Turning Craftsmanship Knowledge into 'Company Assets': Harada Sakan Industrial Begins Operational Improvements Using Google Workspace and Generative AI

## Turning Craftsmanship Knowledge into 'Company Assets': Harada Sakan Industrial Begins Operational Improvements Using Google Workspace and Generative AI

Alpaca (based in Osaka, Japan) has begun an operational improvement initiative with Harada Sakan Industrial (based in Tokyo) utilizing Google Workspace and generative AI, including Gemini.

In this initiative, the company aims to create an environment where generative AI is seamlessly incorporated into daily tasks through Gemini-assisted blog writing, internal knowledge utilization using NotebookLM, improved information sharing via Google Chat, and the introduction of 'Internal Reflection Daily Report Gem.'

### Background

In the construction industry, information regarding specific job sites, technical know-how, customer interaction history, photos, and handwritten notes are often scattered among individual staff members, making it a challenge to share and re-utilize them within the company.

Harada Sakan Industrial, which employs over 60 craftsmen and handles diverse construction sites, faced challenges in accurately conveying information received at sales offices to construction sites, and in retrieving past technical information when needed. Furthermore, as the company creates case studies and blog articles, there was a need for a mechanism to maintain quality and improve efficiency while minimizing differences in knowledge and expression among staff members.

### Key Initiatives

#### 1. Blog Writing Support Using Gemini's Gem Feature

Harada Sakan Industrial has built a system to support drafting blog articles that share construction case studies and technical information, utilizing Gemini's 'Gem' feature—a function that allows the creation of specialized AI assistants with pre-set roles and styles. The AI suggests outlines, allowing staff to leverage their expertise while efficiently drafting posts.

#### 2. Organizing Internal Knowledge with NotebookLM

By leveraging Google's AI tool 'NotebookLM'—which allows users to read internal documents and search for information within a Google Workspace environment—the company is making it easier to extract necessary technical insights, past case studies, and judgment criteria, aiming to reduce reliance on specific individuals.

#### 3. Improved Information Sharing with Google Chat

The company is improving information sharing by utilizing Google Chat. By setting up spaces and email integration features, they have streamlined the process of reflecting requests and progress status within chat threads.

#### 4. Daily Report Feedback with 'Internal Reflection Daily Report Gem'

They introduced an 'Internal Reflection Daily Report Gem' to support construction managers and staff in reviewing their own actions and challenges through daily reports. AI provides feedback from a third-party perspective, helping staff articulate their thoughts and habituating dialog for operational improvement.

### Future Outlook

Building on this foundational support, the company plans to gradually explore further applications, such as sample production management, searching for photos and process information, construction instruction creation support, and skill succession AI. Through these efforts, they aim to make knowledge accumulated by staff easily accessible as a common corporate asset.

### Comments

**Harada Sōryū, President and CEO of Harada Sakan Industrial**
'We value AI utilization based on Google Workspace, which our members have already started to use, rather than just introducing AI tools. Alpaca understands the organizational structure of SMEs like ours and supports us in a way that truly takes root in the company. Our employees are gradually realizing the benefits, and we want to expand AI utilization to even more familiar tasks.'

**Shōta Ishigaki, Representative Director of Alpaca**
'Harada Sakan Industrial is a company actively involved in information dissemination and human resource development to pass on technical skills to the next generation. We focused on incorporating generative AI into daily routines starting from the existing Google Workspace environment, rather than introducing large, complex systems. We will continue to support AI utilization that is closely aligned with practical work.'