ＮＸ総合研究所 List of Products and Services

On February 16, 2024, I participated in the hybrid event: CRE Forum, the 100th commemorative symposium on "The Role of Women in the Logistics Field," and I would like to report on its content. The empowerment of women literally means enabling women to thrive, but it does not necessarily refer to women aiming for or becoming managers. "Diversity" includes not only diversity in gender, age, race, nationality, disability status, sexual orientation, religion and beliefs, and values, but also diversity in career, experience, and work styles. *For more details about the blog, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.

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"You hear about hydrogen energy, but what is it really? Is it useful for a decarbonized society? Will it really become popular? It seems scary, like it might explode." If you have these questions and feelings, this article is for you. As a hydrogen enthusiast who can't stop investing in hydrogen, I will cover the basics and the appeal of hydrogen, which has the potential to change the world. I will concisely explain the minimum essential information you should know for now. By reading this, you will quietly acquire a basic understanding, and the role of hydrogen energy in a decarbonized society will become clear. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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Finally, the regulations on the upper limits of overtime work in the logistics industry have begun, and shippers, logistics operators, and consignees will work together to further optimize logistics and improve productivity. The "Guidelines for Initiatives by Shippers and Logistics Operators for the Optimization of Logistics and Improvement of Productivity," issued by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in June 2023, particularly require shippers to appoint a person (such as an executive) to oversee and manage logistics operations comprehensively within their organization to implement initiatives for the optimization of logistics and improvement of productivity. In this article, I would like to clarify the role of the Chief Logistics Officer (CLO) and outline the necessary responses for shippers to ensure the CLO functions effectively. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further inquiries.*

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On April 1, 2024 (Reiwa 6), laws and notifications aimed at improving the working conditions of automobile drivers came into effect. Under the work style reform-related laws, the upper limit for overtime work, which is generally set at 720 hours per year, has an exception for automobile driving operations, where the limit is set at 960 hours per year. Automobile driving operations are considered as total working hours and break times combined, as stipulated in the notification commonly referred to as the improvement standard notification, which sets a maximum time limit. Starting from April 1, the maximum daily working hours will be reduced from 16 hours to 15 hours, the maximum monthly working hours from 293 hours to 284 hours, and the maximum annual working hours from 3,516 hours to 3,300 hours. *For more details, please refer to the related links on the blog. Feel free to contact us for more information.

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In the manufacturing and logistics industries, many factories and warehouses are working on business improvements. The term "improvement" is sometimes used internationally in its Romanized form, KAIZEN, and this is largely due to Toyota Motor Corporation, a representative company of Japan. The globally renowned Toyota Production System, also known as TPS, features well-known concepts such as "Just-in-Time" and "Kanban." The foundation of TPS is a mindset of improvement, and at Toyota, improvement is considered to be at the center of work rather than something done alongside it. In this article, we will provide a detailed explanation of "work measurement" and "man-hour management" within this IE methodology. *For more details, you can view the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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On December 1, 2023, on the Tohoku Expressway Hachinohe Line in Shirinai Town, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, two rear tires from a moving large truck came off and struck a man who was working on the roadside. The man died in this accident, and another person who was working with him was injured. Additionally, on the day before this accident, November 30, a tire that had fallen off a large truck collided with a pedestrian on a national highway in Shimane Prefecture, resulting in serious injuries to the pedestrian. In response to these consecutive incidents of wheel detachment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued an urgent directive on December 4 for transportation companies nationwide to conduct a thorough inspection to ensure that the nuts securing the tires were not loose. It goes without saying that the wheels of large vehicles like trucks are large and heavy, and if they detach while in motion, the risk of a serious accident is extremely high. Therefore, urgent measures are necessary, and it is only natural that public attention is focused on this issue. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further inquiries.*

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Regarding large cargo transportation, three laws regulate the specifications to ensure the soundness and safety of each business: the "Road Transport Vehicle Act (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Transport Bureau)," the "Road Act (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Road Bureau)," and the "Road Traffic Act (National Police Agency)." However, in recent years, some of the permit conditions (regulatory values) have been relaxed due to "deregulation," so I will describe the current situation. Please note that the relaxation status mentioned in this article is based on confirmations up to December 2023. It is also possible that further relaxations may occur in the future, so ongoing verification is necessary. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.

