How Yamada Seisakusho improves grinding productivity with robots and standardization (2/2)

Promoting robot adoption and standardization to achieve ±1 μm accuracy

Yamada Seisakusho, a specialist in grinding cylindrical and axial parts, continues to pursue work standardization and automation to improve efficiency and support business growth. President Hideto Yamada began working on standardizing operations more than a decade ago, with the goal of enabling anyone to machine with high precision by simply pressing a button.

Yamada stated, “The situation where the work cannot be done without the craftsman is not good. It’s necessary to create a mechanism that allows anyone to work with high precision.”

Efforts toward universal machining accuracy

The company aims for all employees to be able to achieve a machining accuracy of ±1 μm. To this end, it has built a database of machining conditions. Some newly joined employees, including women, are already able to machine certain parts with ±1 μm accuracy.

Yamada Seisakusho introduced two robot systems in 2017 and 2018 using subsidies as part of its standardization initiative. The company also maintains strong grinding technology, machining parts without chucks to achieve micron-level precision.

Grinding stones are shaped in-house according to each workpiece. Yamada notes, “We’re introducing new equipment, so machine performance is very good. That’s why know-how is in the jig.” The company has accumulated such know-how, enabling it to maintain precision even with standardization.

Continued growth and internal development

Business performance has been strong since Yamada became president in 2014. He explained, “We also hire young women and introduce robots on the premise of increased sales and profits in addition to our standardization efforts.”

The company will continue to focus on standardization and robot-based automation. It also plans to use IoT technology to visualize the operational status of its facilities. However, grinding still contains many tasks that are difficult to standardize, and the company intends to further refine its expertise in this area.

Yamada commented, “When standardized, work becomes simplistic and boring,” recognizing the balance needed between automation and craftsmanship.

Looking ahead, the company plans to develop internal SIer functions so that employees can also handle tasks such as system construction, rather than relying entirely on external support.

Insights    Ash Kuwasaki, editor

I had assumed that “black-boxing” of technology was key for small and medium-sized enterprises to remain competitive. However, Yamada stated, “Craftsmen tend to hold the technology, but then the business depends on the craftsman.” Yamada Seisakusho has been driving forward with standardization and implementation. I admired their ability to execute and take action. When I asked what advice he had for companies considering robot adoption, Yamada simply said, “Let’s try it first. They don’t get anything if they don’t try.” This reminded me once again of the importance of execution.