Problems, which Japanese Casting Industry is currently facing, are divided into following two categories:
1. Japanese automobile and industrial machinery manufacturers are increasingly making advance into foreign market. In conjunction with such tendency, outsourcing of the component parts form abroad is being accelerated. Furthermore, orders for castings to developing countries in Asia is increasing, consequently Japan's casting industry will reduce to a shell.
2. The industry is suffering from depressed demand due to persistent economic recession, trend where younger generations shun this industry due to its nature of dirty, dangerous and demanding jobs, and problems for human resources such as aging employees and lack of successors. In addition, other factors, such as decrease in good scraps, rise in cost and expenses including electricity bill, will be accelerated, forcing companies into bankruptcy. Some people view pessimistically these circumstances may lead to short supply of the castings in the future.
Compared with 1990 level, demand for the castings fell by about 30%, which is represented in the decrease in the number of operating companies in the industry.
Regarding development of technologies and skills and problems of succession of the business, big companies take organizational approach, while measures taken by small and midsize ones are not sufficient. Therefore, information-oriented approach and information exchange network will be essentially required among the small and midsize companies.
Although the casting industry is not the one as attracting attention, its technologies are contributing to various industries. For example, owing to excellent kisage, superior machinetools are available. In turn, superior machine tools enable you to manufacture high quality cars. In this way, the casting technologies provide the basic technical support to the wide range of industries.
At the most significant turning point after the world War II, if the current economic recession progresses, the advanced casting technologies built up will probably not survive.
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