The Case for a "Nominal" Business Alliance: The Concept of a Cooperative for Visual Inspection Engineers

When you’ve been working in the field of automated visual inspection for a long time, there’s a story you often hear.

“If we become more organized, sales will increase.”
“If we hire more people, the business will expand.”
“We can solve this by injecting capital.”

Of course, that may be true in general.

However, the situation is a little different when it comes to automating visual inspections.

Visual inspections are the result of a series of “small tasks”

Although visual inspections may seem like large-scale equipment projects at first glance, the work involved is actually highly customized.

• The work is different
• The delinquents are different
• The quality standards are different
• The on-site conditions are different

In other words, each one is custom-made.

Therefore,

• Image Processing
• Optics
• Lighting
• Mecha
• PLC
• Quality Assurance

We’ll work with our customers to find the answers, drawing on all our knowledge—including the following.

As a result, in most cases, one or two engineers are the most efficient way to move a project forward.

Increasing the number of people doesn't necessarily make things go faster.

If anything,

• Information Sharing
• Handover
• Adjustment

It is not uncommon for this to increase and cause efficiency to drop.

Is Personalization a Bad Thing?

Generally speaking,

"Personalization is bad"

or so they say.

However, in the field of visual inspection, it is not realistic to completely eliminate the reliance on individual inspectors.

That's because what our customers are looking for is,

"A Job Anyone Can Do"

Rather than,

"Jobs that can be handled by experienced people"

That's why.

The problem isn't that it's tied to specific individuals.

The real problem is that,

Isolation

It is.

There are many talented engineers in the industry.

Every time I run into an engineer I’ve known for a long time at a trade show or seminar, I find myself thinking...

There are so many truly talented people in this industry.

However,

• We work for different companies.
• Different regions
• I am bound by a confidentiality agreement

For that reason, they are each working independently.

As a result,

I keep repeating the same mistakes,
I struggle with the same kinds of challenges,
and I’m going through the same kinds of hardships.

This is a real shame.

The Concept of a “Business Alliance in Name Only”

So what I'm thinking is,

A Business Alliance in Name Only

It is.

Just hearing the name might make it sound a little suspicious (lol).

However, in reality,

• No membership fee
• No sales quotas
• No hierarchy
• No Unreasonable Joint Orders

It's that kind of casual relationship.

When you're in a bind,

"Has anyone else had this experience?"

You can discuss this with them.

When you're busy,

"Could you give me a little help?"

It can be said that...

That alone makes it worthwhile.

Earn your own living

The premise of this line of thinking is that,

It’s not about having someone give you a job.

Each one,

Have your own customers,
Have your own work,
Earn your own living.

Furthermore,

We help each other out when we're in trouble.

This way, we can avoid losing our independence.

And,

"What would happen if I were to collapse?"

That anxiety will also lessen.

A major benefit for users as well

Actually, this system offers benefits not only to engineers but also to users.

Visual inspection equipment is,

It doesn't end with the implementation.

• Add a Variety
• Equipment Upgrade
• OS Update
• Camera Discontinued
• Changes to Quality Standards

and so on—you’ll end up being together for 10 or 20 years.

At that moment, what users are really worried about is,

It wasn't a equipment malfunction, but rather,

"The person in charge leaving"

or something like that.

If you rely on just one engineer,

• Resignation
• Closure
• Illness

...poses a major risk.

However, if several engineers are loosely connected,

You can create a backup just in case.

It makes a big difference in how secure users feel.

Our goal is to create an “engineers’ cooperative.”

What we're thinking is,

It's not about building a large corporation.

Nor is it a matter of mass hiring.

What we aim for is,

A system in which strong individuals are loosely connected

It is.

It might be similar to an agricultural cooperative in the farming sector.

While each operates independently,

We join forces only when necessary.

That's how it is.

Automation of visual inspections is, by its very nature, a world where every item is unique.

That is precisely why,

Rather than expanding the organization,

Share your experiences, and

Turn your achievements into assets, and

I believe it is important to create a system that prevents people from becoming isolated.

First, let’s start with “business partnerships in name only.”

I think that small step might make the future of the visual inspection industry a little more interesting.