Contribute to a Smart Society
Amid an accelerating global trend toward automation and the 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 | ||
FY2022 Achievements
The following are our fiscal 2022 achievements in each of the materialities for the above theme of the Sustainability Action Plan, Contribute to a Smart Society.
Sustainability Action Plan (PDF: 763KB)
FY2021-FY2022 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 10.4 billion yen and digital transformation related investments amounted to 5.2 billion yen, thereby achieving our target. We achieved and exceeded our target by a wide margin for the number of patent registrations due to an increase in the number of applications filed overseas, particularly in Europe. Consequently, the target for fiscal 2023 was revised and raised from 4,000 to 4,100 patents.
| KPIs | Scope | FY2022 targets | FY2022 results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovation investment amount* | Global | ¥15 billion | ¥15.6 billion |
| Patent registrations (cumulative total) | 3,800 patents | 4,040 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. In addition to the quantity of acquisition rights, we are also focusing on improving the quality and speed of obtaining these rights.
Develop new business domains
While some projects are still in the development, design, and prototype stages, there are a number of instances in which we have received specific orders, and our initiatives are progressing smoothly toward the goals we have set.
| KPIs | Scope | FY2022 targets | FY2022 results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration into new markets and new business conditions; commercialization of new products | Global |
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Advancing into the back-end processes of semiconductor manufacturing
The process of manufacturing semiconductors is divided into the front-end process of forming circuits on silicon wafers and the back-end process of cutting chips individually from wafers and working them into finished products. The cleanroom business of our Group has mainly provided transportation systems for the front-end process of semiconductor manufacturing lines. In recent years, however, we are gaining momentum in the development of next-generation technologies for back-end processes such as 3D stacking, in which multiple chips are stacked to enhance performance. As the importance of the back-end processes in the semiconductor manufacturing process increases, so does the need for automated transfer. In order to provide automated solutions for back-end processes, we are working to develop products that can accommodate the increased weight and diversified shapes of materials to be transported.
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 | FY2022 targets | FY2022 results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction of cutting-edge technology to products and services | Global |
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Predictive maintenance system using AI technology
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In our intralogistics business, the Group has established a unique predictive maintenance system that automates visual, manual, and auditory inspections. The predictive maintenance system measures vibration, heat generation, and acoustics using our proprietary sensors, analyzes the data collected by edge devices onsite using a PC, and notifies the customer of equipment abnormalities and predicted failure points. The system also automatically uploads data to the cloud, analyzes failure data, and builds an equipment diagnostic abnormality detection model using AI. This system eliminates conveyor system breakdowns and keeps equipment running smoothly.