ASCII STARTUP is a session of the hardware and IoT -related exhibitions and seminar events "IoT & H/W Biz Day" on February 15, 2020101 February 15.There is something online.Usually, about 40 people's hardware, booth exhibitions where IoT startups gather, and sessions on the latest hardware business, but this time in cooperation with SEMI Japan, the online event "Semicon JAPAN"It was implemented in Virtual.
In this session, as a representative of the manufacturing startup, Mr. Hiromi Mitani of Futurocket Co., Ltd., Mr. Sa Ayako Hamada, CEO of Cherry Chain Co., Ltd.We invited people to carry out panel discussions.The progress was served by ASCII STARTUP Gachi Suzuki.
FUTUROCKET Co., Ltd. Hiromi Mitani
FUTUROCKET is a startup that develops IoT products, such as the device "Hackfon" that makes analog telephone smartly remote controls, and the smart AI camera "Manacam" that can automatically aggregate the number of people in space.In 2018, Kitakyushu City was adopted by the business idea contest "IoT in Kitakyushu", and developed a smart IoT toilet paper holder that measures the remaining paper with TOTO sponsors, repeated demonstration experiments for practical use.There is.He has also supported the entry to Japan of overseas startups, such as recruiting and recruiting the French mini -desktop PC "KUBB" on Sony's crowdfunding site "First Flight".
Cherry chain CEO Saayako Hamada
Cherry Chain Co., Ltd. announced in 2018 by a circuit design engineer, Hamada, announced a programmable jewelry that changes LED light color on the crowdfunding site "Makuake" in 2016, and achieved 1200 %.Hardware startup.Currently, the development of AI x agriculture general -purpose machines and the development of 5G base station power supply support, focusing on contract development such as line inspection equipment, educational microcomputer substrate, LED module, etc. using IoT for companies in Yamanashi Prefecture.I am also working on it.
Chip One Stop Customer Marketing Department Leader Kento Ikeda
Chip One Stop Co., Ltd. is an operating company of electronic components and semiconductor mail order sites headquartered in Shin -Yokohama.He owns its own logistics centers in Shin -Yokohama and Hong Kong, and boasts a strong parts procurement power as a group company of the world's largest semiconductor trading company Arrow Electronics.The feature is that domestic inventory items can be shipped on the day of the order, and overseas inventory items can be delivered quickly.Forty % of the members of the mail order site "Chip One Stop" are engineers, which are not only designed and prototyped, but also small mass production.
In the panel discussion, "what you want to know from prototypes to mass production", "How to get along with China", "If you can't find parts of the same standard?"We discussed the four themes.
Theme 1: What you need to know from prototype to mass production
Mr. Mitani (hereafter, title omitted): In hackfon, the manufacturer of the parts used for the prototype disappeared, and it was no longer available when commercialized.Fortunately, I was able to find similar parts from a Chinese manufacturer, but these troubles often occur.Now I have been advised by factories and manufacturers from the prototype stage.
Mr. Hamada (hereafter, the title omitted): In the manufacturing of the board, the prototype is soldered by myself, but the mass production is asked to a woman in the prefecture who has a soldering experience.However, even if I was an experienced person, I often checked one by one, not a very satisfying finish at the beginning.If you are outsourcing, it may be better to look at it for about a year before getting used to it.
Regarding the procurement of parts, when I was working for the manufacturer, I used a reliable manufacturer product through a trading company for any small prototype, but after independence, I started using cheap parts from China.I did it.Then, troubles such as initial failure, product differences, and delays in delivery continued, and I had a hard time.I regret that it would have been better to go through a trading company if you are in a hurry or want to get it.
Mr. Ikeda (hereinafter abbreviated as a title): There is a department specializing in parts procurement, but startups have to do everything from management to development and parts procurement, and there is no data sheet.Finding parts takes time.We provide services that propose quotes with the necessary parts and data sheets on behalf of the parts procurement.If you can use it as one way to reduce the number of man -hours for parts procurement.
