Five new members join Tokyo University, Boeing, MHI, KHI and FHI in collaborative research at the Consortium for Manufacturing Innovation

The Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo (IIS), Boeing, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries (hereafter the founding members) are pleased to welcome five new members to the Consortium for Manufacturing Innovation, their joint research project into industrial-scale manufacturing technology and processes.  This industry/ academia/ government endeavor is supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

The new members, DMG Mori Seiki, OSG Corporation, Sumitomo Hard Metal Electric, Mitsubishi Materials and Toray were announced today at a press conference held at the IIS campus in Tokyo.

As the founding members are involved in aerospace, they have successfully developed machining and drilling process technology for titanium and other materials related to the production of aircraft, since commencing research in 2012.  However, their aim has always been to expand the scope beyond aerospace to encompass a wide range of industries in the development of world-leading, innovative technologies.

The Consortium for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) was officially launched in April this year at IIS with 19 staff composed of four professors, two associate professors, six assistant professors and research fellows, and support staff.  In addition three other universities and one research institute are lending external support to their efforts.

Manufacturing industry has traditionally given precedence to the skills and experience of its people when trying to innovate.  However, this project aims to drive innovation firstly at the scientific level, bringing the rigor of a wide body of academic theory to bear on common issues and solve them in the laboratory.   Secondly, the findings will be returned to the factory floor and applied in real situations, in a move to quickly develop practical solutions to technology challenges faced by all members.

The Consortium’s activities are a collaborative effort between expert researchers from each member company and IIS, Japan’s leader in industrial technology.  The new members will widen and deepen its activities, and significantly drive forward the realization of innovative solutions across a broad spectrum of manufacturing technologies.