Polishing Words and Raising Wolves for Co-Creation with Partner Companies ＜National Conference of Knowledge Manufacturers

Shinnichi Kogyo Co.

Director, Head of the Engineering DepartmentKazuhisa Okamoto he
Deputy Director of the Engineering Department, in charge of the Product Development SectionChiharu Takekawa he

Expand Your Repertoire So You Don’t Just Say “I Can’t Do It”

　Under the slogan “Responding to 100 Challenges with 100 Manufacturing Solutions,” the company has primarily focused on fulfilling client requests. However, in reality, it has continued to respond only within the limited scope of manufacturing it can handle in-house, and as a result, it has had to turn down many inquiries. Therefore, in order to address 100 challenges, the company decided to participate in events such as the National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference with the aim of expanding its network of partners and broadening its repertoire of solutions. Through these events, the company encountered people with new technologies it had never encountered in its previous business operations, thereby increasing the range of technologies available for use. By discussing with other companies that possessed unique technologies we lacked and deepening our understanding of their technologies, the barriers to collaboration with them were lowered. As a result, a connection formed with a Tokyo-based company we met at a trade show led to the development of a prototype and the acquisition of a joint patent for a special coating designed to prevent fouling inside pipes.

Increased Outreach Creates Opportunities for Co-Creation

　The company faced challenges in compiling its corporate yearbook. To collaborate with other companies, it needed to articulate its unique characteristics and future strategic direction in terms that other exhibiting companies could easily understand. For the two members of the Engineering Department—who were not part of the sales team—this was an unfamiliar undertaking. However, they continued to work on refining their messaging from the very first year. In 2025, their second year of participation, Mr. Takekawa made a powerful declaration during a short presentation: “We will manufacture large-diameter, thin-walled pipes that do not yet exist in the world, thereby liberating manufacturing.” By combining their strengths with their future vision, they crafted a message that resonated even with the members of the Engineering Department—a group of engineers—and by conveying their company’s strengths and determination, they were able to foster deeper conversations at their booth. Mr. Okamoto, participating for the first time this year, proactively visited other companies’ booths and arranged numerous opportunities for prototyping and site visits. By taking the initiative to reach out, he began a clear shift from a passive stance to one of “co-creation.”

The Future of Manufacturing Envisioned by Dynamic Engineers

　This shift in attitude isn’t limited to the Engineering Department. When we issued a call for participation within the company, a young employee from the Manufacturing Department volunteered, saying, “I want to explain our company in my own words,” and engaged in lively conversations with visitors on the day of the event. This sparked interest in external communication among other employees as well, and active participation across departments is now spreading. Although we are a relatively small organization with just 49 employees, if each individual becomes able to articulate our company’s strengths, our ability to communicate effectively will be immeasurable. The National Knowledge-Based Manufacturing Conference is neither merely an exhibition nor a venue for gathering information. It is a place where exhibitors themselves recognize their company’s value and take a step toward the future of manufacturing. Right now, Shin-Nichi Industries’ engineers are at the forefront of putting this into practice.

(Text by Miyuki Shigenaga)