Promotion of DX
- Towards achieving Kumagai Gumi DX Policy
- Initiatives in FY2023
- DX measures in construction processes
Towards achieving Kumagai Gumi DX Policy
Kumagai Gumi declared DX Year 1 in April 2019, formulated its DX Policy in 2021, and has rolled out DX Strategy 2021-2023. This strategy aims at progress in diverse areas, including development of digital infrastructure, digitization of works, digital human resource management, and implementation of BIM/CIM. As a result, we successfully achieved certain results to promote improvement of work efficiency and strengthening of our competitiveness.
On the other hand, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and introduction of generative AI, digital technologies have evolved at a rapid rate, thereby diversifying work practices.Such changes are likely to bring revolutionary potential to business models and business processes. In addition, needs in infrastructure development and security enhancement to promote diverse work practices have become more apparent.
Based on such circumstances, the Group developed another new three-year DX Strategy 2024-2026 in accordance with the Kumagai Gumi Group Medium-term Management Plan (April 2024 - FY2026).
DX Strategy 2024-2026
- Kumagaigumi Deep Smarts: A system to store current and archive data to the cloud, enabling all employees to use it
Enhancing technology and workforce, and on-site capabilities with digital technologies
We focus on "DX human resource management", aiming at improving IT literacy among all employees. We will also enhance our digital infrastructure to promote data-driven business transformation, and create digital knowledge from our expertise and technologies. We will, in addition, strive for work efficiency through use of the new core system, generative AI, and business apps.
Creating "Quality that Inspires Happiness" with digital technologies to fulfill our stakeholders
Today's issues includes an aging workforce, serious shortage of young human resource, low labor productivity, and inefficient construction management. We will enhance construction management efficiency by using ICT tools, as well as promote automation and autonomization through use of robots, AI, unmanned processes, and remote control. We are creating appealing construction sites by improving construction worker welfare, reforming work styles, and enhancing productivity in a unified manner. (See p. 65 for details)
Supporting customers and society with digital technologies throughout every era
We contribute to resolving social issues by enhancing lifecycle management proposals in information sharing with customer through digital twins, and by fusing manufacturing with digital technologies. We will enhance infrastructure development and disaster prevention/recovery technologies to improve safety in local communities. We also focus on the creation of new markets through collaboration with different industries, development of environmentally-friendly technologies, and development of digital technology products to establish a robust foundation to support the company's growth.
Initiatives in FY2023
Renovation of core systems
- The Construction WAO is an initiative to integrate diverse works in the construction industry under a unified design concept and database to enhance efficiency and enable automation. Specifically, it integrates various work processes, including sales management, budget control, electric trading, construction management, sales slip, debts and credits to achieve the following benefits:
Development of communication networks
In 2022, the company adopted Prisma Access, a cloud service to address poor connection due to company-wide increase of communication traffic volume, support telework, and address sophisticated security risks. From this fiscal year, it will be implemented at on-site.
Disaster recovery support in the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake
The Kumagai Gumi Group has been engaged in infrastructure recovery works since the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred on January 1, 2024. On the day of the earthquake, Kumagai Gumi set up an earthquake task force in Hokuriku Branch to confirm employee safety, and to investigate the construction sites in the affected area and disaster situations of the customers. In the early aftermath phase, we set up a network service using satellites to establish a communication environment. Using digital tools to share information between the affected area, Hokuriku Branch Office, and the Headquarters, we are working on disaster recovery projects with partner companies.
DX measures in construction processes
KDS (Kumagaigumi Deep Smarts)
KDS is an information infrastructure built by Kumagai Gumi, serving as a platform to utilize its empirical knowledge to support all kinds of information. It is used to digitize Kumagai Gumi's traditional know-hows and knowledge to achieve efficient work practices.
BIM/CIM initiatives
We utilize CIM-CRAFT® to manage cumbersome construction information from a large number of workplaces in an effective manner. Through this, we achieve digital twins. On-site, the Headquarters, and relevant branches share the information, allowing them to promote integrated manufacturing.
Construction BIM Initiatives
We utilize CIM-CRAFT® to manage cumbersome construction information from a large number of workplaces in an effective manner. Through this, we achieve digital twins. On-site, the Headquarters, and relevant branches share the information, allowing them to promote integrated manufacturing.
Automation and remote control technologies for construction machinery processes
To address an aging workforce, shortage of new employees, and aging infrastructure, Kumagai Gumi is making progress in applying automation to its remote control technologies. We also plan to apply this approach to underwater processes.
Challenging unknown possibilities through construction DX
We have developed self-learning autonomous AI robots that work with human workers, achieving robots that can perform river channel closure work in harsh environments. In addition, we are engaged in development of transportation technologies in disaster response on the moon surface as part of Space Construction Innovation Project of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.