Leach Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Takuya Tominaga, hereinafter Leach), which handles education, consulting, and development of generative AI technology, has started providing "Leach Generative AI Advisor", an advisory service supporting generative AI introduction, to Rikiman Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sue-machi, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, CEO: Hajime Otsuji, hereinafter Rikiman), which boasts a top-class share in the industry for fastening fittings for heavy temporary construction.
By introducing this service early, Rikiman aims for overwhelming efficiency of their own operations and promotion of DX (Digital Transformation), and expects to allocate the generated time and resources to research and development (R&D) of new technologies. There are still few cases where SMEs in the manufacturing industry seriously embark on generative AI utilization, and Rikiman's challenge is a progressive initiative in the industry.
The decision to utilize generative AI by a metal fittings manufacturer is expected to have a big impact within the industry, and Leach will contribute to accelerating DX in the entire manufacturing industry through this support.
■ Background and Issues of Introduction
In recent years, generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT have evolved rapidly, and expectations for their business use are rising domestically and internationally. However, on the other hand, many companies face challenges such as "don't know where to start", "lack of specialized personnel", "unclear effectiveness measurement and ROI", and "security concerns". It is pointed out that although 91% of Japanese companies are considering or promoting generative AI utilization, specific progress is hindered.
Especially in medium and small-sized enterprises, it is difficult to gather information, verify technology, and secure human resources, and the current situation is that they are not fully receiving the benefits of generative AI.
Under these circumstances, Rikiman, a top-class metal fittings manufacturer in the industry, also faced challenges in promoting its own DX. There was a growing need to streamline operations such as internal document creation, information sharing, and inquiry handling, which had traditionally relied on manual work, and to solve problems of labor shortage and technology succession.
Therefore, Rikiman decided to use the "Generative AI Advisor" service of Leach, an external partner, to supplement the lack of specialized knowledge of generative AI within the company and realize smooth introduction.
■ Support Content Provided by Leach
In Leach's "Generative AI Advisor" service, professionals familiar with generative AI comprehensively support Rikiman's generative AI utilization. The specific support contents are as follows.
- Strategy Formulation Support: We interview Rikiman's business challenges and goals, select appropriate AI technologies, and formulate an introduction roadmap.
- Use Case Selection and PoC Execution: Identify business areas where effects can be expected and prioritize them. Support planning and execution of PoC (Proof of Concept) as necessary.
- AI Solution Development and Implementation: Utilize latest generative AI technologies such as OpenAI's ChatGPT to develop and introduce custom AI solutions that can be incorporated into Rikiman's workflow.
- Operational Structure Construction: Support establishment such as training support for employees, maintenance of operational flows, and formulation of security policies so that the introduced AI can be continuously used in the field.
- Effect Measurement and Continuous Improvement: Monitor effects after introduction and propose further improvements based on KPI achievement status. This maximizes the AI utilization effect and leads to long-term competitiveness enhancement.
In this way, through comprehensive support accompanying from technology selection to implementation and operation, we promote Rikiman's generative AI utilization safely and steadily. Leach has a track record of supporting the advancement of AI services for ExaEdge, producing results such as 30% improvement in analysis accuracy, 2.5 times processing speed, and 40% reduction in operating costs, and will utilize such know-how to strongly boost Rikiman's DX.
■ Expected Effects and Future Outlook
With the introduction of this service, the following effects are expected at Rikiman.
- Dramatic Improvement in Operational Efficiency: Significant time reduction becomes possible by generative AI taking over tasks such as routine internal document creation and information organization, improving productivity of daily operations. In particular, significant efficiency is expected, such as halving the time for creating estimates and reports, which were previously handled manually.
- Reduction of Employee Burden and Human Resource Utilization: Reduction of monotonous routine work reduces mental and physical burden on employees. At the same time, limited human resources can be directed to more creative work even amidst labor shortages, creating room for succession of know-how from skilled workers and training of young people.
- Resource Investment in R&D: Time and personnel resources generated by operational efficiency can be allocated to future investments such as research and development of new products and service improvement. As a result, Rikiman can actively work on the development of next-generation "Rikiman fittings" and creation of new businesses, expecting to strengthen competitiveness as a company.
- Promotion of DX in Manufacturing Industry: By becoming an advanced case in traditional manufacturing, it brings ripple effects of DX promotion to peers and local companies. Although Japan is lagging behind in AI utilization especially in SMEs, Rikiman's efforts will stimulate the entire industry and become a catalyst for accelerating digitalization and sophistication of the manufacturing industry.
Starting with this initiative with Rikiman, Leach plans to proceed with support for generative AI introduction to SMEs in various industries and regions. By directing surplus time created by operational efficiency to innovation activities of each company, we aim to create a soil where new technologies are born throughout Japan and help regain the position of "Japan as No.1".
■ Comment from Rikiman Tokyo Branch Manager Isoda (Voice of Introducing Company)
"I strongly expect that generative AI will be a trump card for operational efficiency for SMEs like us. If creation of internal documents, information sharing, inquiry handling, etc., which have relied on manpower so far, can be significantly labor-saved by AI, we can direct that amount of resources to development of new products and improvement of service quality. Hearing that a metal fittings manufacturer receives generative AI consulting might send shockwaves through the industry, but I thought it meaningful for our company to take the lead in challenging in order not to miss the wave of DX. With Leach's support, I would like to breathe new life into the field of traditional manufacturing." (Rikiman Co., Ltd. Tokyo Branch Manager Takehito Isoda)
■ About Rikiman Co., Ltd.
Company Name: Rikiman Co., Ltd.
Location: 1150-5 Ueki, Sue-machi, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka 811-2112
Representative: CEO Hajime Otsuji
Established: January 7, 1977
Corporate Homepage: https://rikiman.com
Business Content: Development, manufacturing, and sales of construction fastening fittings "Rikiman fittings", lease/rental/sales of heavy temporary materials and environmental products, etc.
■ About Leach Inc.
Company Name: Leach Inc.
Location: 9F Satsunotsuji Square, 5-36-4 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014
Representative: CEO Takuya Tominaga
Established: November 13, 2024
Corporate Homepage: https://leach.co.jp
Business Content: Education of generative AI, technical consulting of generative AI, contract development of generative AI, development and operation of own generative AI services
Representative's Career: Takuya Tominaga is an engineer who pursued the essence of technology, in charge of HDD firmware development, cloud infrastructure design, and data analysis environment construction at "Toshiba Software Technology Center" and "Toshiba Tec Corporation Executive Office". Behind acquiring all AWS certifications in just one month is a challenger spirit that proceeds without fear of difficult challenges. As a result of foreseeing the wave of technological change called the arrival of generative AI, he founded Leach on November 13, 2024 under the belief that "Generative AI will cause a whirlwind greater than the Internet". Currently, as CEO and CTO, he opens up the future of SMEs in all directions by installing generative AI, from generative AI education, technical consulting, contract development to development and operation of own services.
※ Career: Kumamoto Kosen Yatsushiro Campus → Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) Master's Course Completion → Toshiba Corp. → Leach Inc. CEO