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Our blog started in May 2015 with a post by the then-president titled "Nittsu Research Institute Newsletter: Rojitasu." In that blog, it was mentioned, "The other day, I stopped by an izakaya run by a former professional baseball player. As usual, I started with a beer. The mug I held had the phrase 'You have to swing the bat; otherwise, you won't get a hit' printed on it. We swing the bat, but for our readers, it may be difficult to find articles that are truly engaging. Could you bear with us a little longer? Occasionally, there might be a well-hit article that comes along. We hope you will stay with us." I don't know how many hits have been made so far, but I have also decided to carry on the spirit of my predecessors. Although I am not very good at writing, I have resolved to write a blog from time to time. This time, I would like to share a self-introduction and reminisce about the air cargo industry during the end of the Showa era, recalling memories that I had almost forgotten. I would be grateful if you could spend some time with me. *For more details about the blog, you can view it through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Aviation Bureau conducts four statistical surveys as general statistics with the approval of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: (1) "Air Passenger Movement Survey," (2) "International Air Passenger Movement Survey," (3) "Air Cargo Movement Survey," and (4) "International Air Cargo Movement Survey." Among these, (3) and (4) have been continuously commissioned and conducted by our company. (3) targets domestic air cargo transported to and from Japan, while (4) focuses on export and import air cargo to and from Japan (excluding transshipment cargo that is transferred in Japan). This article will clarify the implementation status of (4) "International Air Cargo Movement Survey," its characteristics and significance, and how it differs from other air cargo transport-related statistics. Next, we will examine the usage trends of "passenger aircraft cargo flights," which were actively operated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the most recent survey results from fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Finally, we will mention the expected changes in the next survey results scheduled for fiscal year 2024. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further inquiries.

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On December 26, 2023, we published the latest edition of our regularly issued report "Economic and Freight Transport Outlook," which is released four times a year, titled "Economic and Freight Transport Outlook for FY 2023-2024" (Summary). In this outlook, we are announcing for the first time the year-on-year growth rate (forecast) of freight transport volume for FY 2024. Additionally, for FY 2023, since the actual results for the second half (October 2023 to March 2024) have not yet been finalized, we are also revising and updating the forecast for FY 2023. The outlook published at the end of 2023 includes only the forecast values and summary tables as a "summary," but we plan to release a full version (complete text) that includes comments and reference charts as soon as it is completed. In this article, we will first organize the outlook for external trade containers (maritime) and international air transport volumes, including the adjustments from the previous forecast (October 2023) for FY 2023, the discrepancies with the actual results for the July-September period, and the trends in the increase/decrease rates compared to pre-COVID (FY 2019). *For more detailed content of the blog, please refer to the related links. For further inquiries, please feel free to contact us.

