BALLAS, 2 years since official release, exceeds 3,500 construction materials delivered
*BALLAS Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 28, 2024
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BALLAS, 2 years since official release, exceeds 3,500 construction materials delivered
*~ 2nd Anniversary “Drawing Semi-Automatic Generation” Free Check Campaign Implemented ~*
BALLAS Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Masayuki Kimura, Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter “BALLAS”)
We are pleased to report that the number of manufactured hardware items delivered through the construction materials procurement system “BALLAS” provided by “BALLAS” has exceeded 3,500 items.
BALLAS
is a cloud service whose scope is from design to supply of components used by construction companies as part of a building. We have a particular strength in custom-made metal parts, which is called “manufactured hardware” in industry parlance, and as a fabless manufacturer, we are working to optimize the supply chain, which is an urgent industry issue. Approximately 2 years have passed since the official release, and the number of orders has been increasing at an average monthly growth rate of 31.3%.
* ■Increasing severity of construction supply chain issues and tacit knowledge supporting the construction industry*
* ・Issues faced by the industry structure ・Increasing supply chain issues faced by the regional construction industry ・Issues faced by the construction parts supply chain – tacit knowledge of “drawing variation” *
* ●Challenges faced by industry structure*
As the multilayered structure of industry players shows, in the construction industry, work in each process is not only
individualized, but also siloed. Because information tends to be structurally fragmented, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to communicate during transactions.
Until now, even if there was a lack of information coordination, it could be covered at the construction site with the experience and knowledge of skilled craftsmen. However, due to the labor shortage caused by the declining birthrate and aging population, which is more serious than in other industries, a situation is emerging where existing methods are no longer viable.
* ●Increasing supply chain issues faced by the local construction industry* Until now, supply chains in the construction industry were often completed by region.
However, in addition to labor shortages due to the declining birthrate and aging population, distortions are beginning to appear in the traditional industrial structure, including problems with business succession at small factories that undertake manufacturing. In addition, the environment surrounding the construction industry is undergoing major changes, such as the start of overtime work regulations as typified by the 2024 problem and fluctuations in raw material prices, and the external environment will become even more serious in 10 years. I am.
Recently, there has been an increase in the news of delays in large-scale construction projects, and it is now necessary to not only take the traditional approach to localized business improvements, but also to optimize the entire supply chain.
* ●Issues faced by the construction parts supply chain ~ Unspoken knowledge of “drawing disparity” *
The construction industry’s component manufacturing process involves a unique design process called “drawing disassembly.”
Drawing disassembly is a process in which the construction company and the manufacturing factory confirm the specifications of the parts to be manufactured and create detailed drawings. At construction sites, unique parts are often used, and this “drawing disassembly” is a process that occurs from time to time at many construction sites. On the other hand, there is a lot of tacit knowledge, and it is an urgent issue to eliminate transaction costs due to information asymmetry between the construction company that orders the contract and the manufacturing factory that receives the contract.
* ◆Tacit knowledge through the process of “drawing disassembly”* * 1. Communication cost via drawings *
In the manufacturing industry, which is one of the manufacturing industries, the drawing for parts procurement is done by the ordering party. On the other hand, despite being in the same manufacturing industry, in the construction industry, the drawings are sometimes drawn by the manufacturing factory that is the contracting company. In other words, the drawings required for each process are created by the contractor in the subsequent process. This is because the information flow in the construction industry becomes more specific as it moves downstream, and the granularity of information required for drawing becomes finer.
The drawings handled and the knowledge required at the work level are different between the two, and skill is required for drawing parts. In addition, craftsmen use advanced technology to overcome the problem of “fitting” where multiple parts interfere, which could not be resolved through communication alone.
* 2. Expandability of manufacturing factory network *
Originally, in the construction industry, where each product is unique, it is best to have multiple factories each produce their own specialty, but due to “drawing variations” that require skill, the number of factories that can receive orders is limited and fixed. They tend to be multi-structured. However, situations are starting to occur where small factories are closing down and highly skilled craftsmen are retiring due to aging, making it impossible to manufacture parts as they used to be able to do. It is necessary to create an
environment for a sustainable regional construction industry by converting the tacit knowledge of drawing variations into data, standardization, and semi-automatic/automatic generation.
