Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
News
July 14, 2025
By: Atsushi Kuwasaki and Ichiri Hirakawa, Staff Editor, SEISANZAI Japan
While vending machines are typically associated with soft drinks, a new wave of systems is transforming the way manufacturers manage indirect materials like tools and gloves. Faced with labor shortages and analog inventory systems, manufacturers are turning to vending-style solutions for greater efficiency and transparency.
Traditionally, tool management relied on analog methods such as paper-based ledgers or department- or production line-level spreadsheet software. Consequently, Japan’s manufacturing sector has lagged behind in terms of the digitalization and automation of tool management.
At the same time, local tool distributors have typically played a key role by regularly visiting clients to restock missing items, functioning like “walking inventories.” But this conventional approach is increasingly unsustainable due to severe labor shortages, making regular visits harder to maintain. In response, tool manufacturers and distributors are now introducing vending-style management systems to offer more efficient and transparent solutions.
This article explores the latest trends in tool vending machines by introducing the solutions offered by three different companies, along with a user case study from the manufacturing floor.
Vending machine storing high-frequency items (courtesy of MISUMI Group)
MISUMI Group launched its “MISUMI floow” service in Japan in April 2024, aiming to bring structure to the chaotic world of indirect material procurement. Using digital technology to visualize purchasing frequency, the service categorizes items into three groups: high-frequency, medium-frequency, and spot-purchase items.
For high-frequency items like gloves or masks, MISUMI installs vending machines directly on the factory floor. Items in the machine remain the property of MISUMI until they are withdrawn, which helps reduce inventory management burdens. Access requires a dedicated ID, and the system logs usage and inventory data in real time—enhancing traceability and preventing unauthorized use.
Medium-frequency items such as tools are supplied through scheduled deliveries to reduce the manual workload of ordering. For spot-purchase items, customers can access MISUMI’s e-commerce platform or dedicated contact channels, covering a vast catalog of products from over 3,000 domestic and international suppliers.
Overview of the “MISUMI floow” service (courtesy of MISUMI Group)
By integrating these three distribution channels, MISUMI floow enables customers to dramatically reduce both inventory pressure and procurement effort. An internal study at MISUMI found that manufacturers typically spend around 1,656 hours per year on indirect material procurement. According to a senior executive responsible for the Factory-MRO business at MISUMI, the company estimates that implementing MISUMI floow can cut this time by approximately 70%, freeing up resources for higher-value activities such as production improvement and employee training.
Since 2020, MISUMI has already delivered more than 1,700 vending machines to about 400 companies in China. The company built on this experience by conducting field trials at approximately 50 factories in Japan, leading to the full-scale launch of MISUMI floow.
The system also brings significant advantages to local distributors who traditionally managed on-site visits. The MISUMI executive commented, “In the past, distributors needed to visit factories regularly because they couldn’t predict when orders would come. With MISUMI floow installed, such visits become unnecessary, allowing them to spend more time on value-added services, such as offering machining proposals.”
MURAKAN system exhibited by Murai at RTJ2024
Murai, a Nagoya-based distributor of machine tools and the management company behind the Chubu Buhin Kakou Association (The Association for the Part Processing Industries of Chubu Region), has developed a new tool inventory system called MURAKAN—short for “Murai’s easy management” in Japanese. The system utilizes RFID tags to enable remote inventory tracking and automate restocking, streamlining tool management for manufacturing sites.
With MURAKAN, customers can install RFID sensors on their existing tool cabinets, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure changes. When tools arrive from the manufacturer, Murai attaches RFID tags before delivering them to customers as usual. From there, inventory levels are tracked remotely. When stock falls below a set threshold, the system automatically generates reorders. On the shop floor, users simply retrieve the tools they need from the cabinet—no manual stock checks required.
Masaki Murai, representative chairperson of the Chubu Buhin Kakou Association, says the system reduces workloads for both customers and Murai.
“The idea was to make things easier for both our customers and our own logistics operations,” explains representative chairperson Masaki Murai. “We were inspired by the unmanned checkout systems seen in clothing stores like Uniqlo.”
MURAKAN was first introduced at Robot Technology Japan (RTJ) 2024, where it was displayed in the Chubu Buhin Kakou Association’s booth. Although initially conceived solely as an RFID-based inventory system, the tool’s convenience quickly led to broader requests: customers began asking Murai to manage all tools throughout the factory. In response, the company has expanded its offering into a full-service tool management solution, assuming responsibility for all inventory control.
