus on MONOZUKURI DX, draft and plan highly effective measures, and establish AI/IoT solutions.

As a core pillar of DX promotion in Furukawa Electric Group, along with strengthening the digital technology, utilize that technology to contribute to achieving the targeted SDGs and solving the social issues by generating innovation that will strengthen the businesses.

Research & Development
  • Shorten material development time through the use of materials informatics
Manufacturing (Smart factories)
  • Increase factory management speed, and accelerate the feedback
  • Promote automation (AI image inspections/ Passing down skills)
  • Predictive facility maintenance
Fast acting management
  • Management dashboard
  • Semi-automate standard management reports
DX promotion Draft MONOZUKURI DX, and support initiatives
Solution & technology development Establish and provide AI/IoT solutions
Infrastructure Standardize IT infrastructure, enhance the functions, and organize & strengthen governance
Train digital personnel Increase IT literacy, and train & develop digital personnel
April 2020
Established the “Digital Innovation Center (DIC)” within the R&D Division.
Actively incorporated AI/IoT in MONOZUKURI and KOTOZUKURI, and increased actual implementation.
April 2022
Transferred to the Strategy Division, and strengthened DX proposals and training
April 2023
Integrated into the ICT Strategy Planning Department, and renamed DIC to Digital Transformation & Innovation Center (DXIC).
Plan and draft AI/IoT solutions and MONOZUKURI DX, and centralize the planning, implementation and operation of IT infrastructure, core systems and business systems within Furukawa Electric Group.

Initiatives

DX promotion

  1. 1.
    Activities aimed at drafting and planning initiatives with a high level of contribution to the business
  2. 2.
    Based on the needs of each division, support DX planning and solution establishment, as well as the implementation of initiatives

Solution and technology development

Superior technology

Technology characteristics
  • Utilize data and image analysis to reduce inspection costs and increase quality
Increase customer satisfaction
  • Establish infrastructure technology directed within the company
  • Increase product quality, reduce costs and enable stable production
  • Shorten product development time
Compare with other companies or compare with existing technology
  • Agilely provide AI solutions within the company
  • Establish “standardized” solutions used companywide
  • Survey the projects based on an overhead view, give priority to projects that will have high impact, and generate effects

Applications and target domains

  • Increase the efficiency of image inspections through the use of AI
  • Establish analysis infrastructure for process data and experiment data
    　　→ Improve quality and yield by making manufacturing data visible in real time through the use of IoT and rapid feedback
    　　→ Create an AI model for predicting the characteristics of new materials, and increase design efficiency by 20-50%
  • Under the 2025 Mid-term Plan, focus on MONOZUKURI DX within the company, and through MONOZUKURI DX, establish “standardized” AI solutions. In the future, provide solutions directed at creating new value

Main development themes

Image inspection solutions Automate and increase the efficiency of visual inspections through the use of AI

Reduce mistakes through the use of AI, and move personnel to higher value-added operations

Data driven factor analysis Develop a model that predicts the characteristics based on the process data, and create products with the desired characteristics

Quickly analyze the factors, and take actions for process variability

Establish data analysis infrastructure and materials informatics Based on the use of AI models, establish analysis infrastructure that integrates the data

Greatly shorten the time it takes to develop new materials

  • Characteristic predictions that incorporate various material and product data
    Create an AI model
  • Use the AI model to output recipes for materials that meet the required specifications of the new product
  • Enable rapid development and commercialization (Increase efficiency by 20-50%)

Infrastructure

  • Expand the functions in the IT infrastructure domain: Security at each group company
    Support target achievement and strengthen NW/communication infrastructure functions
  • Prepare group IT governance: Strengthen governance within the group, and make appropriate investments toward optimum IT operations

Train digital personnel

Efforts are being made to train digital personnel within Furukawa Electric Group.

  1. 1
    Raise the IT literacy level companywide
  2. 2
    Increase knowledge / utilization level
  3. 3
    Train personnel in the business divisions who can carry over the solutions