Learning About Automated Material Handling: Daifuku’s Programs for Schoolchildren

Unique tours in line with national curriculum guidelines

Daifuku opened Hini Arata Kan within the company’s flagship plant, Shiga Works, in 1994 as an exhibition space where visitors can see material handling systems in action. Knowledgeable staff guide visitors through exhibits of more than 50 of Daifuku’s systems and devices for logistics centers, automotive and semiconductor factories, and airports.

Hini Arata Kan began accepting tours for elementary and junior high school students in 2014. “Although material handling systems are used across many industries, the general public rarely has the opportunity to see them in action, and raising awareness of them has always been a challenge,” explains Yukiko Kashino, Assistant Manager of the Hini Arata Kan Operation Group. “By opening the facility to schoolchildren, we can provide unique learning opportunities and increase awareness at the same time.”

Daifuku’s social studies tour program focuses not only on enjoying the exhibits but also on learning in line with Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) curriculum guidelines. The program is designed to offer a more in-depth understanding of industrial production, information societies, and other social studies topics introduced in the fifth grade. During visits, students learn through videos, demonstrations, and detailed explanations by staff about various automobile production processes, which are often introduced in school classes, and the logistics process of how everyday goods reach us.

Tours last about an hour and include hands-on activities such as operating actual equipment. “Our motto at Hini Arata Kan is ‘See, Learn, Get Inspired,’” says Tomoko Nishimoto of the Operation Group. “We design tours to not only be interesting to the students, but to ensure that every one of them leaves with new ideas.” In recent years, the program has also become popular beyond the local region, with schools from other areas choosing Daifuku as the destination for their social studies field trips. An elementary school in Kusatsu City attributed this to Hini Arata Kan’s tours as offering students “the chance to learn about not only transport systems, which are indispensable for automobile production, but also a wide range of other production and logistics systems.”

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  Loading products onto sorting robots

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  Comparing the speed and accuracy of sorting packages automatically to sorting by hand

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  Using a computer to unload products from an automatic storage and retrieval system (AS/RS)

Pre- and post-visit learning opportunities

To ensure a meaningful experience for visitors, Hini Arata Kan offers pre-tour classroom lessons that cover the basics of automobile production and logistics from a material handling perspective.

After the field trip, students reflect on their experience by creating class newspapers based on what they learned. “Teachers asked us for ideas on ways the students could consolidate their experiences from the trip. We suggested having the students create newspapers,” Kashino explains. “We aim to enhance understanding and retention through effective pre-tour learning and post-visit review.”

Learning about environmental conservation

In light of the limited number of local facilities capable of accommodating large numbers of students, and other limits on field trips such as travel time, many larger schools strive to learn as much as possible from a single facility. In addition, promoting the development of the SDGs and “Fostering the creators of a sustainable society” are clearly outlined goals in the MEXT curriculum guidelines.

With this in mind, Daifuku offers programs that allow visitors to learn about environmental conservation while touring the natural environment of Shiga Works, incorporating knowledge gathered from the many years Daifuku has spent on preserving the diverse natural environment and ecosystems within the site area of roughly 1.2 million square meters. Junko Miyoshi of the Sustainability Promotion Department notes, “We hope to inspire children to become future leaders in environmental conservation.”

Daifuku’s commitment to community engagement through programs for junior high school students

To promote the growth of local students, Shiga Prefecture requires schools to organize 5-day workplace learning programs for second-year junior high school students. Daifuku supports this initiative and accepts students for workplace learning at Hini Arata Kan. During the program, students learn about logistics and material handling through on-site tours with the opportunity to host their own tour for teachers on the last day. The experience is a great opportunity for the students to practice essential skills for working adults, such as workplace communication.

As part of its four-year business plan through 2027, Daifuku has emphasized strengthening communication with stakeholders—including local communities—with the goal of better recognizing societal needs and helping to create a sustainable society. Hini Arata Kan remains committed to contributing to local communities through enhanced programs with input from educational organizations.

For inquiries about Daifuku’s field trip tour or workplace experience programs, please contact us through the form linked to below.

Inquiry form