Taking on the Labor Shortage Problem, Reducing Necessary Labor and Manpower, and Training Human Resources

The number of people employed in Japan's construction industry continues to fall from its peak of 6.85 million in 1997. By 2018, this number had fallen to 5 million, an approximately 27% decline. Furthermore, the labor force continues to age, with almost 1/3 of the workers being 55 or older. On the other hand, workers 29 or younger made up only 10% of the total, meaning that not only must we secure and train human resources to support the construction industry in the medium-and long-term, we must urgently develop and popularize easy-installation products that make it possible to complete projects with a limited number of workers.
In the face of this labor shortage, the construction industry is undertaking a range of initiatives. The industry in general is promoting countermeasures and advocating the increased use of i-Construction with IoT technology and the hiring of foreign workers, and in April 2024, work style reforms will be introduced.
As well, with the growing sophistication of construction technology in recent years driven by factors such as the growth in house functionality and thermal insulation, we also need to train human resources in these new technologies.

Our company manufactures windows and doors that help to enrich people's lives. Through our manufacturing, we have implemented a range of initiatives to take on issues faced by the construction industry. Especially we have focused on easy-installation, labor-saving installation, and human resource development.
In order to solve the problems of skills transfer and human resource development in the industry, it is important not only to develop easy-installation products and technologies within the company, but also to engage in cooperative and creative responses with professional users, business partners, and other outside parties.
In 2013, we launched the Installation Skills Training Academy to train sash and curtain wall installation technicians. Further, in 2019 we opened the Partners Support Studio in Kurobe, Toyama as a facility to propose technology to professional users, and in 2020, DO SPACE Ageo was established in Ageo, Saitama, as an installation technology training facility for exterior specialists.
With these various initiatives, we believe that we can help solve societal issues, develop the industry, and raise customer satisfaction.

According to the Monozukuri White Paper issued by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), skills are tacit knowledge that is difficult to transfer and learn via manuals. With the aging of society, the construction industry is facing an aging workforce and labor shortages, and therefore demand is growing for simple products and technologies that do not require practiced skills on the construction site.

To solve the labor shortage, it is important to create solutions not just within the company, but together with external partners. We are currently accelerating external partner cooperation.
One example is our participation in the big wood panel project. YKK AP supplies vinyl windows to Wood Station Corporation. The company engages in "big wood panel" construction, in which wood panels are used in all aspects of wood-structure construction, from framework to primary waterproofing. The integrated panels are produced at the factory and then assembled on site. This reduces construction period, labor, and manpower, and helps ensure the construction quality remains consistent. Overall, the number of days required for building house is dramatically reduced.
In 2019, we opened the Partners Support Studio, which is a facility that presents proposals to professional users based on our technology and quality, takes up issues faced by these professional users, and offers solution. At the facility, we provide information about product installation, technoquality at time of use, and logy through installation seminars and other means. As well, we take on feedback from builders and develop products in response. For example, in July 2019, the Partners Support Studio hosted joint installation verifications together with installation technicians from MADO Shop, a window remodeling businesses.
In January 2020, we opened our DO SPACE Ageo, with the goal of the training and improving the skills of exterior products technicians and imparting installation techniques. The facility's role is to provide human resource development and skills improvements for installation technicians, especially for those who are new to exterior installation and have not previously handled YKK AP products. Other roles include developing and implementing curriculum to maintain high level of quality against diversified products and installation. Also, this facility takes a role in providing a space where our company and exterior installation technicians can work and create jointly.
We are also focusing on joint research and other initiatives in cooperation with universities and research institutions. For example, in 2019, we joined up with Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. to launch an industry-academia joint research project to develop windows and doors installation technology and improve productivity using robot and IT technology (see Monozukuri and Installation).
Going forward, we will continue to help solve the society-wide labor shortage problem by working on transferring skills and developing new technologies.