Want to borrow a cat's hand? I made it with "Job Share" 13:46 on July 6th

“The work has become more and more like it evaporates,” says an executive at a major auto parts manufacturer. Due to the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus, automobile production has declined, and the supply network of parts = the supply chain has been greatly affected. Under these circumstances, there is a movement to develop a unique product that is completely different from automobile parts, and to overcome the difficult situation with a “job share” between supply chains. (Saitama Broadcasting Station reporter Yumiko Kiyo)

Work evaporates... Look beyond the parts

In April, a national emergency was announced due to the spread of the new coronavirus. At the auto parts maker Marelli, which is headquartered in Saitama City, the production of the customer's car manufacturer has reduced, and production has been seriously affected by temporarily stopping operation of 99 out of 150 production sites worldwide. It was

Under such circumstances, one of the employees proposed to Mr. Makoto Ishibashi, who is in charge of new business, "Is it possible to create something that will benefit society?"

Originally, parts manufacturers mainly develop products together with automobile manufacturers and manufacture them on order, and this manufacturer has never made anything that is not related to cars.

However, Managing Director Ishibashi has never set up a project team.

(Mareri Ishibashi, Managing Executive Officer)
“From around February, my work began to evaporate. There is nothing more painful for a “manufacturing company” to lose production, and the morale of the worksite is also reduced. Fortunately, the company has talented people with different skills, and I just wanted to do whatever I could to do it."

For those who want to borrow a cat's hand

The members of the project team, who are usually in charge of car interiors, paid attention to "GO OUT" support.

At that time, there was a nationwide demand for "STAY HOME," and there were already various products and services for staying at home comfortably, but those who must go to the "site" such as medical professionals, "GO OUT I thought that there was not enough support for those who were asked.

Don't directly touch the place where an unspecified number of people touch, based on the opinion that while holding video conferences through remote work, bringing ideas and design ideas together, "I have a resistance to grasp the strap of public transportation when going out" I decided to develop a product to do it.

About a week after the idea, I made a prototype with a 3D printer that has a handle with a head that looks like a bent finger and a circular handle that seems to be easy to grip.

Initially, I was thinking of engraving my face on an elliptical sphere of the handle part and making it the name "Grip Boy", but as the discussion progressed, "I want to borrow a cat's hand as the infection spreads." I came up with the idea of ​​making the handle part like a cat with the meaning of "supporting busy people".

So, what kind of shape does it look like a cat and can easily make a mold, and what kind of material is used to make it strong enough not to break even if the strap is grabbed? The know-how of was utilized.

And within a month and a half of the idea, I was able to manufacture molds, decide the production process and make product packages.

Grab the straps of public transportation, push the elevator buttons, open the doors... This is a "cat's hand" idea product.

It usually took at least two years to develop and manufacture automobile parts, which was an unusual speed for parts manufacturers.

"Job share" The aim is

Next is production.

If we prioritize speed, we would go to our own factory to produce it... but we decided to outsource it to a parts manufacturer that manufactures smart keys and meter parts in Kawagoe City, Saitama.

Managing Director Ishibashi talks about the process as follows.

(Executive Managing
Director Ishibashi) "We are not the only ones in crisis. The supply chains from our auto parts manufacturers, our cooperating companies, are all suffering. The best support is to order work, but now it is If so, we will immediately develop something that will lead to production and actually make it. Even if we only survive, at the end, if we lose our business partners, we will not be able to make automobile parts and cars Now, it's important for everyone to fight.''

"Sakaiya", a parts manufacturer who received an order from "Marelli", also ordered mold production from a company in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, and a resin molding job from a company in Nagano City. Both are supply chains that cooperate in the production of ordinary parts.

In late June, at the “Sakaiya” factory in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, employees fixed the molded parts with a synthetic adhesive and sterilized them one by one with alcohol before packing.

Sales of "Sakaiya" dropped to less than half in May due to a decrease in orders, and although it recovered slightly in June, the factory is operating 3 days a week, and the production volume is about half of usual.

(Ken Sakaiya, Vice President, Sakaiya)
“I was surprised at the beginning when I heard the details of the order, but I was grateful that my lack of work motivated me the most. We also ask our business partners to do the work. We've done it, and we want to make good use of our strengths in the supply chain as a team.''

"Team Cat's Hand"

A product created by the cooperation of four supply chain companies. With the aim of starting sales in July, "Marelli" is urgently trying to secure a sales channel by negotiating with department stores, general stores, etc., where it had no transactions.

In July, car production is gradually recovering, but it is not at full capacity as before.

Now that the new lifestyle is required due to the spread of new coronavirus infection, we would like to continue to develop products that meet the needs of society without being bound by conventional methods while making the most of the existing network. And I want to prepare for the complete revival of automobile production in the future. Such a spirit of manufacturing supports the supply chain.

Saitama Broadcaster reporter
Yumiko Kiyo

Joined in 2003
Kyoto Station, Economic Department, Press Bureau After working as an army,
now in charge of Saitama City Government and Economy