Iwasaki Electric plans to establish new TechnoCenter (Technology & Development Center) in Saitama Plant to consolidate R&D, design and engineering functions
Oct 19, 2015
Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd. will establish a new "TechnoCenter (Technology & Development Center)" in the premises of Saitama Plant (Gyoda-shi, Saitama Pref.), as the central core of the company's technological development.
The TechnoCeneter will be a four-floor building with the total floor space of 6,300m², able to contain up to 600 persons. The construction is expected to be completed by April 2017.
Approx. 300 employees from technological and engineering functions of Light Source, Luminaries, Applied Optics, Circuits, Production, New Technology Development, and Simulation (measurement/testing/assay) Divisions will be assembled at the Center, along with those from some administrative functions as well as Quality Assurance and Intellectual Property Departments. The planned investment amount is 3.2 billion yen in aggregate.
Iwasaki Electric is driving forward a "Reform Project" in the areas of R&D, design, manufacturing, and logistics.
In the manufacturing area, with our unique approach called "Large-room", we have been making continuous reform efforts in manufacturing in pursuit of productivity while considering quality and cost from development phases, with an aim to build up a mechanism that makes the whole supply chain visible and achieves a "lean" supply structure.
In the logistics area, a new distribution warehouse is currently under construction in the premises of Tsukuba Iwasaki Co., Ltd. (Sakuragawa-shi, Ibaraki Pref.), the Group's LED lighting manufacturing plant.
It is a part of our efforts for "realignment of distribution bases" aimed at improving inventory turnover, shortening operation time in warehouses and reducing transportation cost by introducing most-advanced distribution management systems.
The remaining issue was the area of R&D and design.
To resolve the situation where R&D and design functions are dispersed to Light Source, Luminaries and Applied Optics Divisions, the company launched the "TechnoCenter Initiative" several years ago. And now the company will establish the TechnoCenter in Saitama Plant by consolidating its technological and engineering functions to further enhance the efficiency of development.
This will accelerate cross-organizational sharing of technological expertise and information; collaboration with domestic and international key partners; and product development adaptable to the global market, thereby enhancing synergy effects between technological and engineering functions and strengthening collaboration with Product Planning and Business Strategies Departments.
In addition, not only assembling technological and engineering functions, TechnoCenter will also introduce state-of-the-art analytical measurement instruments, environmental testing devices and prototyping equipment, in order to realize high-added-value products unique to us with higher quality and lower cost.
Furthermore, for the purpose of strengthening communication, the Center will introduce a Web-based conference system that connects with and between overseas and domestic locations to establish a manufacturing network around TechnoCenter acting as the hub.
TechnoCenter Initiative
The TechnoCenter will:
- Assume the role of the pivotal base of technological development of Iwasaki Electric Group.
- Define the position of Saitama Plant as the mother factory by placing it at the center of the Group's technological development.
- Deepen our technological capabilities beyond organizational boundaries both inside and outside the company, while striving to achieve thorough "lean" operation in manufacturing processes, and reinforcing integrated strategic activities.
- Deepen, promote and expand the practice of Headstream Development (Large-room) from early phases of product planning, both in Lighting and Applied Optics businesses.
- Introduce state-of-the-art analytical measurement instruments, environmental testing devices and prototyping equipment to enable further speed-up of product development under strict quality control by making effective use of the company's various processing technologies.
- Establish a manufacturing network around TechnoCenter as the hub for the purpose of sharing information and strengthening communication.
- Set up an analytical laboratory area to accumulate analytical measurement technologies and core technologies in order to enhance quality and overall technological capabilities resulting in creation of high-quality and high-added-value products.
- Introduce a Web-based conference system to utilize the Center also as the hub of our global supply chain.
Not only a mere consolidation, the Center will also have physical layouts and environment that will inevitably bring about interchanges between engineers, in order to facilitate open innovations by promoting exchange of technological expertise within the company and strengthening collaboration with domestic and international business partners.
Iwasaki Electric's way of generating product competitiveness
Headstream Development
Development that takes various requirements such as product performance, design characteristics, member/material cost, on-site productivity, etc. into consideration from early phases.
Put together currently-dispersed R&D, design and engineering functions to generate synergy effects between various technologies and reinforce planning capabilities
Outlines of TechnoCenter
Location
Saitama Plant, Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd., 1-1 Ichiriyama-cho, Gyoda-shi, Saitama Pref., 361-8505 Japan
Expected date of construction start
April 2016
Expected date of completion
April 2017
Facility outline
Building structure: Steel frame; 4 stories above ground Total floor space: 6,300 m²
Population capacity
Up to 600 employees
Planned investment amount
Building: 2.2 billion yen
Development equipment: 1 billion yen
Total: 3.2 billion yen