How to apply knowledge learned from multiple perspectives. Contributing to society by solving real-world problems.

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From Tokyo Metropolitan Komatsugawa High School, Tokyo

My love for mathematics since junior high school led me to pursue a path in the sciences, and I enrolled in the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. I chose the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering to acquire a broad range of knowledge. Wanting to gain practical skills useful in society, I also participated in a long-term corporate internship. Based on the belief that "knowledge exists to be applied in society," I am conducting joint research at a precision equipment factory. What is the reward of research connected to society?

[*] The student's grade level at the time of the interview (August 2022).

My high school was a college preparatory school, but it had a free atmosphere that valued both academics and sports. Rather than focusing solely on studying, I enjoyed every day, working hard in my club activities and chatting with my lively classmates. I was in the table tennis club, which I had been a part of since junior high. We practiced four to five days a week, and we came up with our own practice routines. A good memory is when our generation's team reached the level we were aiming for in a team competition. In terms of academics, I didn't attend Juku and basically studied at home. I also have fond memories of going to the library with friends to study intensively before regular exams.

I was able to enroll through a designated school recommendation spot for the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. The deciding factor was the Gakumon system[*]. I had wanted to go into a science field since junior high because I enjoyed solving math problems, but I didn't want to delve into mathematics itself, and I couldn't decide which field to study before enrolling. So, the system of not having to choose a single department at the time of admission was appealing. The reason I initially chose Gakumon 4 (now Gakumon D)[*] was also because I was attracted to the wide range of options, which included learning about mechanical, chemical, and information systems.

[*] Gakumon system: A unique system at the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology where students select one of five "Gakumon" (fields of study) at the time of the entrance examination. After enrollment, they gradually narrow down their desired field of study according to their interests and concerns, and decide on their department when they advance to their second year. Note that the Gakumon system was changed for students entering the Faculty of Science and Technology in the 2020 academic year, and some of the departments accessible from each Gakumon have changed. Please refer to the link below for details on the Gakumon system.

[*] Gakumon 4: A "Gakumon" that allowed students to advance to one of four departments: the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Department of System Design Engineering, the Department of Applied Chemistry, and the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. The names and composition of each Gakumon have been changed for students entering in the 2020 academic year.

Before enrolling, I had the impression that it was a very glamorous place with many brilliant students. When I was in high school, I attended the Yagami Festival to get a feel for the university's atmosphere, and I found it to be calmer than the glamorous image I had, which made me feel it might be a good fit for me. After enrolling, my impression that there were many brilliant students remained, but I also felt there was a lot of diversity. Students come from all over the country, and many have experience studying abroad, so I met many people with different perspectives and experiences from my own. I think these encounters and this environment are stimulating and help me grow.

I think a key feature of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is that you can gain a wide range of knowledge, as you learn not only about so-called science fields like mathematics and statistics, but also about human factors engineering, which focuses on people to create user-friendly designs, as well as finance and economics. I chose the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering because I wanted to learn broadly and gain knowledge directly applicable to business when I enter the workforce. Also, perhaps because we study various fields, I got the impression that many students are efficient and try to have a fulfilling life outside of their studies. It has a "not-so-science-y" atmosphere, in a good way. I also didn't want my university life to be all about studying, so I enjoyed my private life by going to watch my favorite sport, baseball, going out for drinks with friends, and even trying to hitchhike from Tokyo to Osaka.

Since my fourth year of university, I have been continuing an internship at a web marketing company. I had been interested in web marketing for a while and wanted to gain knowledge by actually working, so a senior student in my lab introduced me to the company. My work involves managing advertising on a matching service site that connects client dental clinics with users, devising SEO strategies, and creating reports on advertising effectiveness. Since it's a company with only two employees, I'm allowed to try my hand at anything. It's a great learning environment where I can acquire ways of thinking and skills required in the real world that I can't get from research alone. For example, even a single report submitted to a client is expressed differently from a research progress report. It's not just about reporting the current situation; I need to consider what the client wants and propose methods for improvement. I feel that this experience of thinking from the customer's perspective is also useful in my joint research with companies.

My research theme is "Error Detection for Component Installation in Workbench Operations Using Deep Learning." This is a joint research project with a precision equipment manufacturer. We film product assembly work being done in an actual factory with a web camera, and an AI analyzes it in real time to determine the presence or absence of parts. In the manufacturing process, human errors can occur, such as forgetting to attach a part or a part coming off after being attached. Of course, the finished products are inspected, but some errors may not be detected. The purpose of my research is to prevent such mistakes in advance. When I started the research, the analysis accuracy was inconsistent, sometimes below 50%, but it has gradually improved to 98–99%. I am now continuing my research to achieve 100% accuracy, which involves tedious work like training the AI using programming. It's enjoyable because I can discuss things directly with the people doing the assembly work in the factory, and I was happy when the company said it seemed feasible for a trial run. I find it rewarding because my research is directly linked to something tangible, showing how the knowledge I've learned can be applied in the real world. I believe this research can be applied to the manufacturing of any product that involves assembly work, not just precision equipment.

I belong to the Shida Laboratory, which conducts research in Industrial Engineering (IE) to improve quality and productivity on the manufacturing floor. I first learned about the field of IE and became interested when I took Associate Professor Shida's "Industrial Engineering" class in my second year of my undergraduate studies. Associate Professor Shida has strong connections with companies, and among IE-related labs, his has many joint research projects with corporations, allowing me to conduct research in a setting close to the real world. It was the perfect lab for me, as I wanted to do research that could directly approach the system of society. Thanks in part to Associate Professor Shida's personality, the lab has a very at-home atmosphere.

The "Industrial Engineering Experiment" in my third year of undergraduate studies. Although it was done online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an experiment where we analyzed work efficiency while assembling a cart and thought about ways to improve productivity. It was my first experience thinking about improvement methods, so it left a strong impression. It was an experiment conducted in cooperation with group members, not alone, so it was interesting to share improvement ideas from different perspectives. This class is connected to my current research in terms of efficiency.

I am thinking about finding a job at a company. I haven't started job hunting yet, but since I'm doing joint research with a manufacturing company, I'm considering a job at a manufacturer. Right now, I'm vaguely thinking that a position like an engineer would be good to utilize what I'm currently researching. However, I'm also interested in the field of web marketing that I've experienced through my internship, so I want to figure it out as I proceed with my job search.