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In this blog, I would like to incorporate a more practical approach (such as correlation and multiple regression analysis) to advance the learning of Python and statistics. I will output the correlation between variables from a dataset read using pandas' read.csv() in a heatmap. The value of the correlation coefficient can range from -1 to 1, where a value close to 1 indicates a strong positive correlation, a value close to -1 indicates a strong negative correlation, and a value close to 0 indicates a weak correlation. *For more details about the blog, you can view it through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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The data analysis approach in logistics is required in various aspects such as inventory management, route optimization, and demand forecasting. However, insights gained from data are essential for its realization. This article focuses on statistical analysis of logistics data using the programming language Python, examining how data analysis can aid decision-making and improvements in the logistics industry. Specifically, it will explain data processing and statistical analysis examples using Python libraries such as Pandas and NumPy, through case studies using real data. *For more details about the blog, you can view it through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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This time, as part 2 of the transportation series, I would like to discuss the logistics situation and large trucks from the perspective of inter-company transportation, which is essential in logistics, focusing on the industrial parks near Bangkok. The major flood in Thailand in 2011 caused significant damage to the Ayutthaya-Pathum Thani area in northern Bangkok, which had been the center of industrial parks, leading to an increase in companies relocating their industrial parks to Chonburi Province in the southern EEC area (1 to 2 hours from Bangkok). Cargo transported by ship was previously sent to the northern region using the Port of Bangkok, but in the south, the proximity to the sea and the availability of the Laem Chabang Port contributed to the rapid development of the EEC area. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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The 2024 logistics issue in Japan marks the beginning of restrictions on the working hours of logistics workers, prompting various transformations. While there is an active movement towards automation in developed countries, what about developing countries? Japan continues to experience a declining population, and if nothing is done to stop it, the overall labor force in Japan is clearly set to decrease. There is already a significant reliance on inbound tourism and foreign workers, and it is necessary to recognize diversity while also incorporating automation and labor-saving measures. On the other hand, I am curious whether the working conditions for logistics workers in countries with growing populations are undergoing similar transformations as in Japan, or if they remain unchanged. In this article, I would like to discuss the logistics situation in Thailand, where many Japanese companies have established operations, particularly focusing on transportation. *For more detailed content, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

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The movement of people, goods, capital, and services becoming free within the EU has had a significant impact on the logistics industry. In particular, the introduction of the euro has allowed for the establishment of optimal locations considering lead times and delivery costs. Major logistics companies in Europe previously positioned their own distribution centers in optimal locations across various countries. However, after the introduction of the euro, they began treating multiple countries as a single market and adopted a flexible system to meet customer demands by temporarily selling their own distribution center facilities to logistics real estate operators, often real estate companies within their own group, and then re-leasing them under the same conditions as the customer contracts. As a result, when customers requested the relocation of distribution hubs, they were able to respond relatively easily by moving to another location. *For more details, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

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For Japanese people, saying "going abroad" feels completely natural, but in continental Europe, one can travel to foreign countries without crossing the sea, as they are connected by land. The experience of crossing land borders, which is impossible in modern Japan, provides a more tangible sense of "this is a different country" compared to the ambiguous crossings by plane or ship. In the UK, which is an island nation, "overseas travel" and "foreign travel" are synonymous, just like for Japanese people. However, in Germany, which has land borders, there is a clear distinction made. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related link. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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When picking up keywords from popular articles in our recent logistics blog, themes such as "2024 issue," "COVID-19 pandemic," "fire prevention measures," "international transportation," "energy conservation," "health-related accidents," "personnel evaluation," "work style reform," "truck freight rates," and "traffic safety measures" emerge. Here, we will consider this from a slightly different perspective. How have those working in the logistics industry gained insights on pressing themes and topics of interest? In other words, what methods have traditionally been used to gather information? The conventional approach involved searching for related information scattered across the internet, such as blog articles and news sites. The method was to conduct "web searches," where one would find numerous articles through searches and spend time comparing and reading them to gain insights. *For detailed content of the blog, please refer to the related links. For more information, feel free to contact us.*

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Amazon announced its drone delivery service "Prime Air" in 2013. Ten years have passed since then, and they are actively advancing drone delivery trials at new bases in California and Texas. In 2023, they started a service to deliver prescription medications via drone to specific customers in Texas who were permitted to install markers at delivery locations, all within an hour of placing an order and at no additional charge. Additionally, Walmart's drone delivery achievements have already exceeded 10,000 deliveries across 36 stores in seven states. With UPS receiving permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in September 2023 for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations (long-distance flights without ground monitoring personnel), regulations for "making drone delivery a part of everyday life" are gradually being relaxed in the United States. *For more details, you can view the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