* ■About “BALLAS”, a system that realizes optimal procurement of construction materials*
BALLAS
is a cloud service whose scope ranges from the design to the supply of construction materials used by construction companies as part of a building. By modularizing the parts design of manufactured hardware for each item, we have achieved “mass customization” that balances the productivity of mass production with the creativity of customization. As a result, by ordering from BALLAS, it is possible to eliminate the need for drawing variations and reduce costs related to procurement and transactions while ensuring quality.
* ●Features of BALLAS*
* ●Changes in industry structure due to BALLAS*
BALLAS eliminates the need for drawing variations, eliminating the constraint of fixed manufacturing factories and expanding the manufacturing factory network. We select appropriate partner factories according to materials and processing specifications to improve quality and shorten delivery times. This allows partner factories to focus on their areas of strength and expand their business, and is a solution to business succession and fluctuations in raw material prices. In addition to optimizing supply and demand forecasts based on order data from BALLAS, we are strengthening our supply system and achieving stable parts supply, including for emergency requests. * ●Usage history*
Users mainly rate the following three points.
・Parts are reliably delivered with optimal quality, price, and delivery time. ・You can order multiple parts at once from your smartphone at the construction site.
・The team can check the order details in real time
* ●How to order from BALLAS*
*BALLAS service details site:*
* https://business.ballas.biz/*
* ◾︎ [Limited time] “Drawing semi-automatic generation” free check campaign * To commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the service, we will be running a free check campaign for “Drawing Semi-Automatic Generation” for a limited time. If you apply for a free check diagnosis using the specified form during the target period, you will receive an Amazon gift card as a campaign participation benefit. Please see the image below for details on campaign conditions and benefits.
* Application form for participating in the “Semi-automatic drawing generation” free check campaign to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of service launch *
* https://business.ballas.biz/campaign202409-form*
* ◾︎Notice of “Production hardware procurement service Powered by BALLAS” mini seminar*
JAPAN BUILD OSAKA “4th Construction DX Exhibition”
Powered by the production hardware procurement service provided by BALLAS Co., Ltd. employees at MC Data Plus Co., Ltd.’s exhibition booth at “Osaka”
We will be holding a mini-seminar on BALLAS. We can also introduce usage examples, so please feel free to drop by.
・Date and time:
September 11th (Wednesday), 12th (Thursday), 13th (Friday), 2024 (3 days) 10:00～17:00
·venue:
Intex Osaka 6 Hall A
1-5-102 Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 559-0034
・Booth number:
15-32
There is a sales representative at the MC Data Plus Co., Ltd. booth, so please feel free to contact us.
・Presentation time (planned)
Presentation introducing “Production hardware procurement service Powered by BALLAS”
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 11:20~/15:00~
Thursday, September 12, 2024 11:20~/15:00~
Friday, September 13, 2024 11:20~/15:00~
*The start time of the mini-seminar may change depending on the operating situation on the day.
Manufacturing hardware procurement service Powered by BALLAS Service details website:
https://www.kensetsu-site.com/lp/ironware/
*The “Drawing semi-automatic generation free check campaign” conducted by BALLAS is not applicable.
・How to enter
Please apply using the exhibition organizer designation form.
https://www.japan-build.jp/osaka/ja-jp/register.html?cat=visitor&ct=U2FsdGVkX181SLiU4Zr1DWI3CkcMYabKvLkdib9WK9M=&utm_campaign=organic_traffic&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google * ■ About BALLAS Co., Ltd.*
With the mission of “optimizing the construction industry and making people happy,” we provide construction materials procurement services. As a platform company specializing in the construction industry, we are working to build a supply chain that allows for sustainable and optimal procurement in response to distortions in the industrial structure due to labor shortages. Using an approach to data accumulation and utilization starting from design functions, we optimize production and procurement processes, creating a system that allows construction companies to focus on construction and
construction work, and production factories to focus on production work. I’m doing it.
Trade name: BALLAS Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director Masayuki Kimura
Address: 2nd floor, Ginza Otake Residence, 1-22-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Business start date: February 1, 2022
Business content: Construction materials procurement service Capital: 100,000,000 yen
URL: https://www.ballas.biz/
Tokyo office: 5th floor, MA SQUARE AKIHABARA, 2-1-1 Kanda Suda-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Osaka Office: BizMiiX Yodoyabashi 3rd floor, 3-1-6 Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
■ News/Inquiries
Inquiries regarding this notice
BALLAS Co., Ltd. Corporate Headquarters Public Relations Officer MAIL: pr@ballasx.com