138
hand. However, not everything can be switched over. Some work, like maintenance,
can only be done by human beings.
Much of Japan’s social infrastructure is in a state of deterioration. There is nothing as difficult as the maintenance of facilities that have undergone repair work
many times. As well as requiring excellent technical skills, the kinds of materials
and work are not the same, so such maintenance has to be carried out on an individual basis which makes it extremely costly. Therefore, most infrastructure is left
to deteriorate, leading to accidents such as the collapse of tunnel ceilings.
The introduction of a monitoring system, where sensors are installed in tunnels
and on bridges, is now under consideration. Sensing technology and monitoring are
two areas in which computers excel even though they cannot do the actual maintenance. The most appropriate kind of person for this work would be those who have
worked on construction sites. If they receive special training and become IT engineers who can actually do the maintenance, then the problems of maintenance management of social infrastructure and of employment can both be resolved at the
same time.
With the introduction of IT, the number of people working in the industry will no
doubt be reduced. However, Henry Ford, who introduced mass production of the
Ford Model T car more than 100 years ago, improved productivity ten times over
and expanded the car market 100 times, and in turn improved profits ten times over.
Even if we cannot expect such a bubble like that, if production efficiency at construction sites improves by ten times with the introduction of IT, then the existing
market can expand while a new market including maintenance will occur and
employment opportunities will increase.
“Learn a trade” is something often said but the kind of work one should take on
will change according to the era. That change is happening faster and faster so
people with their lives ahead of them need to always try learning something new.
Society needs to develop educational institutions and educational systems to keep
pace with those changes.
New business opportunities are possible regarding establishing educational institutions and qualification programs. New industrial education suited to a Platinum
Society is needed. To that end, education and qualification programs themselves
could become new industries.
6.6.5 Developing Leaders Who can Carve Out a Path to a New
Era
In 2008, The University of Tokyo launched its Executive Management Program
(Todai EMP). This is an educational program for those who will become future
leaders and the program aims to develop human resources with high levels of general skills who can create a new era. Students are individuals in their forties with the
potential to become top managers. No matter what situation they face, real leaders
6 Platinum Industry and a New Society
hand. However, not everything can be switched over. Some work, like maintenance,
can only be done by human beings.
Much of Japan’s social infrastructure is in a state of deterioration. There is nothing as difficult as the maintenance of facilities that have undergone repair work
many times. As well as requiring excellent technical skills, the kinds of materials
and work are not the same, so such maintenance has to be carried out on an individual basis which makes it extremely costly. Therefore, most infrastructure is left
to deteriorate, leading to accidents such as the collapse of tunnel ceilings.
The introduction of a monitoring system, where sensors are installed in tunnels
and on bridges, is now under consideration. Sensing technology and monitoring are
two areas in which computers excel even though they cannot do the actual maintenance. The most appropriate kind of person for this work would be those who have
worked on construction sites. If they receive special training and become IT engineers who can actually do the maintenance, then the problems of maintenance management of social infrastructure and of employment can both be resolved at the
same time.
With the introduction of IT, the number of people working in the industry will no
doubt be reduced. However, Henry Ford, who introduced mass production of the
Ford Model T car more than 100 years ago, improved productivity ten times over
and expanded the car market 100 times, and in turn improved profits ten times over.
Even if we cannot expect such a bubble like that, if production efficiency at construction sites improves by ten times with the introduction of IT, then the existing
market can expand while a new market including maintenance will occur and
employment opportunities will increase.
“Learn a trade” is something often said but the kind of work one should take on
will change according to the era. That change is happening faster and faster so
people with their lives ahead of them need to always try learning something new.
Society needs to develop educational institutions and educational systems to keep
pace with those changes.
New business opportunities are possible regarding establishing educational institutions and qualification programs. New industrial education suited to a Platinum
Society is needed. To that end, education and qualification programs themselves
could become new industries.
6.6.5 Developing Leaders Who can Carve Out a Path to a New
Era
In 2008, The University of Tokyo launched its Executive Management Program
(Todai EMP). This is an educational program for those who will become future
leaders and the program aims to develop human resources with high levels of general skills who can create a new era. Students are individuals in their forties with the
potential to become top managers. No matter what situation they face, real leaders
6 Platinum Industry and a New Society