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The revised edition of our quarterly report "Economic and Freight Transport Outlook" was published on October 6, 2023. This is the third and final revision for the "2023 Outlook." It is the fourth issuance of the outlook for 2023 and the last one for this year. Starting from the next outlook, it will focus on the forecasts for the fiscal year 2024, titled "2023-2024 Outlook." In this document, we will review and correct the forecast values for foreign trade containers (maritime transport) and international air transport, as well as the discrepancies with actual values and the rate of increase or decrease compared to pre-COVID levels (fiscal year 2019). Additionally, we will organize and elaborate on the key factors for developing the forecast values for fiscal year 2024 and examining the underlying scenarios for the next outlook. *For more details, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further information.*

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The "2024 Logistics Problem" has been increasingly mentioned in general newspapers, web articles, and on television lately. However, the correct understanding and specific responses to it are still far from sufficient. Therefore, I would like to convey information about the "2024 Logistics Problem" over several installments. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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The series "Logistics '2024 Problem' from the Perspective of SDGs I" focuses on the potential emergence of a relatively impoverished class within Japan's logistics industry and the persistently poor management conditions of freight transportation companies. It discusses the challenges Japan must overcome regarding the "2024 Problem" from the perspective of the SDGs. This article will address the transactional relationships between logistics providers and shippers, as well as the trends of standardization and digitalization, and will continue to discuss the challenges of the "2024 Problem" from the perspective of the SDGs. *For more detailed information about the blog, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more details.*

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I participated in LogiMAT 2023 held in Stuttgart, Germany, in April 2023. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it had been four years since I attended an overseas material handling and robotics-related event. Recently, many exhibition events have been held in a hybrid format, combining physical venues with online participation. After several years of only attending online events, my desire to visit a large-scale exhibition had grown, so I left for the trip with high expectations. Perhaps due to the long absence from overseas business trips, the flight time to Europe felt extremely long. Additionally, since flights over Russia were not possible, the route took me northeast from Japan, crossing the Bering Sea to Europe, resulting in a journey that lasted about 15 hours, which may have made the trip feel even longer. It was also my first experience crossing the International Date Line to go to Europe. (On the return flight, I also crossed over the North Pole for the first time.) *For more details, you can view the blog through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

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To effectively harness the power of ChatGPT, it is essential to write "good prompts." A prompt refers to the words used to instruct or ask ChatGPT to do something. Therefore, a "good prompt" can be described as "skillful instructions or questions." The importance of a "good prompt" is exactly the same as saying that "to ensure an excellent new employee can perform their tasks accurately and achieve the desired results, it is crucial to provide clear instructions." In this blog, I will introduce three key points to keep in mind for giving effective instructions to ChatGPT: providing specific instructions, clarifying the instructions, and supplying reference information to ChatGPT. By considering these three points while utilizing ChatGPT, you can expect improvements in operational efficiency, such as problem-solving and service proposals in logistics operations. *For more details about the blog, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

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Most of the freight transportation, which is at the core of logistics, utilizes internal combustion engines that emit a significant amount of CO2. Therefore, it seems that many logistics-related companies in Japan tend to place too much emphasis on SDG Goal 7, "Affordable and Clean Energy," and Goal 13, "Climate Action." However, when we turn our attention to the urgent issue of the "2024 Problem" in logistics that Japan must overcome, we should realize that there are many other goals that deserve more attention. For a while starting now, I would like to focus on a series of SDGs that are often overlooked as goals, but are actually extremely important for the sustainability of Japan's logistics and essential for fundamentally solving the "2024 Problem" in logistics. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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One of the things unimaginable in peaceful Japan is that in socialist countries, countries with high conflict risks, and countries at war, it is prohibited to take photographs of military bases, as well as important infrastructure such as airports, ports, bridges, and dams. At Russia's Vostochny Port, border guards (KGB = Soviet Committee for State Security, which also includes intelligence agencies and border guards) are stationed with Kalashnikov rifles slung over their shoulders under the gangway of a moored vessel, and I was warned by an agency representative that if I carelessly tried to take photos of the port, I could be shot. *For more details about the blog, you can view it through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

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The revised edition of our "Economic and Freight Transport Outlook," which we publish regularly four times a year, was announced on July 7, 2023. This revised edition updates the previous outlook published in April 2023, taking into account subsequently released statistics, actual results, and new trends to reassess the scenarios and forecast values (freight transport volume and year-on-year growth rate). The published materials are available on our company website, but in this article, we will summarize and provide additional explanations regarding the changes and noteworthy points in the outlook for international freight transport volume (export containers and international air) from Japan compared to the previous forecast. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further inquiries.

