Story Text

Sumiyoshi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chofu Ogi-machi, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture; President: Narushi Nakamura), which creates enriched lives for people through town development centered on construction, industrial waste disposal, and real estate development, is pleased to announce that it has developed and newly obtained a patent for its "Skill Instruction System." This system focuses on the "gaze" of construction machinery operators and automatically determines skills and skill characteristics using AI based on recorded data.This system enables multi-faceted analysis and judgment of construction machinery operation skills, which have been difficult to verbalize, and facilitates efficient skill transfer tailored to individual aptitudes. Moving forward, we will propose a new form of skill transfer to address the escalating issues of labor shortages and the aging of skilled workers in the construction industry, thereby contributing to the development of young talent.■Patent OverviewPatent Number: Patent No. 7867735Patent Holder: Sumiyoshi Kogyo Co., Ltd.Invention Title: Skill Instruction SystemRegistration Date: May 22, 2026■Background: Breaking the 10-Year Barrier in Skill Transfer Reliant on Craftsmen's "Intuition and Know-how"The number of domestic construction industry workers has decreased by approximately 30% from a peak of 6.85 million to 4.7 million, with those aged 29 and under, who are expected to carry the next generation, accounting for only 12% of this total. With concerns that this trend could make it difficult to maintain social infrastructure, efficiently passing on the high skills possessed by experienced workers to the next generation is a major challenge for the entire industry. In particular, it is said that it takes as long as 10 years to become a master craftsman in the world of "artisans." The primary reason for this is that elements such as "intuition" and "know-how" in work are difficult to visualize and extremely challenging to verbalize (manualize).To solve this problem, our company focused on the "gaze movement" of experienced workers. By visualizing the movement of their gaze, we have digitized the intuitive skills of craftsmen. Furthermore, by highly analyzing and utilizing this data with AI, we have succeeded in developing a system that automatically determines the skill level and characteristics of experienced technicians.■Main Contents of the Patent (Invention)By introducing this patented technology, the following initiatives become possible:・Automated Skill Assessment and Instruction by AIAI provides instruction on the optimal gaze position, teaching "where one should ideally be looking." By quantitatively calculating the deviation (distance value) between the gaze of an experienced worker and the user's own gaze, it automatically performs objective skill assessment and supports efficient skill acquisition.・Optimal Site Placement (Matching) Based on Operator CharacteristicsIt visualizes the individual skill characteristics and gaze patterns of heavy machinery operators. This enables precise matching with operators who possess the characteristics required by the site, maximizing the safety and efficiency of on-site construction.【Company Profile of Sumiyoshi Kogyo Co., Ltd.】Location: 1-23 Chofu Ogi-machi, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi PrefectureRepresentative: Narushi Nakamura, PresidentBusiness Activities: Civil engineering, building construction, industrial waste disposal, crushed stone and gravel production and salesCompany Website: https://kogyo.smgp.co.jp/