MURAKAN is also part of Murai’s wider strategy to differentiate itself from competitors. Leveraging its industry network, the company has created a procurement structure that enables it to offer high-end tools at more competitive prices. This pricing advantage encourages higher usage of Murai’s services.
In addition, Murai positions its engineering support as a core strength. When machining problems occur, the company draws on its technical expertise to offer on-site solutions. Through this combination of smart inventory systems, tool affordability, and engineering services, Murai aims to build strong, trust-based relationships with its customers.
TOOL no Ongaeshi by Sanden Retail Systems features a user-friendly touchscreen interface.
Sanden Retail Systems, a Tokyo-based manufacturer of vending machines and commercial refrigeration equipment, entered the factory automation (FA) industry in 2021 with its tool vending machine system named TOOL no Ongaeshi (“tools returning the favor”).
This system connects vending machines to the cloud to streamline tool inventory management on the factory floor. Users can select a desired item using a touchscreen interface and retrieve it as easily as purchasing a drink. Drawing on the company’s expertise in vending machine design, the system incorporates features like an elevator mechanism for retrieving items stored on upper levels, and sensors that prevent tool collisions when dispensing multiple items.
One of its key advantages is real-time data tracking. The system logs who retrieved what, when, and how many, storing this data in the cloud. Customers can export the data in CSV format, making it easy to analyze tool usage trends or integrate with procurement systems—contributing to their broader digital transformation (DX) initiatives.
A senior executive overseeing both R&D and IT explained, “TOOL no Ongaeshi allows office staff to monitor tool usage remotely via the cloud. It reduces reliance on intuition and enables data-driven inventory management, helping to prevent excess orders or stock shortages.”
A senior executive overseeing both R&D and IT at Sanden Retail Systems explains how TOOL no Ongaeshi reduces the burden of tool management.
Sanden originally developed a prototype tool vending machine about 17 years ago, but it was never commercialized at the time. However, recognizing growing needs for automation and DX in the FA sector, the company revived the concept and presented an early version of TOOL no Ongaeshi at the MECHATRONICS TECHNOLOGY JAPAN (MECT) 2019 trade show. There, Sanden encountered a machine tool distributor and began joint development of the current product. The same executive commented, “Unlike beverage cans, which are fairly uniform, tools come in many shapes and sizes. The distributor’s expertise was key in designing an appropriate dispensing mechanism.”
Looking ahead, Sanden aims to raise awareness of TOOL no Ongaeshi and expand its sales network by forming distribution partnerships with trading companies in the FA sector.
MATRIX tool management system installed in the tool room at Taguchi Machine Works’ main factory
Taguchi Machine Works, based in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, manufactures parts for reducers and hydraulic components used in construction machinery. In 2020, the company introduced the MATRIX tool management system, marketed by the IMC Group including ISCAR, to streamline tool storage and retrieval.
Taguchi operates an eight-drawer model of MATRIX, storing frequently used tools such as insert tips and rotary tools. The system can hold tools from various manufacturers, not limited to IMC brands. By organizing storage locations, the company has significantly reduced the time workers spend searching for tools, while also minimizing errors caused by accidentally selecting similar-looking items.
Another benefit is the system’s ability to track tool usage history. All tool check-ins and check-outs are logged as data, making it easy to analyze tool consumption trends. “Thanks to the recorded history, we can quickly identify tools that are used frequently,” said the company’s managing director. “By reviewing when and where these tools are used, along with the machining conditions, we can identify improvement opportunities.”
Managing Director of Taguchi Machine Works says, “We plan to include low-frequency tools in the system as well.”
The company has also centralized its tool inventory in a dedicated tool room at its main plant. Before the implementation, tools were managed manually using traditional drawer-style tool cabinets and paper lists, which made it difficult for workers to find what they needed. The company adopted the tool management system early on to resolve these inefficiencies and advance its IoT initiatives on the shop floor.
Looking ahead, Taguchi Machine Works aims to expand the system to include less frequently used, special-order tools. It is also considering installing a second MATRIX unit at its Akasaka plant, located near the headquarters.
January 28, 2025
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