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The rainy season's humidity continues, but I hope everyone is doing well. In this article, I will report from my unique perspective on the insights I gained while studying logistics during my time in Japan, after returning to my hometown in Vietnam in May 2023. On July 20, 2004, Tokyo recorded its highest temperature ever at 39.5°C. This record high in Tokyo is a normal summer occurrence in my hometown (Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam). When I returned in May, the temperature was above 39°C. At that time, Japan was around 20°C, so I was a bit surprised, but it was a new experience. Now, let me introduce the first and second days of my return. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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Diversity refers to the concept of "accepting differences in race, gender, preferences, values, beliefs, and so on, and aiming to realize the potential of diverse human resources." The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry defines diversity management as "a management approach that utilizes diverse human resources and provides opportunities for their abilities to be maximally demonstrated, thereby creating innovation and leading to value creation." It states that "the active participation of diverse human resources is essential for the sustainable growth of the Japanese economy, as it secures talent in the context of a declining birthrate and aging population, and enhances the ability to respond to diversifying market needs and risks." "Diverse human resources" include not only gender, age, race, nationality, disability status, sexual orientation, religion and beliefs, and values, but also diversity related to career, experience, and working styles. *For more details about the blog, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.

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From the perspective of the SDGs, many companies are engaged in decarbonization efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, which are said to be a cause of global warming. In the logistics industry, there is an increasing number of companies promoting modal shifts (the transition of transportation methods) from truck-based freight transport to more environmentally friendly modes such as rail and maritime transport. In this modal shift, the CO2 emissions when transporting 1 ton of cargo for 1 km are approximately one-sixth for ships and about one-eleventh for rail compared to trucks, indicating that switching to rail transport is particularly effective as a measure against environmental issues. This background has led to a growing demand for rail freight transport in recent years. The Railway Freight Association, established in 1950, is a public interest incorporated association under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Office, engaged in various activities (research, studies, promotion, and awareness) to promote the use of rail freight. Each year, it conducts research and studies aimed at enhancing the convenience and safety of rail freight transport based on a specific theme. This time, we will introduce a temperature and humidity survey during transport between Osaka and Sapporo, in which our company is cooperating. *For more details about the blog, please refer to the related link. For further inquiries, feel free to contact us.*

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In the last week of April, there were daily reports about the evacuation from Sudan, Khartoum, where the fighting had intensified. Additionally, North Korea's missile launches continued unabated, and when the J-Alert was notified on my smartphone in April, it reminded me of the air raid sirens I heard 37 years ago in Baghdad. During my stay in Iraq from February 1986 to February 1987, it was the sixth year of the Iran-Iraq War, and both countries were running low on war funds due to the prolonged conflict. The fighting consisted mainly of small-scale skirmishes along the border, and there were missile attacks on the capital Baghdad about once a week. *For more details, you can view the blog through the related link. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

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Three years have passed since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) began in 2020. In the fourth year, 2023, starting from May 8, the classification of COVID-19 under the Infectious Diseases Control Law will transition to "Category 5," the same as seasonal influenza, and there are expectations for an acceleration and full-scale recovery to the "pre-COVID" state. In this post, we will analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the movement of international air cargo and external trade containers (shipping) originating from and destined for Japan over the three years of the pandemic, as well as the recovery trends compared to pre-COVID levels, using two indicators: year-on-year growth rates and growth rates compared to pre-COVID (2019) levels, organized and analyzed chronologically. *Detailed content of the blog can be viewed through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.

