Mitsubishi Electric, HACARUS forge partnership for AI-based visual inspection in manufacturing

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and HACARUS Corporation have taken a significant step forward in the realm of manufacturing innovation. The two companies recently announced an expansion of their collaboration, focusing on the development of AI-based visual-inspection applications designed to transform manufacturing processes. As a cornerstone of this enhanced partnership, Mitsubishi Electric will acquire an equity stake in HACARUS, aiming to leverage the strengths and technologies of both entities to maximize technological synergies and business potential.

The strategic alliance is set to harness HACARUS’ specialized expertise in AI and its application in visual inspection solutions, alongside Mitsubishi Electric’s proprietary Maisart AI technology. This collaboration is poised to accelerate the development and provision of integrated, automated AI-based visual inspection systems. Such advancements promise substantial improvements in manufacturing quality and overall productivity, addressing critical challenges such as Japan’s shrinking labor force and the global demand for higher efficiency in production lines.

HACARUS brings to the table its innovative visual-inspection solution, HACARUS Check, which is powered by a unique, compact AI capable of integrating seamlessly with various factory automation devices. This technology complements Mitsubishi Electric’s recent release of MELSOFT VIXIO, an AI-based visual-inspection software that automates and enhances manufacturing quality through the automation of visual inspections.

Toshie Takeuchi, Group President of Mitsubishi Electric’s Factory Automation Systems Group, highlighted the collaboration’s potential to significantly address labor shortages within the manufacturing sector. By automating production lines and reducing the reliance on manual visual inspections, Mitsubishi Electric and HACARUS aim to provide robust solutions to some of the most pressing issues faced by modern society.

Takashi Someda, CEO of HACARUS, emphasized the company’s mission to contribute to society by leveraging advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics to create additional value from data. The partnership with Mitsubishi Electric represents a concerted effort to develop solutions that not only promote digital transformation at manufacturing sites but also tackle social challenges such as declining working populations.

The collaboration between Mitsubishi Electric and HACARUS marks a pivotal moment in the digitalization and automation of the manufacturing industry. By combining Mitsubishi Electric’s extensive experience in factory automation with HACARUS’ pioneering AI technology, the partnership is set to deliver solutions that advance the digital engineering cycle and support the circular digital-engineering initiatives.

As industries worldwide contend with the impact of shrinking labor forces, especially skilled labor, the need for innovative solutions like AI-based visual inspection technologies has never been more critical. Mitsubishi Electric and HACARUS are at the forefront of addressing these challenges, offering new pathways to automate inspection processes and alleviate the burden on product inspectors, thereby ushering in a new era of manufacturing efficiency and quality.