Contribute to a Smart Society
Amid an accelerating global trend toward automation and scaling up of logistics operations, investments in alleviating labor shortages and boosting productivity are expected to grow even more in the future. The Daifuku Group will work to expand its existing domains and open new ones as it seeks to respond to ever-advancing needs in society. We will develop new, and use existing, cutting-edge technologies to further increase the value we offer to stakeholders. In doing so, we aspire to help realize a smart society.
Related Sustainable Development Goals and Targets
The following are the materialities and their related Sustainable Development Goals and Targets for one theme of the Sustainability Action Plan: Contribute to a Smart Society.
| Materiality | Goal | Target | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promote innovative technological development and invention | 8. Decent work and economic growth | 8.2 | Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors |
| Develop new business domains | 9. Industry innovation and infrastructure | 9.b | Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities |
| Cater to customer needs through smart logistics | 9. Industry innovation and infrastructure | 9.1 | Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all |
| 9.2 | Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries | ||
FY2021 Achievements
The following are our fiscal 2021 achievements in each of the materialities for the above theme of the Sustainability Action Plan. (Contribute to a Smart Society)
Sustainability Action Plan（PDF : 290KB）
FY2021 Achievements of the Sustainability Action Plan（PDF : 333KB）
Promote innovative technological development and invention
In terms of the breakdown of innovation investment, R&D expenditures amounted to 10.7 billion yen, and digital transformation-related investments amounted to 2.3 billion yen. In fiscal 2021, we fell short of our target due to some digital transformation-related investments yet to be finalized; however, from fiscal 2022 onward, the entire Group, including locations outside of Japan, will be working together to achieve our target.
| KPIs | Scope | FY2021 targets | FY2021 results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovation investment amount* | Global | ¥15.0 billion | ¥13.0 billion |
| Patent registrations (cumulative total) | 3,600 patents | 3,726 patents |
- *R&D expenses + DX investment amount
Number of patents registered
Daifuku proactively applies for patents and acquisition rights primarily for newly developed products. We have been filing an increasing number of patent applications outside of Japan in recent years, and we currently hold patents in more than 30 countries around the world. There has been an increasing number of patent registrations in Asia, particularly China, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Develop new business domains
While some projects are still in the development, design, and prototype stages, efforts are generally progressing smoothly against the established targets.
| KPIs | Scope | FY2021 targets | FY2021 results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration into new markets and new business conditions; commercialization of new products | Global |
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Strengthening of operational base through business alliance with AFT of Germany
In February 2021, we announced a business alliance with Germany-based AFT Industries AG (AFT). Tangible results have already been achieved during fiscal year 2021, the first year of the alliance. We have leveraged AFT’s customer base of European automakers, knowledge and expertise in product standards, technology, and procurement in Europe, as well as our global network (sales, production, and service) to achieve collaboration on a project-by-project basis. At a time when the automotive industry is said to be undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation, we aim to expand our business base and capture the capital investment demand of European automakers through a mutually complementary business alliance between our two companies, and thus achieve continued growth in our business.
Cater to customer needs through smart logistics
As technological development progresses on a global scale, we are actively developing products and solutions that incorporate cutting-edge technologies. We are making steady progress toward the targets we have set.
| KPIs | Scope | FY2021 targets | FY2021 results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction of cutting-edge technology to products/services | Global |
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Developing and introducing AI-based highly efficient transport systems
We employ AI to efficiently control a large number of vehicles that run on overhead transport lines in semiconductor factories. The software we developed in fiscal 2021 is designed to store past data, so as to always be able to predict what will happen many seconds ahead. It collects vehicle position data on a real-time basis and calculates prediction data from machine-learned travel records. This has improved accuracy in route control and increased transport volume by 10%. We introduced this software to our customers' systems and filed a patent application.