It is no easy task to predict the fault of electricity-powered equipment. Until now, the human eyes have carried out routine inspections to avoid potential downtime. Panasonic’s AI monitoring system examines the wave pattern of harmonics to do the task. Users do not have to attach a physical device to the machine; the sensor device is on the electricity cable. The cloud-based system detects unusual wave patterns which have been classified as a sign of fault.

Freezing water pipes is a daily problem in the winter season in Northern Japan and in mountain regions. You may let the water flowing or turn an anti-freeze heater all the time; both solutions lead to the higher consumption of resources. Temco Corporation produces a sensor for freeze protection heater that effectively reduces electricity cost by 90%. The patented technology calculates the thermal equilibrium point to turn the device on in consideration of the heat of solidification.

Japanese fresh fruits are well-known for its exquisite quality. It is a sort of craft. Japan’s agricultural output is the world 9th largest, but the country’s export is ranked around 60th. There are problems in the sector. Productivity is low, each production unit small and the entry barrier to become a producer high.

Yet it has advantages in production control and R&D. Agriculture is a good place to observe how Japanese society shapes its business and to think how to locate hidden assets in Japan.

Distribution in Japan is said to be very complex. The proportion of small-scale retailers and manufacturers with less than 10 employees is very high. Wholesalers, or intermediaries, therefore play a major role in the distribution system.

Wholesalers are important not only for purchasing, storage and logistics, but it also serve as a hub of information. Knowledge to navigate your way through the complex layers of primary, secondary and tertiary wholesalers is the key to success.