JAPAN

New challenges face the robot industry of tomorrow. ‘It is estimated that the Japanese robot industry increased its production to Yen550billion in 1997,’ writes Seiuemon Inaba, Chairman of the Japan Robot Association in his New Year message . ‘This is 17% up over the preceding year, due chiefly to the rapid recovery of exports, in addition to the active domestic demand that has continued since 1996. The figures also reflect a firm trend of capital investment. ’ Although rec ent economic conditions have led to some uncertainties about future developments of the business climate, the industry's production in 1998 is likely to regain the Yen600billion level, an all-time high which was reached in the previous peak period,' he adds. ‘In respect of the fundamental economic and social needs for robots in Japan, we believe it is essential to further development of the nation's manufacturing industry-based economy that steps are taken to meet the requirements of industry, particularly in the strengthening of its international competitive abilities through the improvement of productivity and the establishment of a more efficient production system, ' writes Mr Inaba. ’In addition, the industry is called on to meet various other requirements, including measures to compensate for the shortage of skilled workers, the development of an intellectual, comfortable working environment to arrest the tendency of young workers to defect from the manufacturing sector , the release of workers from the so-called ‘three-D (dangerous, dirty and difficult) jobs, and the reduction of working hours,' declares Mr Inaba. ‘These requirements are expected to bring about mid-to-long-term active demand for automat ion equipment, especially robots and factory automation systems,’ writes Mr Inaba. ‘At present robots are used mostly in the conventional manufacturing industy, but in the years ahead, their application will be expanded to the personal sector, covering household uses and support systems for the daily life of the elderly and handicapped, as well as to non-manufacturing industries, including construction, nuclear power, ocean development, medical care and services.’ Mr Inaba adds: ‘St renuous research and development efforts for high technologies are essential to meeting such a wide range of economic and social needs in Japan. Among 15 new and growth sectors covered by a government programme for economic restructuring and creation, pre-arrangements are being made for a research and development project on ‘human co-operating and coexi sting robots’ for which the programme calls on interested parties to immediately set about development and commercialisation tasks. The robot industry intends to participate actively in the project when it comes to the implementation stage. “Thus the Japan Robot Association intends to carry out actively on various operations aimed at further development of the industry. For this purpose, we request the competent government agencies and other interested parties for continued guidance, assistance and co-operation” concludes Mr Inaba.