On the factory floor, automated assembly lines tend to suffer from "intermittent stops."* How did you deal with that problem?
- Mizuno
- We call that phenomenon "frequent stoppage," and we've introduced many improvements, since we were performing unit-based assembly aimed at reducing the occurrence of frequent stoppage. Even now, after realizing full automation, we consider this to be a key issue.
- Machino
- I think our level has risen in recent years and reliability has improved. Nevertheless, we continue to implement countermeasures. We have reduced intermittent stoppages to one or less per day. When you've come this far, it's difficult to grasp the cause of problematic phenomena.
- Kitamura
- Specifically, we check using a video camera, but it's difficult to check frame by frame.
It's like using a sensor to film the behavior of wild animals, isn't it? (Laughs.) Did you watch the video over and over again to figure out the cause?
- Machino
- We played it many times, frame by frame.
That must have been tough, considering that there was only about one stoppage a day.
- Machino
- That just goes to show how serious we are about improving the reliability of our automatic toner-cartridge assembly systems. There were various points where we were able to confirm the technical issues behind device stoppages, so when developing the next device, we would incorporate preventive measures from the outset.