Theme 2: How to get along with China
Miya: I used to ask a factory in China to manufacture a metal original key ring, but the unit price was 250 yen for a minimum lot, a total of 25,000 yen.I thought it was completely in the red because I went to the rice every time I went to the tour, including the design costs (laughs).Chinese companies are very kind when they go to see them in real life.The important thing is not only to visit the factory, but also to associate with something.I think it's important to do some kind of actual trading, such as buying a sample.
Suzuki: The amount actually paid is tens of thousands of yen.
Hamada: I also buy parts from China, but the exchange is basically a chat inquiry.I am very grateful that it is very speedy and always responds.Even if you only have online exchanges, it is important to communicate closely.Unfortunately, there are many mistakes, but we are also immature, so if you have the spirit of forgiving each other, it would be easy to get along.Also, as a specific precaution, the ship's service is not to be rely on arrival, and the schedule for three weeks may be a few months, so I think it is better not to use it as much as possible.
Suzuki: Are there so many products of the product?
Hamada: That's quite a lot.It may be a completely different thing or the product itself does not reach.
Mitani: It makes it very cheap, but it often shifts from what I expected.It may be a good idea to think that it is a kind of taste, and it may be better for this side to associate with a certain amount of room.
Ikeda: Many people are struggling to associate with Chinese companies.Recently, it has been increasingly consulted with us first so that we do not take the second step.
Suzuki: If you are a major company, the order you order will arrive, so the production line can be moved immediately.The troubles of parts procurement are a problem unique to startups.If the parts that have arrived are different from expected, how are you dealing with?
Hamada: When I ordered parts from China before, I received something different from the pins.However, since it was only available in China, it would not be enough to re -purchase.Since there is no help for it, I have re -created the board itself.From that reflection, we purchase the same parts from three places.
Mitani: Originally, I bought it cheaply, so even if something is slightly different, it is divided as a learning cost.There are quite a few specifications in the same model number, so it is necessary for the startup side to be able to respond flexibly.
Theme 3: What if you can't find the part of the same standard?
Hamada: In my case, if I can't find the part of the same standard, I will redesign the circuit and respond.In addition, we design to use as highly versatile parts as possible.
Miya: I can't design a circuit, so I ask a specialized engineer to change the board.When the connector shape of the parts is different, I have replaced it with a conforming connector.Now it is about 100 pieces at most, so it can be handled, but if it becomes 1000 or 10,000 in the future, you have to think about other methods.
Ikeda: There are very many inquiries from customers looking for specific standard parts.We provide an electronic component information database collected by group companies Silicon Expert from manufacturers around the world (Reference: https: // www.chip1stop.Com/SP/SOLUTION/SiliconExpert).I think you can find similar parts that are more reliable than searching for the dark clouds on the Internet sooner.
Theme 4: Design, standard, trouble with factories
Mitani: We haven't been doing large -scale mass production yet, so we haven't faced a big trouble, but I'm glad we're working small.If you have a problem with about 100, you can repair it yourself even if you have a problem.I think it's an ant to start with a small lot that can be tolerated for failure, not a large number from the beginning.
Hamada: A major manufacturer will repeatedly conduct a failure test before putting the product on the market, but we have no physical strength or time to do so, so we will immediately put out what we have completed.There are many things.So, it is an image that we will tell you in advance that you want to grow with your customers, and update while gaining feedback after shipping.For example, it turns out that the IoT substrate for educational is a weak power because the power supply is supplied from the battery, and it does not work when taken out outdoors.There are many things that you can't understand unless you actually use it on site, and the future task is how to put it in the design assuming any case.
Ikeda: In recent years, there have been troubles such as a large natural disaster damaged overseas factories and the price of parts soaring.In such a case, it is not easy to jump to information on the Internet, so you can first consult with a reliable agency or trading company, negotiate from another manufacturer while grasping the current situation, or procurement from another manufacturer.We recommend that you arrange it.We also have a consultation desk on our site, so if you have any problems, please feel free to contact us.
■ Notice
ASCII STARTUP will hold the online conference "IoT H/W Biz Day 2021 by ASCII STARTUP" for IoT and hardware operators on November 19, 2021 (Friday).The viewing is free, and we plan to send benefits to the first 300 applicants.Please apply from the ticket site below.Click here to apply at the event resist here ■■■■ Click here to apply for PEATIX ■■
