Kyocera Corporation plans to build a new Center for Development at its Shiga Yasu Campus in Japan. At the Center, the company will consolidate production engineering and development functions. Moreover, the new Center will strengthen manufacturing capabilities through stronger collaboration among Kyocera’s diverse business divisions, while training new generations of engineering leaders.

Drastic changes in the business environment now compel manufacturers to implement new strategies for raising productivity and improving product quality by deploying AI and robots; tackling carbon neutrality; and training employees to master digital technologies and data analysis.

Kyocera plans to raise its capabilities to a new level in production engineering through developing state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. It is promoting smart factories by adopting automated and optimized production processes, investing in engineering skills development, building digital transformation expertise, and sharing knowledge among divisions.

Within this context, the company envisions the new Center as a gathering place for production engineers from all major Kyocera manufacturing sites. Key objectives will include strengthening and accelerating development of core technologies and manufacturing processes at Kyocera’s components businesses. At the same time, it will create a new space for engineers from each business division to engage in co-creation, information-sharing, and technological training.

Specifically, the Center is planned to have six floors. The first through third floors will feature spaces for production process and equipment development. These include pilot production lines for new technologies in ceramic molding, dispersion, mixing, firing, and laser processing for components manufacturing. Special emphasis is placed on optimizing manufacturing processes to achieve carbon neutrality. The fourth to sixth floors will include offices, co-creation cafes, and training spaces both for newly hired engineers and for employees who need to learn the digital transformation skills necessary for operating smart factories.

In addition, the Center will collaborate closely with Kyocera’s three R&D bases in Japan, including the Minato Mirai Research Center, Keihanna Research Center, and Kirishima R&D Center. Specifically, it aims to strengthen the manufacturing capabilities of the Kyocera Group.