As the roles and opportunities offered by automation expand, we will improve the value we provide by fostering the “creation of new business and new ways of working” through DX

In promoting DX, the azbil Group recognizes that changes in the natural environment, the business environment, and evolving technology, and new requirements of society are expanding the role and opportunities for automation driven by digitalization. Consequently, we are endeavoring to contribute to solving social issues in business activities and further enhancing the value we provide by creating new businesses and new ways of working through digitalization. We are implementing internal DX, which will greatly increase productivity in our business activities and lead to transformation that will create new ways of working for us. In addition, we are advancing product DX to promote sustainability in our customers’ manufacturing and building operations, thereby creating new added value.

We promote internal DX in sales and engineering divisions, development departments, and production bases, resulting in greater achievements

In our internal DX, under the “creation of new business and new ways of working” initiative, we are using generative AI in the sales and engineering divisions in activities ranging from pre-ordering tasks to manufacturing and inspection, and we are introducing a skill transfer support system enabling veteran employees to share their knowledge. In our development departments, we are working to raise the efficiency of various tasks from design to development through DX initiatives. This includes using generative AI to create and review program source code, as well as applying machine learning models to data obtained from on-site monitoring and control systems. At our production facilities, we are implementing advanced cloud-based manufacturing execution systems (MES). These cloud services facilitate DX initiatives at production sites, such as system introduction training done remotely, improved inventory control accuracy, and real-time visualization of production progress. To accelerate internal DX, we have set up a dedicated generative AI support tool exclusive to the azbil Group, accessible to all group companies. This tool is already being utilized by more than 7,000 employees. In addition, by promoting the adoption of low-code tools, we have built a development community of 300 members and developed 900-plus applications, more than doubling our size compared to the previous year.

Along with product DX, we are setting up and developing a specialized organization dedicated to ensuring security

When it comes to product DX, we are deploying on-site services centered on cloud technology. Deliveries of our control valve maintenance support system, the valve diagnosis and analysis service that stabilizes production equipment and enhances their safety, grew by approximately 150%, from 111 business sites in FY2020 to 168 in FY2023. Furthermore, deliveries of our online anomaly detection system, which uses AI to support stable equipment operation at customers’ sites, prevent operational errors, prevent quality defects, and establish manufacturing conditions, more than doubled from 46 business locations in FY2020 to 106 in FY2023. These achievements serve as case studies of how we use DX and the azbil Group’s expertise to deliver value to our customers. Furthermore, our in-house specialized security organization, the Cyber Security Office, is engaged in comprehensive initiatives that cover everything from in-house systems to products and services to ensure security, which is essential for promoting our DX efforts.

Lastly, I believe that our DX promotion is not solely an internal effort but rather a collaborative initiative with our customers. The virtuous cycle of mutual influence generated by advancing DX together will lead to even greater value creation.