2025.04.15
#Focus #Interview #Chubu #Factory #Mitsubishi Electric around the world Raising avatars while working? A close look at Mitsubishi Electric's "Fun Factory" work style
Tackling social issues through games.
Mitsubishi Electric's Nagoya Works is promoting an initiative called "Fun Factory," which incorporates game elements such as avatar customization in the manufacturing shop floor. This initiative aims to create an environment of enhanced engagement whereby both shop floor team members and supervisors are excited to work together. Let's explore how "Fun Factory" can contribute to solving social issues.
Mr. Yasuda of the Open Innovation Promotion Department explains that the reason for starting the "Fun Factory" initiative is because it will become difficult to secure human resources on the manufacturing shop floor moving forward. The company believes engagement is essential to secure and retain personnel for a long period of time. Ms. Shibata, also of the Open Innovation Promotion Department, recognizes that supervisors need to be able to easily grasp team member performance, as this is vital to improving engagement.
Fun Factory is operated from an app on the individual member’s phone, and any changes in settings are reflected on the workbench tablet. A tablet placed at each workstation displays the avatar and level of the member, as well as information on the number of units produced and cycles. By accomplishing tasks, members can level up and enjoy customizing their avatar.
Mr. Shinzato, who uses the app on the manufacturing shop floor, says that it has made it easier for him to monitor his performance and made his job more enjoyable. His supervisor, Mr. Inagaki, also says that not only has the visualization of members' skills made it possible to appropriately assign personnel, but also the use of the application has helped to vitalize communication in the workplace, making work more gratifying.
Future plans include first introducing the system to other Mitsubishi Electric plants in the Nagoya area, with the aim of increasing engagement. In addition, Mr. Yasuda says he would like to conduct demonstration tests both internally and externally to clarify issues and implement countermeasures, as well as promote commercialization of the system.
The growth of Fun Factory will further increase engagement on the manufacturing shop floor and further promote efforts to address the social issue of securing human resources.
INTERVIEWEE
Open Innovation Promotion Department
Nagoya Works, Mitsubishi Electric
Mika Shibata
Joined the company in 2022. In 2024, transferred to the Open Innovation Promotion Department for creating new businesses. She is working to create businesses that combine FA with different industries and build an innovation environment in the Nagoya region. She enjoys baking bread, and on her days off gains a sense of accomplishment by recreating recipes from around the world in her own home. She finds the smell of flour soothing.
INTERVIEWEE
Open Innovation Promotion Department
Nagoya Works, Mitsubishi Electric
Yorimasa Yasuda
Joined the company in 2003. After being stationed overseas for planning and designing servo systems and supporting overseas sales expansion, transferred to the Open Innovation Promotion Department in 2023. Leveraging information on many applications and markets, he currently engages in activities aimed at business innovation. At home, he mulls over ideas while being soothed by his dog, so he is actually also secretly considering new pet/dog-friendly businesses (?)
INTERVIEWEE
Servo Motor Production Department
Nagoya Works, Mitsubishi Electric
Yuto Shinzato
Joined the company in 2022. Involved in the manufacturing of small capacity motors in the Servo Motor Production Department for 2 years before transferring to the medium capacity motor manufacturing shop floor in April 2024. In order to improve productivity in his workplace, he actively participates in small group activities, etc., and engages in regular improvement activities. He enjoys relaxing in the sauna where he will spend his weekend or go when something is troubling him to give himself room to think.
INTERVIEWEE
Servo Motor Production Department
Nagoya Works, Mitsubishi Electric
Tatsuo Inagaki
Joined the company in 2011. Assigned to Servo Motor Production Department. Since 2023, he has been promoting productivity and quality improvement on the shop floor as foreman. His hobbies are reading (particularly manga) and cooking. On the weekends he loves cooking for his family. Recently, he enjoys making meals with his children as a form of stress relief.
