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Can anyone install it easily? ASNOVA's new employees try out their own product, "SpeeK."
There is a chronic shortage of craftsmen at construction sites. Fewer young people are becoming scaffolding craftsmen, and the craftsmen are aging. To solve this problem, ASNOVA is taking various measures. One of these is "SpeeK", a next-generation wedge-tightening sheet morning glory developed exclusively by ASNOVA. SpeeK has improved safety and work efficiency by reducing the weight and number of parts. In addition, it can be easily installed with just a hammer, reducing the workload at construction sites.
This time, we will introduce a new employee of ASNOVA who has no on-site experience actually trying out SpeeK installation. We will show you how it really is "safe" and "easy".
Text: Yui Kitagawa
Photo: Yuta Ogura
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PROIFILE
- Hirotsugu Uchida
- Equipment Management Department. Joined ASNOVA in 2013. Worked in sales and center operations at the Yatomi Center in Aichi Prefecture, and has been in his current position since 2021.
- Sho Kasahara
- Sales Department Nagoya Sales Office. Joined ASNOVA in 2021. Rental and sales of wedge binding type scaffold mainly to scaffolding construction companies in the Chubu region.
- Motoharu Anami
- Business Planning Department. Joined ASNOVA in 2022. Works mainly on IR and PR.
*Asagao: A protective shelf used at construction sites facing roads, etc., to protect passersby from injury caused by objects falling from temporary scaffolding.
"SpeeK" tries to solve the problem of shortage of craftsmen
First of all, why did ASNOVA, which rents and sells wedge binding type scaffold, decide to develop its original product, the next-generation wedge-tightening sheet Asagao SpeeK? The reason behind this is the serious shortage of craftsmen at construction sites. It is said that the job hunting market has shifted from a seller's market to a buyer's market due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the construction industry is still suffering from a shortage of craftsmen.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's "General Employment Placement Situation," the effective job offer ratio for construction structural work, including scaffolding, was 9.35 in December 2021, indicating that there is a more serious labor shortage than for other occupations.
In addition, according to the 2021 report by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism titled "Current Status and Challenges of Work Style Reform in the Construction Industry," approximately 12% of construction industry employees are under the age of 29, while approximately 36% are 55 or older. Looking ahead to the industry in the next 10 or 20 years, the impact of the shortage of craftsmen is expected to become even greater.
To address these challenges, ASNOVA has long been working to improve workability and construction efficiency across the industry. As part of this effort, we began full-scale rental and sales of SpeeK in 2021.
Conventional morning glory products mainly have steel or FRP panels, so they are heavy and require a large number of workers for safety and work reasons. There is also a risk of losing small parts such as bolts and nuts, and the labor required for management is also high. At the same time, the more parts there are, the longer it takes to install, dismantle, and protect against typhoons, which is a burden on sites with a shortage of manpower.
To solve these problems, SpeeK is 38% lighter than conventional products (according to ASNOVA), and the number of parts is half, down to 9. In addition, by improving work efficiency through a wedge fastening construction method, we developed a morning glory that can be used efficiently with just a hammer, even by craftsmen who are not skilled in the art.
From here on, we will show you how a new ASNOVA employee with no field experience actually installs SpeeK.
New employees experience construction
This time we visited Aichi Ichinomiya Center, where shipments, delivery and inspections are carried out for scaffolding construction companies. Here, under the guidance of Hirotsugu Uchida, Area Manager Equipment Management Department, Sho Kasahara of Sales Department Nagoya Sales Office and Motoharu Anami of the Business Planning Office, both in their first year at the company, installed SpeeK.
Following Uchida's instructions, we immediately began setting up scaffolding. To ensure safety, we generally worked in pairs.
First, we start by attaching the lower fitting (an original ASNOVA fitting with a wedge binding type), which is a distinctive feature of SpeeK.
Uchida: Conventionally, the length of morning glories had to be measured with a tape measure, but by using the wedge fastening system, we were able to eliminate the need to take measurements at regular intervals. This alone has significantly improved work efficiency.
After attaching the wedge-tightening fittings on the left and right sides, the lower frame and upper fittings are installed.
Next, attach the main frame and diagonal members. With two people holding them firmly in place, secure them to the lower and upper brackets.
Finally, attach the upper frame. The frame installation is completed in no time.
Next, the ropes for adjusting the angle are tied to the upper frame and the main frame, and then the morning glory sheet is stretched.
Uchida: In the event of a typhoon, you can flip the sheet over and tie it to a pole with a rope. It's easy to take in and out, so we can now take typhoon precautions quickly.
This completes the setup. Finally, open the seat and you're done!
It took about 15 minutes to get this far. Even staff with no on-site experience were able to assemble it smoothly. Of course, a scaffolding worker could do it much faster.
Uchida: I have installed aluminum and steel morning glories before, but since SpeeK was introduced, I have been able to significantly reduce the time it takes. Once you get used to the work, you can assemble it in just five minutes.
Turning difficult craftsmanship into work that anyone can do
Kasahara and Anami experienced assembling SpeeK for the first time. Kasahara usually works in sales, and Anami usually works in business planning. And Uchida, who supervised the two, originally worked in sales. We asked the three, who have different jobs and careers, about their impressions of installing SpeeK and their thoughts on SpeeK from their perspectives.
What did you think when you actually experienced SpeeK?
Kasahara: I didn't know anything about how to do it or how to use it, but the installation went smoothly. I think that once you learn the steps, anyone can do it easily.
Anami: Today was my first time climbing up Scaffolding. When I got up there, it felt much higher than I had expected, but I knew exactly what I had to do, so I was able to work with confidence.
Has your impression of SpeeK changed before and after the experience?
Kasahara: As mentioned before, it was really easy to assemble. It was especially convenient that the wedge fastening hardware allowed you to complete the assembly by simply hammering the parts into the designated positions. Also, there were only nine parts, so it was easy to manage in the workshop.
What kind of reaction do you get from customers when you do your regular sales work?
Kasahara: Although people are interested, many are cautious about new products. However, many who have used it at least once say, "SpeeK is easy to use, and when you take into account labor costs and work time, the total cost is cheaper than conventional products."
What are your plans for future developments?
Anami: There are many jobs in the construction industry that can only be done by craftsmen. With a labor shortage, I think SpeeK is a product that leads to time efficiency. I would like to continue developing products that only our company can create and contribute to solving problems in the industry.
Uchida: Every year, more and more products that are easier to install are being developed, but when you go to the construction site, it's still at a level where an amateur can't do anything. That's how difficult the work that craftsmen do is. However, with the labor shortage, I feel that we need to make it a job that anyone can do, rather than relying solely on craftsmen. The first step is SpeeK. I want to continue to create products like SpeeK and contribute to solving problems in the industry.
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