MAYEKAWA MFG. CO., LTD.
At MAYEKAWA’s Higashi Hiroshima Plant, the Equipment Record System has enabled centralized management of maintenance planning and inspection outcomes. Mr. Ikemori notes: “Through data sharing among MAYEKAWA, Hitachi Power Solutions, and Mizuho, we can collectively verify the location of equipment within the power-receiving and transforming equipment, identify parts in use, and determine replacement schedules. Continuously updating and adding diverse data allows us to share issues promptly.” In 2024, coinciding with the once-in-20-year replacement of power receiving and transforming equipment, the system’s implementation streamlined maintenance planning, significantly enhancing the process.
Mr. Fukuda also acknowledges the benefits: “Digitalizing replacement and maintenance schedules has enabled our team to propose specific plans more swiftly. Compared to analog management, this facilitates scheduled maintenance and supports the development of evidence-based medium- to long-term plans critical for management. Moreover, information once confined to individual staff members’ minds or computers is now accessible to all, creating an environment that significantly eases the handover of on-site maintenance to new team members.”
On the topic of universal data access, Mr. Ikemori shares these expectations: “Management seeks cost data for future upgrades and repairs to guide capital investment planning, prioritizing budget oversight. Conversely, operations focus on maintaining equipment efficiently and reliably to ensure uninterrupted performance. Moving forward, I hope that a single click will allow anyone to access desired data, fostering even stronger alignment between operations and management.”
With the implementation of the Equipment Record System, MAYEKAWA achieved its initial goal of centralizing diverse data from power-receiving and transforming equipment. Mr. Ikemori states: “Our next objective is the integrated management of power-monitoring devices, maintenance systems, and operational data from individual machines. Through integrated management, we aim to continuously enhance efficient equipment operation, maintenance, and energy management.”
MAYEKAWA’s Higashi Hiroshima Plant has adopted equipment from Hitachi Group companies, including Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems. Hitachi Power Solutions is actively pursuing integrated management under “One Hitachi” to meet these expectations.
Mr. Fukuda highlights that the drive for integrated management stems from a desire to align with company-wide initiatives: “Rather than managing by individual factories or business units, we prioritize a perspective that generates benefits for MAYEKAWA as a whole. The Equipment Record System facilitates company-wide planning, and we aim to pursue this broader vision moving forward.”
Mr. Fukuda reflects on a new realization: “While everyone involved in manufacturing diligently monitors and maintains production machinery, shared infrastructure such as power receiving and transforming equipment often received less attention. We may have assumed that it would always function reliably. The visualization of data, prompted by challenges previously managed by a single individual, has renewed my commitment to oversee these systems closely.” This system implementation has also strengthened organizational cohesion.
Hitachi Power Solutions, leveraging its technology-driven expertise, is committed to meeting the needs of business managers and strongly supporting the manufacturing industry’s next steps.
MAYEKAWA MFG. CO., LTD.
