CTC and Idein to Jointly Develop an Edge AI Solution for the Manufacturing Industry

ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Tatsushi Shingu, President and CEO; hereinafter CTC) has entered into a business alliance agreement with Idein inc. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Koichi Nakamura, Chief Executive Officer; hereinafter Idein), which has the world's leading technology for accelerating AI (deep learning) on inexpensive edge devices, to jointly develop an edge AI solution for the manufacturing industry. We will work together to develop the solution that helps reduce operational workloads and improve business processes through the secure management of IoT devices on manufacturing lines and the effective utilization of factory data.

In recent years, compact general-purpose devices that can be connected to AI cameras and sensors have become more affordable, accelerating the adoption of IoT across many manufacturing companies to monitor equipment operating conditions and product quality. However, device management is often decentralized by department or factory, leading to challenges such as inconsistent security configurations and missed software updates. In addition, there is a growing need to establish mechanisms to drive improvements in quality and operational efficiency by utilizing data collected at manufacturing plants for continuous improvement initiatives.

The edge AI solution we will develop combines Idein’s edge AI platform “Actcast” with CTC’s end-to-end data utilization service “D-Native” to support the safe and effective use of factory data.

The solution enhances security and reduces operational burdens by centrally managing general-purpose devices such as Raspberry Pi units used across multiple factories on the Actcast platform to enable remote configuration changes and software updates. In addition, D-Native provides end-to-end support for the accumulation, visualization, and analysis of multiple types of data obtained from IoT sensors—including temperature, humidity, dimensions, weight, and energy consumption—enabling early detection of quality variations and potential anomalies and driving operational improvements at manufacturing plants.

Furthermore, the solution will offer an environment for developing custom applications on Raspberry Pi to improve operational efficiency and automate quality inspections. CTC can also provide application development support, helping to promote process improvement initiatives driven by manufacturing functions.

To date, CTC has supported the digitalization of production lines through the use of IoT and AI for a wide range of manufacturing customers, including those in the automotive, electronics, and machinery industries. In collaboration with Idein, CTC has also developed solutions for the manufacturing and retail sectors, such as AI-powered body temperature detection devices using general-purpose IoT devices, as well as edge AI solutions that analyze camera footage.

Going forward, the two companies will work together closely for expanding our edge computing solutions to include those leveraging sensing technologies and AI for controlling industrial robots such as painting and assembly machines. Through these efforts, we will continue to contribute to digital transformation (DX) of customers, mainly in the manufacturing industry.