Sustainability Solutions Map

Issues such as labor shortages, passing on technical skills, and the societal demand to reduce the environmental impact are intensifying at manufacturing sites. In order to achieve both the maintenance of stable operations as well as energy savings and a reduced environmental impact, efficient and data-driven equipment maintenance and energy-saving activities are becoming increasingly important in the field.
Murata’s WSN (Wireless Sensing Solution) monitors vibration, current, temperature, and humidity, etc. with various sensors to facilitate easy visualization of equipment conditions with a simple configuration. Since the battery-powered wireless sensors can be retrofitted later, the WSN can be installed without shutting down any equipment. In addition to reducing the number of inspection man-hours by automatically collecting data, the system enables a transition from time-based to condition-based maintenance as well as a reduction in environmental impact, which helps improve the efficiency and energy savings of manufacturing sites.

DX initiatives aimed at improving productivity are accelerating around the world. Although the collection of equipment data has just begun, the lack of know-how to utilize that data and apply it in the field has become a challenge in the manufacturing industry.
Murata m-FLIP^TM utilizes our wireless sensors, various input devices and platforms to acquire, aggregate, and visualize equipment information (operating status and anomalies), environmental information (power information, etc.), and human work information, etc. at manufacturing sites. The system analyzes and utilizes digital data to achieve work site improvements.

Exhaust gas generated at factories causes atmospheric pollution and health hazards. Therefore, many factories use combustion-type exhaust gas treatment devices to break down and neutralize exhaust gas. However, while exhaust gas treatment devices are able to reduce the emission of hazardous substances, they emit a large amount of CO₂ by burning fossil fuels.
As a result, achieving a balance between “preventing atmospheric pollution” and “reducing CO₂ emissions” is a current challenge in exhaust gas processing.

Murata’s heat-resistant ceramic catalysts are able to reduce the required fuel consumption by increasing the decomposition efficiency of exhaust gas treatment devices, which achieves a balance between “preventing atmospheric pollution” and “reducing CO₂ emissions.”

The energy environment is currently reaching a major turning point. While efforts aimed at the realization of a decarbonized society continue to advance, power demand is rapidly expanding due to the sudden increase in AI servers and data centers. Furthermore, as global energy prices soar and the risk of power outages due to natural disasters increases, securing stable power and the efficient utilization of power are critical for the business continuity of companies.
In order to address this situation, there needs to be a mechanism for forecasting fluctuations in power generation and implementing the optimal control (energy management system) in addition to introducing solar power generation and other forms of renewable energy and storage batteries.
Murata’s Integrated Renewable Energy Control Solution efinnos forecasts the following day’s power consumption and amount of solar power generation to optimally control the solar power generation and storage batteries.

In offices and factories, energy consumption related to air conditioning accounts for a major portion of energy use. In addition to growing demands for energy savings to realize a decarbonized society in recent years, electricity bills have soared due to global events, and the importance of energy cost management for companies is increasing. Against this backdrop, efforts to leverage data for managing air conditioning are expanding.
Murata’s space energy-saving system automatically controls air conditioning equipment with a computer based on temperature and CO₂ concentration data acquired by sensors to balance energy savings and comfort.

Rapid aging and severe labor shortages are advancing in the construction and manufacturing industries, which makes the assurance of safety at sites a more important issue than ever before. The risk of heat stress rises with rising temperatures particularly in the summer, and the increase in sites operated by small teams leads to situations, such as one-person tasks or work in high places, where monitoring becomes difficult. These conditions increase the risk of accidents and place a significant burden on site supervisors.
Murata’s WMS (Worker Safety Monitoring System) is a solution that helps “protect worker safety” utilizing data and a miniature sensor device that can be attached to helmets.

At agricultural sites, uncertainties due to climate change, labor shortages, and the aging of producers have become major issues. Moreover, the management of water and fertilizer often heavily relies on experience, and cost increases and a growing environmental impact caused by excessive irrigation and fertilization are a problem.
Murata’s soil sensor was developed to “visualize” soil conditions and enable scientific decision-making. By acquiring precise soil data and supporting the proper cultivation management, it helps increase productivity and reduce environmental impact.

The apparel industry is facing a serious social problem of increasing textile waste. In particular, it has been reported that textile waste exported from advanced nations passes through multiple distribution hubs to ultimately end up in developing nations where it causes air pollution due to open-air burning. To address this situation, PIECLEX Co., Ltd. developed a new electricity-generating fiber called “PIECLEX” that utilizes piezoelectric technology cultivated by Murata. In addition, the company is also building “P-FACTS,” a type of infrastructure that supports the circulation of textile products, to promote the creation of a sustainable system.

RFID is used as an effective means for resolving labor shortages, ensuring product traceability, and realizing a circular society aimed at environmental protection.
The importance of individual item management is increasing particularly in Europe through the operation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which enables material-level tracking of distributed products as part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
Furthermore, operational improvements using RFID are also advancing at offices and production lines within Murata.