National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference 2024: Feedback from Exhibitors and Attendees

On Friday, April 12, 2024, we held the 2024 National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference. More than 400 people attended, and 52 companies set up booths. On the day of the event, discussions were lively not only during the panel discussions but also at the booths, where participants talked about the challenges they wanted to solve and the kind of future they wanted to create.

Exhibitors

Mr. Takashi Tanaka, Representative Director, Sanko Giken Co., Ltd.

Just as I was constantly wrestling with the question, “How should we move forward in this era of change?” I came across the term “knowledge manufacturing” and it really struck a chord with me. I strongly resonated with the idea that communicating in our own words what we do—not to “sell to someone,” but to “bring someone on board”—is what creates knowledge and paves the way for the future. From the very opening, I felt a sense of excitement that made me think, “I have to take action myself.” The appeal of this event lies in the fact that participants share a common desire to “build new businesses together.” Communication flowed smoothly because we were united by a shared foundation: creating businesses to solve problems rather than pursuing individual gain. I was able to have lively, business-focused conversations with startup founders, and the atmosphere—where I could speak on equal footing with industry leaders—was wonderful. I’d like to participate again next time, so I plan to prepare even more thoroughly to ensure I can engage others more effectively and be engaged by them as well.


Mr. Takuma Misawa, President and CEO of Unplat Co., Ltd.

We wanted to expand our business—which has primarily focused on the life sciences sector—into the manufacturing industry, so we developed a system tailored for manufacturers and participated in the exhibition with our own booth. On the day of the event, representatives from other exhibiting companies introduced us to others, saying, “You’d be a good fit for the company I just met!” and some people who approached us with questions like, “Can we work together to solve this challenge?” even brought their colleagues along. This chain of introductions continued, and we were able to exchange business cards and speak with over 150 people. It was also impressive that, because multiple companies were present, we were able to have discussions—such as “We could probably do something like this”—that wouldn’t have been possible in one-on-one settings. Since we were exhibiting a software-as-a-service offering—rather than a tangible, easily understandable product—there was a bit of a hurdle to participating in the trade show. However, the attendees were highly motivated, and we were able to have concrete discussions; as a result, we currently have about 10 business negotiations underway. It was an event brimming with enthusiasm, filled with people actively networking to find leads for new business ventures and partners to solve their challenges.


Mr. Taku Miyamoto, Manager, Product Development Department, Punch Industries Co., Ltd.
As a manufacturer of mold components, our business scope is narrow, and until now, we had never considered addressing social issues. However, taking this decision to exhibit as an opportunity, we resolved to stand on the same footing as other exhibitors who are passionate about solving these challenges. Specifically, we identified the issue of “rework in the manufacturing industry” and decided to showcase services that contribute to resolving it. Furthermore, we developed our own terminology internally to explain our initiatives clearly. On the day of the event, the venue was filled with an “atmosphere of intellectual engagement.” As participants continuously shared and discussed their awareness of challenges with one another, the energy level soared, and we experienced firsthand the moments when new insights emerged. Through these intensive exchanges, we discovered that the scope of our technology surprisingly aligns well with the needs of a company developing large drones, leading to discussions about joint research. Collaborations with several other companies are also taking shape, and we are making preparations to steadily take the next step forward.

Participating Companies

Mr. A, Department Manager at a Manufacturing Company
I decided to attend after hearing from Rebox, a company exhibiting at the event, about how enjoyable this gathering was. On the day of the event, I listened intently to every session and felt truly moved—it was well worth the effort I put into convincing my boss to let me come all the way from Osaka. In particular, as our company aims to become a 300-year-old enterprise, the panel session titled “What Does the Practice of the ‘Knowledge Manufacturing Industry’ Look Like? Insights from a Long-Established Venture with Over 100 Years of History” was extremely insightful, especially the remarks from the executives of companies that have been in business for over 100 years. It was a real eye-opener to learn about the importance of naturally absorbing ways of thinking and moral values from a young age—values passed down from my grandfather’s generation. Through my participation, I gained a deeper understanding of the concept of the “knowledge-based manufacturing industry.” I now intend to promote the idea within our company that “we are knowledge-based manufacturers.” For the next event, we plan to set up a booth to demonstrate the “manufacturing of knowledge” in a more concrete way.

National Conference on Knowledge-Based Manufacturing 2025: Overview

Date and Time: Friday, April 18, 2025
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center, Hamamatsucho Building, 4th Floor Exhibition Hall
If you are interested in exhibiting or participating, or if you would like to learn more about the National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference, please contact us through the "Contact Us" page on this website. Additionally, the report on the National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference 2024 is available at <this way (direction close to the speaker or towards the speaker)> Click here to view.