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When you search for "logistics consultant" online, it is described as "an expert who improves a company's logistics system and works on optimizing business processes." Specifically, you can find keywords such as formulating logistics strategies, improving warehouse and delivery systems, optimizing inventory management, reducing transportation costs, contributing to business improvements, and project management. However, it may be difficult to imagine what kind of work logistics consultants actually do. Therefore, this time we interviewed a senior consultant to discuss the work of logistics consultants. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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Time flies, and we are already halfway through this year, with the season transitioning into the rainy season and then summer. I understand that discussing fire safety at this time may seem out of sync with the season, but it is essential to implement year-round fire prevention measures for warehouse facilities, which are crucial for logistics. When it comes to warehouse fires, those that cause significant damage or occur in large-scale warehouses tend to receive extensive media coverage. However, it seems that other types of fires do not get reported as much. One notable large-scale warehouse fire occurred in February 2017 in Miyoshi Town, Iruma District, Saitama Prefecture, where approximately 45,000 square meters of a warehouse with a total floor area of about 70,000 square meters burned, taking about 12 days to extinguish. *You can view more details about the blog through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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The revised edition of our "Economic and Freight Transport Outlook," which we publish regularly four times a year, was announced on April 5, 2023. This revised edition updates the previous outlook published in January 2023, taking into account subsequently released statistics, actual results, and new trends, and revises the scenarios and forecast values (freight transport volume and year-on-year growth rate). The published materials are available on our company website, but in this article, we will organize and provide supplementary explanations regarding the changes and noteworthy points in the outlook for international freight transport volume (export containers and international air transport) from Japan compared to the previous forecast. *For detailed content of the blog, please refer to the related links. For more information, feel free to contact us.

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Congratulations to everyone who became new members of society in April. To those who have chosen to dive into the logistics industry among many sectors, I have contributed to this blog in hopes of providing some insights into what it is like to work at a logistics company, based on my own experiences. While my focus is primarily on international logistics from the 1980s to the 2010s, I hope it serves as a reference for your future professional life. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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Recently, we are encountering newspaper articles and news reports about rising prices almost every day. The impact on households is significant, but the effects on businesses are also considerable. Naturally, the logistics industry is directly and severely affected. Tokyo Shoko Research Co., Ltd. published information regarding corporate bankruptcies for the year 2022 (January to December) on January 16, 2023, under the headline "Bankruptcies in the Road Freight Transport Industry Surge Over 40% Year-on-Year, with a Quarter Due to Rising Fuel Costs and Other Price Increases." In the case of the road freight transport industry, it is easy for anyone to imagine that the rise in fuel costs (prices of diesel and gasoline) is directly linked to increased costs. As for crude oil, which is the source of fuel, prices continue to soar and remain high due to various factors, including the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) deciding not to increase production amid rising crude oil demand, the international situation surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the ongoing depreciation of the yen. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.

