AssemblyMain unitQuantify and precisely control
all accuracies

Demonstrating outstanding skills also in overseas customer support

Many of the skilled workers who have gained a certain amount of experience in Japan hope to be assigned to Okuma's overseas locations and are sent on the recommendation of their superiors.
Mr. Tozaki, who later became a master, was one of these people. He had extensive experience in main unit assembly and maintenance, so he was assigned to Okuma Europe GmbH (Germany) from 1988 to 2005. His main task was to provide guidance the service staff of local distributors about accuracy adjustments for multitasking machines, spindle assembly, and maintenance skills.
Okuma Europe GmbH covered a vast area, including Europe, parts of Africa, and countries in the Middle East, and when the cause of machine malfunction was unknown or an emergency repair required advanced technology, Mr. Tozaki needed to visit the customer's factory to handle the situation.
Mr. Tozaki responded to a variety of emergencies, but the events at a marine engine manufacturer were unforgettable. At that time, a large 5-axis machine delivered several years previously was malfunctioning, and the machine shop was experiencing a great deal of difficulty. Mr. Tozaki rushed to the site and inspected the machine over the course of several days, but he could not determine the cause. However, he noticed that one part on the tool changer was different from what he was used to seeing, and when he tested the machine after loosening a mounting bolt on that part, there were absolutely no machining defects.
When Mr. Tozaki asked about the source of the part, the customer said, "A few weeks ago, an internal problem caused a tool to come off and the fitting to deform, so we manufactured a replacement in-house." A detailed investigation revealed that the part assembly and alignment work was inadequate and that the cause of the malfunction was the inability to realize the machine's proper cutting capacity. The factory manager was so impressed by Mr. Tozaki's observation abilities that he personally drove him to the airport.
His policy is "determine the cause and always make repairs," and this episode shows his great determination and sense of mission.

Visualizing know-how and passing on skills in the Monozukuri Dojo

Okuma focuses on not just training skilled workers. We are working to maximize the value of our skills by turning the know-how inherited by masters from more senior staff or devised by them into digital data (documents, drawings, and manuals) and sharing it with every department, applying it to improve product functions, and using it for process improvement.
Furthermore, in the Monozukuri Dojo, which was established in-house in 2007, employees are grouped by year of employment and skill level and undergo "training to master the use of tools," from the acquisition of basic manufacturing techniques to advanced skills specialized in machining and assembly, under the guidance of masters.
Okuma's goal is to "train multi-skilled workers" with a wide range of knowledge and skills not only in specialized fields but also in peripheral devices and CNC control fields.
Talented personnel who can respond to the all-round needs of Okuma, which develops and manufactures a wide variety of machine tools in-house as well as NC equipment and automation systems. They are also a driving force behind the trust of the OKUMA brand.