July 2005

P. 13 Frank Opinion

The essence of IT investment that starts by fostering human resources

P. 15 Kaleidoscope

The much talked-about topic of pedestrian collision experiments: weve started them at our company too

P. 19 Detailed Reports

P. 19 A detailed analysis of Japan's strengths: a Monozukuri White Paper focuses on materials

P. 23 A titanium that you rub to put into use: developed by the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry

P. 25 A worlds first: Honda Motor applies adaptive control theory to single-cylinder general-purpose engines

P. 26 NEC and Hitachi simulation technologies enable analysis of the life-span of solder joints

P. 28 Yokohama Rubber develops a new method for identifying optimal design by applying bioengineering and genetic algorithms

P. 30 A 64-bit Windows-compatible 3D CAD software series is developed

P. 31 PLM software that takes BOM management into consideration: Nextech introduces a package to the market

P. 32 A link-up between a mechanical operations review and an intensity analysis enables operation of a system from a 3D CAD display

P. 33 Fujitsu develops a new way of utilizing 3D CAD, which allows operation without taking design data out of a server

P. 34 Flash report on the 16th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo/Conference 2005

P. 36 The Japanese Standards Association (JSA) and the Japanese Society for Quality Control (JSQC) launch a new certification test system, which allows companies to know the level of their employees QC skills at a glance

P. 44 Feature: Product strategy that is one rank higher; the key is long-term warranty

P.46 Part 1: Is it really okay that an industry has one uniform term of warranty?

P.54 Part 2: The following companies accordingly reviewed their warranty policy to offer longer-term warranty
- Case 1: Toshiba Consumer Marketing Corporation
- Case 2: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
- Case 3: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
- Case 4: Yairi Guitar
- Case 5: Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

P. 70 Chinas Secrets, Japans Secret Plans

Part 7: Merely screws, yes, but theyre still important: the frequent problems that arise due to the difficult-to-identify defects of screws

P. 74 New Ideas

A triple mirror with double-hinged panels

P. 78 Search for Manufacturing

A discretionary labor system

P. 83 Special Report

Motor technology that supports HV/EV

P. 93 Special Report

Nissan Motor has reduced vehicle development time to 10-and-a-half months with a new development process called V-3P

P. 100 The Method

New TRIZ (Part 5): The A-Z of the problem-solving process in TRIZ/USIT

P. 106 Project Management Without Depending on Experience and Intuition

Part 1: The importance of visualizing a project

P. 113 Documentary

Development of Legend by Honda Motor (Part 6): Endless wandering in a labyrinth

P. 118 Studying Hot Products

Home Projectors: Enjoy a theater-like experience with your family and friends in your living room

P. 120 Material Dynamics Mandala

Part 7: Designing bolted joints (I)

P. 127 Treasure Box of Embedded Software

Part 7: Quality will not be improved simply by relying on a can-do spirit

P. 131 Outstanding SMEs

Sanki Kogyo, a maker of seam welders, opens up the possibilities of metallic foil by simplifying the welding of thin sheets with a thickness of less than 50 µ

P. 236 The Master

Part 14: Scaling down a building rather than adding an extension to it

P. 239 Accident Investigation

A small plane crashed due to engine failure; a lack of communication led to a flaw in the installation of parts

P. 242 Diary of an IT Consultant

A honeymoon relationship based on self-interest led to working at cross-purposes