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TECHNOLOGY

Research and Development

Mitsui Kinzoku ACT engages in research and development to produce high-quality, high added-value automotive components, in pursuit of greater safety and convenience, with a primary focus on door system products such as door latches and sliding doors. Research and development activities are conducted as collaborative efforts between our Yokohama headquarters and research and development sites in Nagoya, Detroit, Shanghai, Paris and Rayong (Thailand). We are also advancing reforms in our development environment in order to match environmental changes in society and the automotive industry. These reforms include:
- Increasing the speed of developments through the utilization of development tools such as CAE simulations and 3D printing
- Visualizing the competence of developers using Mitsui Kinzoku ACT’s own proprietary skill map, with education and training to match the strengths and weaknesses of each individual employee
- Updating the workplace environment such as by introducing free-addressing, online conferencing, and switching from fixed-line telephones to smartphones

Research and Development Sites

Research and Development Sites

Quality Assurance

Mitsui Kinzoku ACT makes united daily efforts as a company to improve quality, in order to deliver products that satisfy customers around the world. In addition to operating in accordance with the IATF16949 international quality management standard, we have also instilled our ideals with regard to technological capabilities and quality—of creating righteous products through fair and honest business practices and sound monozukuri (manufacturing)—into our quality policy. All employees working for Mitsui Kinzoku ACT in countries around the world are engaged in efforts to convert product quality into brand power for Mitsui Kinzoku ACT.

Quality Assurance

Reliability Evaluation

In order to ensure safety and comfort in the opening and closing of vehicle doors under all manner of environmental conditions, Mitsui Kinzoku ACT has developed equipment and organizational frameworks to enable it to conduct reliability evaluations under various unique conditions.

Reliability testing to ensure that product quality is maintained under all manner of environments

  • Temperature environment testing is conducted in the room with constant temperature and humidity
  • Vibration testing simulates the running state of vehicles
  • Analysis of door closing noise through psychological acoustics in an anechoic chamber

Reliability testing with mock up vehicle
(performance measurement, various durability tests, etc.)

  • Door Latch
  • Power Tail Gate
  • Power Sliding Door

Monozukuri

Mitsui Kinzoku ACT is shifting towards ICT-based manufacturing using the MPW (Mitsui Production Way) at production locations both in Japan and overseas, and evolving with the aim of improving its monozukuri techniques and becoming one of the world’s top-class manufacturers in terms of mass production quality and manufacturing costs.

PM
= Predictive Maintenance
JIT
= Just In Time production
DANTOTSU
= Unique activities for manufacturing products with “dantotsu” quality (meaning “the best quality by far”)
Master Tradesman “Takumi”
= A proprietary human resources development system for passing on manufacturing skills and expertise

Enhance monozukuri capabilities in Japan and roll out systems overseas

  • Fully-automated line

    Japan Plant (Kyushu)

    This is a production line that automates the process from component assembly to dispatch from the plant. Design, technology and plants work together to design production lines with a focus on manufacturing ease. This line concept will be rolled out worldwide in the future

  • Automated Transportation

    Japan Plant / Thailand Plant (MSC)

    Mitsui Kinzoku ACT is pursuing labor-saving measures in transporting finished goods and containers.

  • Semi-automated Line

    Japan Plant (Kyushu)

    Mitsui Kinzoku ACT’s semi-automated line achieves ideal investment benefits and high speed through the fusion of human workers with cooperative robots and high-speed conveyance.

  • Stamping Process

    China Plant (XDC)

    We have fully automated the stamping process from materials supply to shipping of finished goods, and continues to face the challenges of improving production speed and quality consistency. Improvements are also being made to the working environment through the use of noise-prevention devices.

  • Cellular-line Production

    Japan Plant (Nirasaki TC)

    This production line adopts an FMS (Flexible Manufacturing System) approach. The line configuration can be adjusted according to the number of workers to match the customer’s requested takt time (TT). The flexible/cellular-line production approach is geared towards low-volume production of multiple product varieties, and is adopted at all production locations.

  • Injection Molding Process

    China Plant (MCG)

    Mitsui Kinzoku ACT’s injection molding process achieves high-speed molding through automation of material input and product input.

ICT-Driven Digitalization of MPW

Mitsui Kinzoku ACT collects and shares production process data between global production locations using IT technologies. Opinions are exchanged on various issues, and the outcomes of such exchanges are translated into improvements in quality and productivity.