Learning from the Masters of Multi-axis Machine and Robot Applications vol. 3
“What ideals lay ahead of process integration?”

Fuji Metal continues to take on new challenges “Structure development” represents the next challenge to be tackled

Continuing to take on new challenges one by one. This spirit for challenge is rooted in the company seeking “How to achieve what other companies cannot? Testing countless solutions to arrive at a solution. Do this, and the results will follow,” says President Fujii, revealing his thoughts on the matter.
President Fujii has taken an initiative in achieving the company goals such as a shift from machining of iron to machining of nonferrous metals, namely target materials for semiconductors; and automation of machining processes for the materials. His next focus is on creating a company system where the employees themselves can take a lead in achieving their own goals that are as challenging as his.
Amidst this backdrop, we asked his views on how he expects the introduction of automation systems to influence human resource development, and the challenges that lie ahead.

A full-fledged technical engineer that has established himself/herself is defined as someone who “can do everything.” How do you develop employees to this level of expertise?

Plans are now underway on the development of Fuji Metal’s eighth factory. The company has acquired a satellite plant adjoining its main headquarters, with factory facilities being introduced from 2018. President Fujii explains that this is aimed at “improving the technical level of the company.” While automation using multi-axis machines and robot system continues on unabated, the company is also placing an even greater focus on the development of its technical staff.

President Fujii continues, “I hope to develop human resources capable of launching projects from scratch and overseeing each process by themselves, from the material requirements to jig fixture design, machining and finishing.” To achieve this, he is ready to give young employees as much experience as possible. An aggressive management outlook that continually strives for growth is essential in the pursuit of the quantity and quality of human resources required, an age-old issue facing SMEs.

Leveraging technical knowledge built up through its latest factory operations to seek out opportunities in new fields

Fuji Metal now aims to enter new fields of machining, focusing on the machining of aircraft parts and medical device parts. The company also hopes to expand its business presence in the semiconductor field beyond the machining of target materials, attracting interest from outside this field. “We hope to establish ourselves as versatile technical engineers with the world-renowned technical capabilities. If we can do this, even an SME such as ourselves could reach a pay level that is a match for one that offered by major corporations,” says President Fujii.

While target materials account for the majority of the company’s sales, President Fujii hopes to establish a second and third pillar to the business. He aims to have sales in these new fields reach some 40% of the company’s total net sales. Naturally, with the company achieving double digit growth on the back of target material sales alone, achieving this target will be no easy feat. Even so, the company shows no signs of letting up the attack, continuing capital investments of between 300 million to 500 million yen every year, no small amount for an SME. With a goal of “becoming an attractive company for all,” Fuji Metal’s spirit for challenge has no end in sight.