Manufacturing X: Japan's New Manufacturing Concept

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's latest explanation reveals that "Manufacturing X" has been presented as a new concept for Japan's manufacturing industry to achieve high value-added operations and strengthen global earning power. Japan's manufacturing accounts for over 20% of GDP and is highly regarded globally for its technical capabilities in producing complex parts and products with high precision, ranking high in the Economic Complexity Index (2022). However, as global price competition and technological innovation accelerate, and consumer needs become more segmented with rapid changes, traditional approaches focusing solely on volume and quality are no longer sufficient. Manufacturing X refers to manufacturing that has achieved high value-added operations by transforming society and creating new demand through initiatives in GX, cutting-edge technologies like space and biotechnology, and digital-enabled servitization. As a concrete example, Hamano Manufacturing (Sumida Ward, Tokyo) provides comprehensive services from planning to manufacturing for diverse products including spacecraft mobility robots, semiconductor equipment components, and drive-through enclosures, offering integrated services around products including support for startups and corporate new business development. Through this transformation to Manufacturing X, the initiative aims to achieve employment expansion and wage increases. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will actively promote the transformation to Manufacturing X through support for forward-looking corporate investments and promotion of data collaboration.