Applied Technology and Monomira Launch Strategic Collaboration Aimed at Strengthening Smart Factory Support Systems

Applied Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka; President and Representative Director: Takahiro Konishi; hereinafter "Applied Technology") is pleased to announce the commencement of a strategic collaboration with Monomira Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fuchu City, Hiroshima Prefecture; Representative Director: Daisuke Yamaji; hereinafter "Monomira"), a company proposing the next generation of manufacturing, with the aim of strengthening manufacturing processes for the realization of smart factories.

Through this collaboration, Applied Technology's software-based efficiency enhancement technologies will be combined with Monomira's on-site operational and processing know-how, establishing a system that provides one-stop support from the introduction of CAD/CAM centered on Autodesk Fusion, to actual on-site operation and processing automation.

Background and Objectives of Collaboration: Towards the Realization of Smart Factories by 2028

Industry 4.0, proposed in 2011, is transitioning into the phase of social implementation focused on achieving results on the shop floor. However, in Japanese manufacturing sites, significant challenges such as the personalization of skilled workers' know-how and the adoption of new digital tools still persist.

Aiming to solve these challenges in manufacturing sites, Applied Technology's service for the manufacturing industry, "toDIM," aims to establish a system capable of providing total support for smart factories by 2028.

The realization of smart factories necessitates the optimization of "manufacturing processes" and "production sites." This collaboration aims to strengthen the organization of design workflows and the extraction/utilization of know-how within "manufacturing processes." By doing so, it seeks to eliminate personalization and achieve end-to-end automation and efficiency, creating data and operational environments that enable faster and more reliable "cutting" in the field of machining.

Strengths of Both Companies in Supporting CAD/CAM Adoption

The introduction and adoption of new CAD/CAM systems present high hurdles, such as learning operational flows and ensuring processing quality. This collaboration will leverage the following strengths to resolve customer bottlenecks.

Achieving Adoption in as Little as 2-3 Months

While operational changes usually require significant time, by combining Applied Technology's software support with Monomira's on-site support, the period from requirements definition to the start of actual operation will be significantly shortened.

Training Tailored to the Machining Site and Quality Assurance

Applied Technology will be responsible for software operation and system development support tailored to customer operations, while Monomira will handle machining and CAM training using actual equipment. Since actual cutting and verification of dimensional accuracy and surface roughness can be performed at Monomira's own factory, prototyping and verification can be easily conducted.

Prevention of Personalization and Improvement of Troubleshooting Capability

By digitizing the know-how of experienced personnel and integrating it into operational flows, personalization will be eliminated. Furthermore, for bugs and troubles that may arise during the introduction of new tools, rapid recovery will be supported by the development and processing expertise of both companies.

Main Areas Strengthened by Collaboration

• Sales, technical support, and training for Autodesk products, centered on Autodesk Fusion.

• Consulting on CAD/CAM utilization in machining.

• System development for automation and efficiency improvement of design and manufacturing processes.

• Machining and practical processing technology training.

Future Outlook

Through this collaboration, both companies aim not only to provide mere software implementation support but also to establish practical manufacturing processes that can be continuously operated on the shop floor.

Moving forward, development will proceed with a view to not only the automatic generation of design and processing data using Autodesk Fusion but also its integration with Monomira's robot control technology and production management systems, providing DX solutions that yield results in the shortest possible timeframe to address challenges faced by Japanese manufacturing, such as labor shortages and technology succession.