Efforts toward modularization were also made for development tests. Kazuhiro Kobayashi of the Development Test Division opined, “We normally conduct about 300 quality tests per model. This time around, however, by taking advantage of the effect of modularization and the introduction of a 3D CAD system, we were able to decide what kinds of tests to conduct by using which test models in order to confirm quality efficiently and without fail. Thanks to this, we were able to not only shorten development time but also stabilize quality.”
Another point that changed drastically in the development tests is seen in verification at the time of test model assembly. Conventionally, test models had been assembled on a mass production line. This time around, dedicated members were assigned to the Test Model Assembly Division and the whole team assembled a test model at a single stroke and verified it thoroughly from both aspects of ease of assembly and mechanical quality. “We moved work forward with the aim of resolving all the issues associated with assembly here,” said Hiroyuki Tsuji of the Test Model Assembly Division. The number of requests for improvement he submitted to the design team amounted to roughly 1,500.

Efforts exerted by individual members of the team bore fruit; the development of the G and S series were brought to completion within the target time frame. Kobelco Cranes unveiled G-series for the market in North America and Europe in March in 2011 and S-series for the world market, excluding Japan, Europe and North America, in November 2011.
Our customers from all over the world said that the G and S series won much accolade thanks to its outstanding environmental performance and the width reduction of the base machine to less than 3 meters.