The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) formulated the “Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy” by integrating the wisdom of industry, academia and government. It focuses on machine parts and tools technologies (technologies for casting, forging, metal stamping, powder metallurgy, mold making, and heat treatment) that underpin the Japanese manufacturing sector.

This Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy sets goals for future machine parts and tools industries, provides a strategic scenario to fulfill them, identifies priority technology development issues that need to be addressed in fulfilling them, and presents a roadmap to the future of key technologies.

Based on the outcomes shown in the Strategy, METI will formulate the concept and plan for the development of innovative next-generation manufacturing technologies.

1. The Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy was formulated by the Committee on Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy (Chairman: Masayoshi Watanabe, Director of the Machine Parts and Tooling Industries Office, METI; members: about 90 people in total, including members of related committees) in cooperation with the Materials Process Technology Center through about a year of discussion. The Committee consists of representatives of the machine parts and tools industries, including those of the Japan Foundry Society, Inc., Japan Forging Association, Japan Metal Stamping Association, Japan Powder Metallurgy Association, Japan Die & Mold Industry Association, Japan Metal Heat Treatment Association, and Japan Industrial Furnace Manufacturers Association, as well as experts from related academic communities, including the Japan Society for Technology of Plasticity, Japan Foundry Engineering Society, Japan Society of Powder and Powder Metallurgy, Japanese Society of Die and Mould Technology, and the Japan Society for Heat Treatment.

2. The Machine Parts and Tooling Technology Strategy consists of the following: (a) goals of the machine parts and tools industries, (b) a strategic scenario to fulfill them, (c) priority technology development issues in the six key machine parts and tools technology fields underpinning the Japanese manufacturing sector (casting, forging, metal stamping, powder metallurgy, mold making, and heat treatment technologies), and (d) roadmaps for key technologies.

3. In the discussion on priority technology development issues, a total of about 340 constituent technologies were examined in the six fields. The importance of every technology was evaluated using eight indicators (designed to measure technological competitive advantage, market impact, contribution to energy and resource conservation, etc.). As a result, about 140 key technologies were identified.

4. To share these outcomes, METI will widely disseminate the Strategy to industry, academia and government so that it can be used as a platform for communication between people engaged in technology development in the machine parts and tools industries underpinning the Japanese manufacturing sector, thereby fostering efficient and effective technology development. The Strategy will also be used in formulating concepts and plans for new research and development projects and reviewing important technology guidelines established for smooth enforcement of the Act to Promote the Enhancement of Manufacturing Technology for Small and Medium Enterprises.

5. The key technologies identified by the Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy will be taken into account in revising the production, design and processing technology sections of the “Strategic Technology Roadmap,” which is METI’s comprehensive technology roadmap being revised annually.

6. The key points of the Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy will be presented at the “Symposium for Collaboration of New Machine Parts and Tools Technologies” to be held in November, which is designated as Machine Parts and Tools Industries Month. The Symposium will take place on November 19 at Kikai-Shinko Kaikan.

Reference
This Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy was developed by revising and integrating two existing documents: “Machine Parts and Tools Technology Strategy” formulated and released by the Machine Parts and Tooling Technology Strategy Formulation Committee in March 2000; “Materials Process Technology Roadmap” by the Materials Process Technology Center in March 2001. Changes in the manufacturing environment since these times and up-to-date technology information are incorporated into the new strategy.

Release Date

October 30, 2008

Division in Charge

Machine Parts and Tooling Industries Office, Manufacturing Industries Bureau

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