Why is on-site DX necessary? Explaining specific issues and promotion points
On-site DX (digital transformation) is currently attracting attention in all industries, and is becoming particularly important in on-site operations, where traditional analog work has been the mainstay, such as construction sites.
This is because issues such as an aging workforce, a shortage of young human resources, and improved productivity have become issues.
Utilizing on-site DX will improve the problems your company faces, improve productivity, and advance work style reform.
In this article, we will explain various issues facing current field operations and the benefits of promoting them, which are not widely known yet.
- What is on-site DX?
- Issues occurring in the field
- Benefits of promoting
- key to success
- success story
- summary
What is on-site DX?
Digital Transformation on the Field (DX) is an initiative that utilizes digital technology to streamline and innovatively transform actual work and business sites. This is being done in various industries and fields, and by introducing digital technology to traditional analog processes and work methods, it is possible to improve productivity, reduce costs, improve quality, secure labor, etc. That is.
As a specific example, in on-site DX at a construction site, drones and sensors may be used to monitor construction progress and collect information in real time. We also utilize AI and machine learning to optimize construction plans and detect problems early. This allows construction projects to be more efficient and reduce risks.
Simply put, Gemba DX is an initiative that uses digital technology to make work and operations smarter, resulting in more efficient and sustainable business operations.
Issues occurring in the field
The following issues can be raised at sites mainly in the construction industry.
Labor shortage
In recent years, Japan's declining birthrate and aging population are accelerating, and the working population is decreasing year by year, and there is currently a shortage of manpower in the field.
A document from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism raises the issue that ``approximately one-third of the skilled workers in the construction industry are over the age of 55, and the aging of the population is progressing faster than in other industries.''
While many companies, mainly in the manufacturing industry, are complaining about the shortage of workers as an urgent issue, the trend of declining birthrates is becoming even stronger due to the new coronavirus pandemic, and there is no sign of a solution in sight.
This labor shortage is causing construction project delays and cost increases, and is an issue that affects the entire industry.
Technology inheritance that does not progress
Japan has great technological capabilities that it should be proud of around the world, but in recent years it has been pointed out that a technological disconnect is progressing in various industries and companies due to a lack of successors.
A technological disconnect not only reduces the capabilities of the workplace, but also has the potential to cause serious problems such as decreased productivity and difficulty in ensuring quality and safety. One of the reasons why on-site DX is required is to mechanize tasks that were previously performed by skilled workers at manufacturing sites and to streamline the transfer of know-how.
Increase in demand for field work
While the labor shortage is becoming more and more serious, we are seeing a rapid increase in demand for construction sites and field work. For example, many condominiums and high-rise buildings built during the period of high economic growth are now aging and in need of maintenance and renovation.
Additionally, large-scale natural disasters have occurred frequently in recent years, contributing to increased demand for the construction industry.
While meeting this increased demand, concerns about labor shortages remain. Improving labor productivity is essential to overcome this challenge.
On-site DX is attracting attention as a powerful means to achieve this goal.
Benefits of promoting
The following are the main benefits of promoting on-site DX:
Improvement of labor shortage
The first benefit of realizing DX is eliminating the shortage of human resources.
The results of on-site DX improve work efficiency, making it possible to shorten working hours and reduce overtime.
Robots can be used to perform tasks that can be automated, allowing for efficient work with fewer people. Furthermore, by utilizing high-performance communication technology such as 5G, supervisory work and confirmation work can be handled remotely without having to go to the site.
By engaging in on-site DX, we can promote the ease of work, lead to the employment of young human resources, and alleviate the shortage of human resources.
Inheriting advanced technology
Utilizing AI technology is effective for passing on technology and know-how.
For example, if AI is used to machine learn the skills and cognitive/judgment abilities of skilled technicians and turn them into data, skills that were previously difficult to pass down as know-how will be accumulated within a company and can be referenced from anywhere.
For companies where it is difficult to pass on technology from one person to another, or for companies that are concerned about a future shortage of human resources, passing on technology through AI will be a method with many advantages.
