Eliminating Subjective Equipment Renewal Decisions by Plant Managers: Launch of 'Factory Concierge Service'

Sankyo Valve Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Representative: Hiroya Nagaaki) has launched the full-scale provision of the 'Factory Concierge Service' from June 2026 through its group company, Kyowa Shokai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Oita City, Oita Prefecture; Representative: Masaya Mikajiri). Targeting medium-sized food manufacturing plants, the service addresses the current industry challenge where equipment condition assessment and renewal decisions heavily rely on individual experience. By providing comprehensive support—from equipment condition assessment and selection to troubleshooting and energy-saving measures—the service enables a shift toward preventive maintenance and planned equipment management.

Industry Challenges and Service Development Background

Factory equipment can be broadly categorized into two types: 'production equipment' and 'utility equipment'※1. While production equipment is visible and typically maintained on a regular schedule, piping and utility equipment hidden within walls or ceilings are difficult to inspect for deterioration, often going unnoticed until a failure occurs. This is largely due to chronic staffing shortages, which place the burden of equipment monitoring, repair decisions, and energy efficiency compliance on a single plant manager. As a result, decisions are often based on personal experience, creating a systemic industry-wide challenge.

This service emerged directly from real-world field insights. Kyowa Shokai's sales team, working closely with food manufacturing plants across Kyushu, repeatedly engaged with customers on equipment challenges and energy efficiency regulations. It became clear that simply supplying materials was insufficient to address deeper operational concerns. Sankyo Valve Holdings' strength lies in its dual capabilities: a trading function with access to diverse suppliers and an in-house engineering function capable of handling everything from design to construction. By integrating these strengths across the group, the company has formalized a 'Factory Concierge' service that supports plant managers in decision-making and equipment management, aligning closely with customer perspectives in daily plant operations.

※1 Equipment that supplies water, air, steam, and other utilities within a factory

Key Features of the Concierge Service

By centralizing all inquiries and requests through a single concierge window, the service creates an environment where plant managers can make informed decisions, leading to stable operations, cost reduction, and effective knowledge transfer.

The specific service offerings include the following five components:

On-site Interviews and Inspections

1. Periodic Diagnostics for Informed Renewal and Repair Decisions

Through customer interviews and on-site inspections, the service periodically assesses the overall condition and challenges of piping and utility equipment. By systematically evaluating deterioration levels and prioritizing issues, it enables proactive troubleshooting and facilitates clearer decision-making for equipment renewal or repair—moving beyond reliance on individual experience.

Recreating Factory Interiors as 3D Data

2. Factory Visualization via 3D Scanning

Many factories lack original design drawings or have unclear piping layouts, making it difficult to gather accurate information during emergencies and delaying repair decisions. Using specialized cameras, the service captures the factory interior and converts it into 3D spatial data. This enables rapid assessment during equipment failures and reduces the risk of production line stoppages.

Comparing Specifications Across Multiple Manufacturers and Re-evaluating Based on Usage Conditions

3. Optimal Equipment Selection Leveraging Trading Capabilities

In many factories, equipment specifications and manufacturers adopted at the time of establishment continue unchanged during replacements, often resulting in over-specification for current operational needs. By comparing multiple manufacturers and re-evaluating specifications based on each factory’s unique conditions, the service ensures optimal equipment selection—aligning with actual requirements, reducing unnecessary costs, and extending equipment lifespan.

End-to-End Support from Quotation to Construction

4. One-Stop Support from Design to Construction

When issues such as steam leaks or equipment failures occur, plant staff often spend significant time coordinating quotes, scheduling work, and managing multiple contractors—leading to delays. The service offers one-stop support, covering quotation, proposal, construction, and after-sales support. By consolidating the point of contact, it reduces the burden on plant personnel, allowing them to focus on core responsibilities such as production and equipment management.

Supporting Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Improvements

5. Continuous Support for Energy-Saving Initiatives

Factories subject to Japan’s Energy Conservation Law are required to report energy usage and submit medium- to long-term energy-saving plans. Continuous energy-saving efforts are therefore essential. The service proposes energy-saving measures from a process utility※2 perspective, providing end-to-end support from equipment procurement to implementation. This empowers plant managers to sustainably advance energy efficiency improvements.

※2 Infrastructure systems that supply and recover water, gases, and heat

Customer Testimonial

"We had continued using equipment from the same manufacturer since our factory was established, unaware that certain components were over-specified for our current needs. By analyzing actual site conditions and receiving customized proposals based on updated drawings, we were able to upgrade to equipment better suited to our operations while reducing costs." (Plant Manager, Food Manufacturer K Co.)

Service Implementation Process

Future Outlook

By preventing the personalization of equipment management and promoting preventive maintenance, the service contributes to stable plant operations and cost reduction. Full-scale deployment began in June 2026, currently focused on the Kyushu region. The company plans to expand sequentially into the Chugoku-Shikoku, Kansai, and Kanto regions, aiming for annual sales of 500 million yen within three years and 2 billion yen within five years. Moving forward, the company will continue to provide tailored solutions by closely aligning with each customer’s unique operational needs.

Company Overview

Sankyo Valve Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 12-1 Ishikicho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka) Representative: Hiroya Nagaaki

Founded in 1947, the company has operated for 79 years as a trading firm supporting construction sites through pipe material supply. It has enhanced this foundation with engineering capabilities in design, construction, and fabrication, enabling end-to-end support from procurement to on-site execution. With in-house design firms, manufacturing facilities (off-site production, DX equipment compatible), and construction companies, the group comprehensively addresses challenges at construction sites. Guided by the vision 'Bringing a New Flow to Construction,' it continues to deliver innovative technologies and systems beyond traditional frameworks.

Kyowa Shokai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 2-1-60 Mikawashimmachi, Oita City) Representative: Masaya Mikajiri

Founded in 1950 and joined the Sankyo Valve Holdings Group in 2007. Based in Oita, it specializes in plant-sector pipe materials as a trading company. Leveraging years of on-site expertise and a broad network of manufacturers and specialists, it handles large-scale renovation and new construction projects, as well as equipment proposals and procurement for manufacturing plants.