Polaris.AI Conducts Proof-of-Concept at Hitachi Construction Machinery’s Hitachinaka-Rinko Works to Codify Skilled Workers' "Tacit Knowledge" via AI for Organizational Use
Polaris.AI Inc. conducted a demonstration experiment at Hitachi Construction Machinery's Hitachinaka-Rinko Works, analyzing skilled workers' conversational voice data with AI to accumulate and reuse tacit knowledge. This initiative aims to leverage the judgment criteria, insights, and know-how of experienced on-site workers across the entire organization. Hitachi Construction Machinery, a global manufacturer of hydraulic excavators and mining machinery, faced challenges in sharing on-site workers' decision-making processes. Polaris.AI seeks to establish a new knowledge circulation model in the construction machinery production field through this verification.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 20:32
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 12:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 18:15 (54h 13m after Collected)
Polaris.AI Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuya Tokunaga; hereinafter Polaris.AI) announced that it conducted a demonstration experiment from January to February 2026 at Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.'s Hitachinaka-Rinko Works, in the fabrication area for large hydraulic excavators. The experiment involved AI understanding and accumulating knowledge based on voice data recording conversations of on-site workers, and then reusing that knowledge.
This trial introduction aims to transform the daily judgment and tacit knowledge of skilled on-site workers in production sites into a state where AI accurately acquires and understands the content, accumulates it as knowledge, and enables the entire organization to utilize the judgment criteria, insights, and know-how of skilled on-site workers.
■ Background and Challenges of the Demonstration Experiment
Hitachi Construction Machinery is a construction machinery manufacturer that globally develops, manufactures, sells, and services hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, road machinery, and mining machinery.
The Hitachinaka-Rinko Works produces large hydraulic excavators and mining machinery used in mining sites, supplying them globally. In the production of construction machinery, accurate on-site understanding and decision-making by on-site workers are required. However, there is a challenge that the basis for these decisions is not recorded in a database, making it difficult to share and utilize the judgment criteria, insights, and know-how of individual on-site workers across the entire organization.
■ Purpose and Overview of the Demonstration Experiment
In the demonstration experiment, Hitachi Construction Machinery will accumulate voice data from several leaders in the fabrication area of large hydraulic excavators for about one month as knowledge. This knowledge will be used for handover tasks during shift changes between day and night workers, and as reporting data to leaders' superiors. Furthermore, the aim is to cross-reference the knowledge based on voice data with construction machinery production results, and utilize it as insights for reviewing whether past decisions were correct.
■ Future Developments
Polaris.AI will continue to verify its solutions in production sites, aiming to build a new knowledge circulation model in the construction machinery production field.
■ About Polaris.AI Inc.
Polaris.AI, a startup from Matsuo Lab, has a vision to be a "compass in the AI era" (Polaris) and supports companies in utilizing AI. It is composed of former foreign strategic consulting firm members and engineers from major domestic and international IT companies, mainly providing the following services:
・Custom AI Development: Development of custom AI solutions addressing unique corporate challenges
・AI Implementation and Utilization Consulting: End-to-end support from AI strategy formulation to implementation assistance
・AI Research and Development Support / Joint Research: Support as an R&D partner for cutting-edge AI technology
The company, based on cutting-edge AI technology and business insights, not only provides AI solutions but also realizes fundamental problem-solving and new value creation for companies.
Company Name: Polaris.AI Inc.
Location: Sumitomo Fudosan Toranomon Tower 13F, 2-2-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Yuya Tokunaga
Business Activities: AI contract development, AI development support, AI technology education
URL: https://polarisai.co.jp/
Contact: https://polarisai.co.jp/contact
*"Matsuo Lab startup" refers to a selected group of startup companies founded by Matsuo Lab alumni or with Matsuo Lab's support, recognized for their growth potential in technology and business capabilities, and who resonate with Matsuo Lab's philosophy and work together to foster future generations. (Registered Trademarks No. 6667237, No. 6710069)
*Hitachi Construction Machinery is scheduled to change its trade name to "Landcross Co., Ltd." and its corporate brand to "LANDCROS" on April 1, 2027.