Improve operational efficiency
Although the use of digital equipment in field work is progressing, analog systems still remain due to the age of the industry as a whole.
Although analog is not bad and has many good points, it is important to proceed with on-site DX from the perspective of improving work efficiency.
For example, in today's construction industry, a technology promoted by the government called ``BIM'' or ``CIM'' is attracting attention for improving work efficiency. This is an abbreviation for "Building Information Modeling" or "Construction Information Modeling" and refers to 3D models such as structures created on a computer. Various data can be linked to this 3D model.
Specifically, we aim to improve operational efficiency and sophistication by introducing 3D data from the survey, planning, and design stages and using it for construction and maintenance management.
This not only makes planning and construction more efficient by using virtual space, but also makes it easier for workers on site to visualize the finished product, making it easier to understand and build consensus among those involved.
key to success
In order for on-site DX to be successful, communication that conveys the significance and necessity of the transformation to all parties involved is important.
Managers and DX promotion staff should establish a process to regularly communicate with employees and receive feedback.
It is also essential to bridge the gap between management and the field.
In on-site DX, the purpose itself is to introduce and update systems and tools, and on-site needs may be overlooked. However, if there are no tangible results, frontline employees will avoid using the tool. Therefore, it is important to think from the field's perspective about what kind of problems are occurring on-site, and what tools can solve them.
success story
We will introduce successful cases used in on-site DX.
・Drone
Drones play an important role in promoting on-site DX. Drones have a wide range of roles and are used in a variety of industries and sectors. By using drones for surveying and inspection work, it is possible to significantly reduce time compared to traditional methods, leading to improved productivity and work style reform.
In addition, by using drones, inspection work can be carried out at high and dangerous places such as steel towers and bridges with a smaller number of people than before, and the work can be carried out while keeping costs down, which is causing the shortage of human resources to become more serious. It is one of the technologies contributing to the construction industry.
・ICT (information and communication technology)
"ICT (Information and Communication Technology)" is translated into Japanese as "information and communication technology" and refers to information processing using computers and network communication technology.
It is the foundational technology for AI, IoT, cloud computing, file servers, LANs, smartphones, data analysis platforms, core systems, information systems, drone technology, etc. The use of ICT is essential in the modern market, and in order to promote DX, it is necessary to create a basic environment to utilize various technologies.
・AI (artificial intelligence)
AI (artificial intelligence) is also essential as a solution for on-site DX.
AI is the technology that is the basis of machine learning, which derives regularities and trends from data stored in a database and turns them into laws.
At construction sites, construction machinery equipped with AI has begun to perform automatic construction, and the labor shortage is beginning to be alleviated. Utilizing AI, which can make accurate and quick decisions, will play a major role in improving productivity.
summary
On-site DX is expected to be a powerful means of solving on-site issues such as human resource shortages.
CuboRex has developed many products to promote on-site DX.
The CuGo series of crawler units for test and development are characterized by high off-road running performance.
The E-cat kit2, which electrifies unicycles (cat carts) used in the agriculture, construction, and civil engineering industries and makes work more efficient, is also an indispensable product for DX on-site.
Please take advantage of CuboRex products as a step toward advancing on-site DX.
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Click here for product introduction examples of the test crawler unit CuGo series.
・CuGo V4 introduction example_Bridge inspection robot (Gibir Research & Design Co., Ltd.)
https://cuborex.myshopify.com/blogs/case-study/cugo-v4-zivil
・CuGo MEGA introduction example_Remotely operated humanoid robot (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
https://cuborex.myshopify.com/blogs/case-study/cugo-mega-diaroid
・CuGo V3 implementation example_Following grape transportation robot (for individual users)
https://cuborex.myshopify.com/blogs/case-study/cugov3-tang
Click here for product introduction examples of the unicycle electrification kit E-cat kit2
・Example of implementation in narrow road construction in the city center
https://cuborex.myshopify.com/blogs/case-study/dourokouji
・Introduction example in housing foundation construction
