7
YOUR GLOBAL CRAFTSMAN STUDIO
Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto remains
a rich treasure trove of history and
culture, and is known as a popular tourist
destination. Within this quaint capital,
just 15 minutes by car from Kyoto Station
sprawls a vast manufacturing plant. It is
the Mitsubishi Motors Powertrain Plant.
Mitsubishi Motors started production
of the Mitsubishi A type in 1917 and
continued manufacturing automobiles
that are popular throughout the world
such as the PAJERO and LANCER
EVOLUTION. Mitsubishi’s “Drive@earth”
project aims to deliver an enjoyable
driving experience for the global market
withanemphasisoncoexistingwithnature
through the development, production
and sales of electric vehicles (EV) and
plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV). Such
leading-edge innovation has provided the
foundation for manufacturing technology
throughout Japan’s automobile industry.
The development of technology at
Mitsubishi Motors has been promoted by
the “Tool Technology Council,” a group of
process technology specialists.
Established nearly 50 years ago in 1966,
the Council comprises of engineers
selected
from
departments
and
divisions at Mitsubishi Motors group
companies and Mitsubishi Materials to
develop innovative technologies for the
automotive industry. Under the concept
of “Creating Dreams in Manufacturing,”
Council members are selected each year
to attend technical exchange meetings.
They also come together once a year to
share the progress they have made in
theirprocessing technology improvement
activities. The purpose of these meetings
is to exchange technical information
beyond company boundaries. In addition
to the regularmembers, young engineers
are invited to participate in these activities
to cultivate next-generation engineers.
Approximately 420 engineers have
participated in Council activities over
the half century since it was established
and hundreds of presentations covering
a wide range of technologies have
been given. These activities provide
opportunities for interaction among
engineers, users and manufacturers
and have resulted in new tools that have
supported Mitsubishi Motors through
the development of highly advanced
production lines. We asked Mitsubishi
Motors and Mitsubishi Materials Tool
Technology Council members to tell us
about the history and achievements of
the Council.
(Left) Hiroshi Shimizu: Production Engineering Group, Powertrain Production Engineering Department, Mitsubishi Motors (a pioneer at the Tool Technology Council)
(Middle) Takashi Ogino: Powertrain Production Engineering Expert, Production Engineering Division, Mitsubishi Motors (in charge of machine technology)
(Right) Makoto Nishida: Chief of the Powertrain Production Engineering Department Group, Mitsubishi Motors
Mitsubishi Motors evolvingwhile expanding
global sales
Part1
Mitsubishi Motors andMitsubishi Materials
Tool Technology Council‘s support for production lines
Shimizu (Mitsubishi Motors):
It has been
about 40 years since I became involved
with the Tool Technology Council, which
I guess, makes me one of the oldest
members. I was working in engine
production for Mitsubishi Jeep when I
was asked to join the Council. Looking
back on its history, I remember most our
work on low-fuel consumption vehicles.
That was a time when automobile
manufacturers were under pressure to
reduce both weight and cost.
Ogino (Mitsubishi Motors):
That’s true.
Engine improvements required the
development and application of stronger
materials which were difficult to cut.
Of course, this meant that we needed to
adapt tools capable of machining these
new materials. I look back and feel like
it was a time of competitive evolution
between materials and tools. A new tool
that had low cost-performance that but
hard to pre-set, or difficult to adjust was
no good to us.
FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE
FOCUS on PERFORMANCE
MITSUBISHIMOTORS
A manufacturing bond that has produced continuing technical innovation
