Nikon 2014 Annual Report Download - page 30

What is the role of the Industrial Metrology
Business Unit, and how did it perform in the
fi scal year ended March 2014?
We have a line of advanced systems for inspection and metrol-
ogy, such as computer numerical controlled (CNC) video
measuring systems, 3D measurement systems, and non-contact
metrology, X-ray, and computerized tomography (CT) inspection
systems. Until now, we have targeted customers in electronic
component and semiconductor businesses, but we are currently
expanding to include new fi elds for us, such as automobiles and
airplanes. At the same time, the emphasis of our development
investment is moving from 2D measurement systems to instru-
mentation that makes high-precision 3D measurement possible.
The needs for non-contact, non-destructive measurement and
inspection have increased, and we plan to be ready to meet
such needs.
Although net sales dropped in the fi rst half of the fi scal year
ended March 2014 compared with the previous year, capital
investment in semiconductors and electronic components
recorded a recovery during the second half, especially in Japan,
to the extent that net sales for the full year increased from the
previous year. Our business unit worked to raise sales mainly
in 3D measurement and X-ray and CT inspection systems for
automobiles and airplanes. We are steadily moving along with
development investment, with greater success than ever in
achieving 3D measurement in terms of high precision, output,
and resolution for measurement equipment using X-rays, where
the market is expected to expand. We have begun to reorganize
our domestic sales channels and have been working on bolster-
ing sales support for the Asia region, particularly China.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
What business opportunities and risks do you
see in the medium-to-long term?
Measurement was once primarily a matter of fi nding the dimen-
sions of an object, but through 3D CT images generated by
X-rays we can measure and inspect not only the outer surface
but also the inner structure. In view of the high expectations for
non-contact technology, it would be simple to measure a very
large structure, such as an automobile or an airplane on the
manufacturing line. We take such new trends to be business
opportunities.
We would also like to go beyond simply measurement and
contribute to automating inspection processes, so we are
focusing attention on technology for automatic analysis and
breakdown of measurement results. Most factories have already
automated their production processes but still require a “human
brain” for inspection and “human eyes” for checking, so these
processes have not yet been automated. We are working on a
concrete experiment to introduce our non-contact inspection
system into the production line of Nikon digital cameras in
the hopes of using the data we obtain to enable us to propose
solutions to our customers. We have already begun to work on
analytic technologies by consulting with the Microscope
Solutions Business Unit.
These efforts show how we can add value to measurement
as we study trends in production. Maintaining this viewpoint is
the key to the evolution of our business model.
A risk would be a late entrance in following a trend, which
would make it more diffi cult to sow seeds that could develop
into future business. To avoid such a risk, we need to anticipate
market needs early on and continue to explore new fi elds.
Interviews with Key People on the Strategy Going Forward
As trends in manufacturing change, maintaining the
viewpoint of how we can add value to measurement is
the key to the evolution of our business model. This will
better solidify our ability to fi rmly meet rising market
expectations and put us on the path to profi tability.
Masao Nakajima
Corporate Vice President
General Manager of Industrial Metrology Business Unit
Instruments Business Refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis”
for details on performance. P. 48–51
Industrial Metrology Business Unit
28 NIKON REPORT 2014