Announcement of "DfMA Symposium Vol.2 - Breaking Away from Rear-Loading"

Nohara Group Co., Ltd. (Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Hirosuke Nohara), which is engaged in construction DX with BuildApp, is pleased to announce that it is sponsoring the "DfMA Symposium Vol.2," organized by Shibaura Institute of Technology SIT Research Institute Global Building Technology Research Center (GBTRC), to be held at the Large Lecture Hall of the Exchange Building, Shibaura Institute of Technology Toyosu Campus on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The Japanese construction industry faces various issues such as a "shortage of skilled workers" and "impact of overtime regulations," making it a critical time to review construction methods themselves. The DfMA Symposium focuses on initiatives related to "DfMA: Design for Manufacture and Assembly" as one solution, inviting experts and companies implementing DfMA to hold symposiums.

This will be the third installment. The previous event (renamed from April 2025) focused on "Involvement of Production Technology in the Detailed Design Phase" and attempted to organize common challenges in production technology during the design phase.

This time, Vol.2, the theme is "Breaking Away from Rear-Loading," exploring ideas and challenges for realizing front-loading, and delving into the essence of DfMA.

In this symposium, our Group CSO Yamasaki will also speak, introducing our initiatives for manufacturing and processing collaboration in BuildApp, along with a case study of the "BuildApp Joinery Production Drawing and Exploded View Linkage Service," which began commercial provision on February 26, 2026.

## About "DfMA Symposium Vol.2"

| Event Name | DfMA Symposium Vol.2 - Breaking Away from Rear-Loading |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Shibaura Institute of Technology SIT Research Institute Global Building Technology Research Center (GBTRC)
Co-organizer: Japan Federation of Construction Frame Work Contractors Associations
Cooperation: Japan BIM Association |
| Sponsor | Nohara Group Co., Ltd. (BuildApp) |
| Date & Time | Saturday, April 18, 2026, 13:00-18:00 (Reception starts 12:30) |
| Venue | Shibaura Institute of Technology Toyosu Campus Exchange Building Large Lecture Hall
(3-7-5 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo) |
| Participation Fee | Free |
| Capacity | 200 people |
| Program (Titles omitted) |
【Opening Remarks】13:00-13:10
Hirotake Kanizawa (Professor, Department of Architecture, Shibaura Institute of Technology / GBTRC Center Director)
【Purpose Explanation】13:10-13:20
Tetsuto Miura (Professor, Department of Architecture, Shibaura Institute of Technology)
【Keynote Speech】13:20-14:20
Yukio Kitano (Senior Managing Executive Officer, Takenaka Corporation)
"Towards Realizing Front-Loading in Planning and Design"
【Practical Case Study 1】14:20-15:00
Yasuhiro Yamasaki (Group CSO, Nohara Group Co., Ltd.)
"Initiatives for Manufacturing and Processing Collaboration in BuildApp"
【Practical Case Study 2】15:00-15:40
Hidenori Kawahara (Deputy Head, Architectural Management Division, Kajima Corporation)
"Kajima Corporation's Initiatives and Challenges for Design-Build Front-Loading"
Break 15:40-16:00
【Practical Case Study 3】16:00-16:40
Masahiro Hino (Executive Officer, Konoike Construction Co., Ltd.)
"Promoting Front-Loading Utilizing Digital Technology"
【Panel Discussion】16:40-17:40
Coordinator: Tetsuto Miura
Panelists: Yukio Kitano, Yasuhiro Yamasaki, Hidenori Kawahara, Masahiro Hino
【Closing Remarks】17:40-18:00
Hirotake Kanizawa |
| Application | https://forms.gle/4NnQk2WzN8T6S9f49 |

Nohara Group is promoting the transformation of the construction business with the aim of realizing a sustainable society. We are developing businesses that look at the entire lifecycle of the construction process, not only leveraging BIM for new constructions but also for maintaining and renovating aging buildings, as well as reusing and recycling materials, and introducing renewable energy.

To achieve this, solving various challenges across the construction industry is essential. In this period of transformation for the construction industry, our company will actively adopt new technologies and business models to contribute to society.

## About "BuildApp Joinery Production Drawing and Exploded View Linkage Service"

Nohara Group's BuildApp is a cloud service that digitizes the production process of joinery (doors, windows, etc.), seamlessly linking design, manufacturing, and construction.

This service automates the generation of joinery production drawings and exploded views, and by linking them with BIM data, it achieves efficient information sharing and improved productivity.

This enables flexible response to design changes and quantity changes, contributing to shorter delivery times and cost reductions. It promotes construction DX and supports the realization of sustainable buildings.

## About Nohara Group Co., Ltd.

| Headquarters | Matsuoka Central Building, 1-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Representative | Representative Director and President Hirosuke Nohara |
| Established | 1598 |
| Capital | 5.1 billion yen |
| Number of Employees | 2,000 (consolidated, as of end of March 2023) |
| Business Description | Engaged in various fields such as sales of building and construction materials, construction and construction management, promotion of construction DX, and new business development. |
| URL | https://nohara-inc.co.jp/ |

## DfMA Related URLs

- DfMA Symposium Vol.1 Activity Report:
https://sites.google.com/view/global-building-technology-res/discussion/dfma%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9D%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0_vol-1
- BuildApp Joinery Production Drawing and Exploded View Linkage Service:
https://nohara-inc.co.jp/news/release/11071/