His pivot to automation boosted profits. Now Takayuki Hirayama bets on generative AI to go global
His pivot to automation boosted profits. Now Takayuki Hirayama bets on generative AI to go global
Publish Date: 2026-03-25 06:57:25
Source Domain: news.microsoft.com
Summary of the Article
Takayuki Hirayama founded ARUM Inc in Japan over two decades ago, starting out with metal parts manufacturing. Initially an ODM for various industries, ARUM faced limited profitability despite the challenging nature of the work. The global financial crisis in 2008 induced significant changes as numerous partners in metal processing vanished, pushing ARUM to pivot to developing automated manufacturing systems. An industry-wide decline in skilled labor further enforced this transition towards full automation with AI. Consequently, ARUM developed ARUMCODE software to automate parts of the manufacturing process and TTMC for the remaining processes. The company’s profits and global exposure surged. Today, ARUM identifies as a fabless company, focusing on advanced AI-enabled fabrication, outsourcing precision parts manufacturing to other firms. Looking ahead, ARUM plans to expand its network of TTMC machines on Microsoft Azure, offering manufacturing infrastructure services globally. The company’s success, especially in growth and profitability, is largely attributed to its pivot and the integration of AI solutions.
Key Points:
- ARUM Inc pivoted from precision parts manufacturing to AI-driven automation after partner bankruptcies following a global financial crisis.
- ARUM developed ARUMCODE and TTMC to automate manufacturing, leading to significant profitability and global recognition.
- The company relies on Microsoft technology to facilitate natural language operation and cloud network integration for its automated machines.
- Without the pivot to AI automation, ARUM likely would have remained a small subcontracting firm with minimal global exposure and profitability.
- ARUM’s founder highlights his pride in ARUM’s innovation and worldwide appreciation of its contributions.
