Interview conducted with Mr. Shirai, Production Engineering Dept., Robot Manufacturing Plant, NACHI-FUJIKOSHI Corp.
Interview participants (from left to right)
- Mr. Shirai, General Manager, Production Engineering Dept., Robot Manufacturing Plant, NACHI-FUJIKOSHI
- Mr. Suzuki, Senior Engineer, Production Engineering Dept., Robot Manufacturing Plant, NACHI-FUJIKOSHI
Theme
Boosting Maintenance Efficiency with Remote Monitoring
Please tell us about your business.
As a comprehensive machinery manufacturer contributing to manufacturing worldwide, we operate across a wide range of technologies, including materials such as specialty steel and industrial furnaces, cutting tools and machine tools, functional components such as bearings and hydraulic equipment, engineering, and the robotics business featured in this interview. Our production bases are located both in Japan and overseas, with the robotics division operating at two sites: the Toyama plant in Japan and a factory in China. Consolidated sales total ¥258 billion, with particularly strong demand in China and automotive-related products accounting for roughly half of total revenue.
The Robotics Division previously focused mainly on spot-welding robots for automotive factories, but in recent years has begun manufacturing the compact MZ Series, expanding into the electrical and electronics industries.
What challenges did you face, and what led to adopting LiLz Gauge?
Our manufacturing sites operate a wide range of production equipment, making daily inspections essential. However, due to the scale of our operations, inspections are not handled by dedicated staff and are instead carried out by on-site personnel alongside their regular duties, which inevitably led to missed checks.
At the start of each workday, a large number of devices—such as cranes, compressors, and torque wrenches—must be inspected, making the process time-consuming. In addition, inspections were recorded by hand on paper forms, leading to occasional entry errors. Even if a single inspection takes only about 10 minutes, performing it multiple times a day over the course of a year results in a substantial workload.
To better manage and prevent these oversights, we began looking for a remote management solution. Around that time, we learned about LiLz Gauge, which ultimately led to its adoption.
What benefits have you seen from adopting LiLz Gauge?
We installed LiLz Gauge at inspection locations that require a 10-minute round trip on foot from our office, as well as at elevated points where manual inspection could pose a risk of workplace injury. LiLz Gauge is used to monitor conditions such as overheating inside ducts, refrigerant pressure, and electrical current values.
This allows us to monitor equipment remotely, detect abnormalities early, and respond promptly.
What are your future plans?
Currently, LiLz Gauge is deployed on selected equipment. Our plan is to expand it across the entire Robotics division and establish a robust maintenance environment.
Customer: NACHI-FUJIKOSHI Corp.
Interviewees: Mr. Shirai (General Manager), Mr. Suzuki (Senior Engineer), Production Engineering Dept., Robot Manufacturing Plant
Business Overview: Materials / Machining / Functional Components / Engineering / Robotics
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