Canon 2007 Annual Report Download - page 25

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23
The development of digital
SLR cameras using the
3D-CAD system at the
Company’s Shimomaruko
Headquarters, Tokyo
Raising Development Efficiency
By linking its development and production divisions,
Canon promotes concurrent processes to ensure
cooperation from the initial product concept stage. The
early-stage consideration of production processes and
identification of problem areas has led to shorter lead
times as well as cost reductions.
Canon also aims to establish an integrated IT system
based on 3D-CAD systems to better utilize design
information and enhance the links among design, trial,
verification and production stages. Representing a key
measure in the Company’s efforts to innovate the
development process, 3D-CAD systems were introduced
Companywide, dramatically speeding up product
development and reducing trial times. Looking ahead,
Canon plans to standardize 3D-CAD and other informa-
tion systems throughout all business operations by 2010.
Researching Next-Generation Technologies
The Company is pursuing the development of next-
generation technologies in fields that exhibit significant
potential. These include such new domains as biotech-
nology, nanotechnology and life sciences.
Canon actively conducts leading-edge research
activities on a global scale to access and acquire the
latest technologies necessary for cultivating new
markets. The Company also dispatches researchers
and conducts collaborative research with the world’s
leading universities and institutes.
As next-generation business domains beyond
2010, Canon is focusing its sights on medical imaging
and robotics. In medical imaging, Canon is developing
advanced diagmatic imaging technologies that enable
the detection of metabolic changes and the structure
of human subjects. This development aims to facilitate
the early detection of disease to improve the quality of
life. As an example, the Company is undertaking a joint
research project with Kyoto University in Japan.
Canon announced the development of a 50 million-pixel
CMOS sensor prototype in 2007