■ Inquiries regarding this matter
Polaris.AI Inc.
Email: biz@polarisai.co.jp
Inquiry link: https://polarisai.co.jp/contact
This trial introduction aims to transform the daily judgment and tacit knowledge of skilled on-site workers in production sites into a state where AI accurately acquires and understands the content, accumulates it as knowledge, and enables the entire organization to utilize the judgment criteria, insights, and know-how of skilled on-site workers.
■ Background and Challenges of the Demonstration Experiment
Hitachi Construction Machinery is a construction machinery manufacturer that globally develops, manufactures, sells, and services hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, road machinery, and mining machinery.
The Hitachinaka-Rinko Works produces large hydraulic excavators and mining machinery used in mining sites, supplying them globally. In the production of construction machinery, accurate on-site understanding and decision-making by on-site workers are required. However, there is a challenge that the basis for these decisions is not recorded in a database, making it difficult to share and utilize the judgment criteria, insights, and know-how of individual on-site workers across the entire organization.
■ Purpose and Overview of the Demonstration Experiment
In the demonstration experiment, Hitachi Construction Machinery will accumulate voice data from several leaders in the fabrication area of large hydraulic excavators for about one month as knowledge. This knowledge will be used for handover tasks during shift changes between day and night workers, and as reporting data to leaders' superiors. Furthermore, the aim is to cross-reference the knowledge based on voice data with construction machinery production results, and utilize it as insights for reviewing whether past decisions were correct.
■ Future Developments
Polaris.AI will continue to verify its solutions in production sites, aiming to build a new knowledge circulation model in the construction machinery production field.
■ About Polaris.AI Inc.
Polaris.AI, a startup from Matsuo Lab, has a vision to be a "compass in the AI era" (Polaris) and supports companies in utilizing AI. It is composed of former foreign strategic consulting firm members and engineers from major domestic and international IT companies, mainly providing the following services:
・Custom AI Development: Development of custom AI solutions addressing unique corporate challenges
・AI Implementation and Utilization Consulting: End-to-end support from AI strategy formulation to implementation assistance
・AI Research and Development Support / Joint Research: Support as an R&D partner for cutting-edge AI technology
The company, based on cutting-edge AI technology and business insights, not only provides AI solutions but also realizes fundamental problem-solving and new value creation for companies.
Company Name: Polaris.AI Inc.
Location: Sumitomo Fudosan Toranomon Tower 13F, 2-2-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Yuya Tokunaga
Business Activities: AI contract development, AI development support, AI technology education
URL: https://polarisai.co.jp/
Contact: https://polarisai.co.jp/contact
*"Matsuo Lab startup" refers to a selected group of startup companies founded by Matsuo Lab alumni or with Matsuo Lab's support, recognized for their growth potential in technology and business capabilities, and who resonate with Matsuo Lab's philosophy and work together to foster future generations. (Registered Trademarks No. 6667237, No. 6710069)
*Hitachi Construction Machinery is scheduled to change its trade name to "Landcross Co., Ltd." and its corporate brand to "LANDCROS" on April 1, 2027.
■ Inquiries regarding this matter
Polaris.AI Inc.
Email: biz@polarisai.co.jp
Inquiry link: https://polarisai.co.jp/contact
FAQ
What is the purpose of the demonstration experiment conducted by Polaris.AI with Hitachi Construction Machinery?
The purpose is to codify the "tacit knowledge" of skilled on-site workers using AI and transform it into a state where it can be utilized across the entire organization.
What challenges did Hitachi Construction Machinery face?
Hitachi Construction Machinery faced the challenge that while on-site workers made accurate situational assessments and decisions, their judgment criteria and insights were not recorded in a database, making it difficult to share and utilize them across the entire organization.