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The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established the Business Vehicle Health-Related Accident Prevention Council since the fiscal year 2015 to prevent health-related accidents involving business vehicles. Are you aware that they are publishing materials that provide information on the number of health-related accidents and the status of various countermeasures? The significant danger of drivers experiencing health issues while operating business vehicles, which use public roads as their workplace, is more evident than seeing fire. Recently, we frequently hear news about traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake. Such accidents can be somewhat mitigated by installing acceleration suppression devices (systems) to prevent pedal misapplication. However, preventing accidents caused by sudden physical changes is complex due to the various factors involved, such as the nature of health impairments and the level of medical conditions, making it difficult to implement accident prevention measures through systems. *For more details about the blog, you can view it through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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In the previous article I wrote, "Considering the Supply Chain from the Waste in Logistics," I mentioned that even when observing logistics sites and data, we cannot understand why such logistics occur. I believe readers may wonder what I am looking at to judge the necessity or waste of logistics, so I would like to discuss that aspect this time. To get to the conclusion upfront, we utilize what we can glean from what we see on-site and the data to get closer to the "why." This time, I would like to talk about a method for finding out the reason for inventory, represented as "why," using warehouse data as an example. *For more details about the blog, you can view it through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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"Investing a large amount of money into a new business that no one is asking for and launching it." This is a typical example of failure in new business creation. As a result, only systems that no one uses and brand new equipment will be left behind. There are multiple reasons why this happens. One possible reason is "pushing forward with solutions without understanding user needs." Furthermore, a key reason for failure in new business creation in an era of accelerating change is "not matching the changes of the times." *For more details, you can view the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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Forwarding operations are essential for international logistics. In export and import transactions involving trade, various exchanges of information are conducted among exporters, logistics companies, customs authorities in various countries, banks, insurance companies, and exporters to facilitate smooth transactions. This includes the creation and sending of invoices and packing lists, opening letters of credit (L/C), overseas remittances, booking of trucks, ships, and airplanes, customs clearance for imports and exports, concluding insurance contracts (coverage), and issuing bills of lading (B/L), all of which are carried out on a daily basis. Most of these exchanges used to be conducted through the transfer of documents, but advancements in digital technology have led to a shift towards paperless operations. It is said that in the next ten years, this forwarding business will undergo even greater changes. This article will explain two major factors that will bring about these significant changes: "digital forwarding" and "blockchain platforms by shipping companies, customs authorities, and financial organizations in various countries." *For more details about the blog, you can view it through the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

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Concerns about the acceleration of labor shortages in our country are frequently reported in newspapers and industry publications. In particular, in the logistics industry, the image of the work being tough and wages being low has become entrenched, making it increasingly difficult to hire workers even when recruitment efforts are made. In this article, I would like to examine the current state of labor shortages, the changes in the working environment, and their impacts, while considering the challenges that need to be addressed. *For more detailed content of the blog, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

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Generally speaking, the "2024 problem" in logistics refers to the well-known issue arising from the labor reform-related law, which will limit the maximum overtime hours for drivers starting from April 1, 2024. Additionally, the "2025 cliff" refers to a problem explained in the DX report published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in September 2018, which indicates that due to the aging and complexity of existing systems, there is a possibility of significant economic losses occurring after 2025. In this article, we will examine the turning point at which the long-stalled full-scale DX is expected to accelerate, using the perspective of the "working-age population." *For more details, you can view the related links. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

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In our company, the theme of logistics efficiency often arises. Logistics efficiency, simply put, means creating a logistics system without waste, but what does this waste in logistics actually mean? Waste in logistics does not refer to things we see on-site, such as empty warehouse space, underloaded trucks, or lengthy operational pathways, nor does it refer to data that can be interpreted from things like stagnant inventory. This is because even if we look at these sites and data, we cannot understand "why" such logistics are occurring. If we do not know "what is necessary," we cannot identify what is wasteful, can we? *For more details on the blog, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

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The recovery and expansion of air cargo exports from Japan has been significantly contributed to by what are considered representative air cargo items: 1. automotive parts and 2. semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This article focuses on automotive parts (HS code 8708) and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (HS code 8486) based on the performance values and data published in the Ministry of Finance trade statistics, analyzing and comparing the trends in their volume changes, air cargo share, and the share of air cargo they represent. While many items in the Ministry of Finance trade statistics do not have weight-based unit statistics published, both value-based and weight-based performance values and data are available for automotive parts and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. *For more detailed information, please refer to the related links. Feel free to contact us for further inquiries.*

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The technological elements required for DX are often thought to be only digital technologies. However, that is a misconception. For example, it is easy for anyone to understand that the technological elements necessary for constructing the new National Stadium are not limited to construction technology. The concept for this building was actually created by the designer Kengo Kuma before the actual construction work began. In other words, when creating something, both upstream and downstream processes are essential. Before the actual product is made in the downstream process, the concept of the finished product must be developed using design technology in the upstream process. *You can view the detailed content of the blog through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.*

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