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MISUMI floow Wins Good Design Award 2025

On October 15, 2025, MISUMI Group, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, announced that its total cost reduction service for indirect materials, MISUMI floow, has been awarded the prestigious Good Design Award 2025, organized by the Japan Design Promotion Association. This award is Japan's only comprehensive design evaluation system, aimed at enhancing quality of life and society through design since its inception in 1957. It evaluates not only physical products but also systems and activities that realize human ideals and objectives.

What is MISUMI floow?

MISUMI floow harnesses the power of digital innovation to streamline the procurement of indirect materials in factories based on customer demand data. Its well-designed service architecture drastically eliminates unnecessary tasks such as ordering, delivery, and inventory management, reducing procurement time by about 70%—a feat that greatly impressed the award judges.

Award Recognition

The award was granted specifically for the system's ability to optimize channel design according to usage frequency. By eliminating the need for the traditional ordering, delivery, and inventory processes, it allows for a significant reduction in operational time in indirect material procurement. By integrating demand data with vending machines and e-commerce solutions, MISUMI floow brings an experience close to 'zero lead time' for procurement. This valuable shift allows factory workers to focus on core business activities, thus nurturing a conducive environment for manufacturing. Additionally, the system contributes to environmental sustainability through optimized inventory, prevention of human error, and reduction of excessive packaging across the supply chain. Its secure supply chain foundation, combined with digital transformation, enhances factory productivity, sustainability, and worker well-being, and it has already shown success in Japan and China.

For more details, visit the Good Design Award 2025 Gallery.

About the Good Design Award

The Good Design Award, established in 1957 as the 'Good Design Product Selection System' by the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry, represents Japan's only comprehensive design evaluation and recommendation movement. The award goes beyond merely judging the aesthetic appeal of products; it also aims to discover and disseminate designs contributing to industrial development and improved living quality across various fields. Recognized as one of the most significant design awards globally, it enjoys broad participation from many companies and designers both domestically and internationally.
For more information, visit the official site.

Features of MISUMI floow

MISUMI floow stands as a transformative digital service that optimally provides products based on customer demand data, effectively streamlining the procurement of indirect materials. It reduces ordering burdens on procurement personnel and enhances inventory visibility, achieving a time reduction in procurement operations by 70%. Often referred to as the 'Toyama-style medicine' of manufacturing, high-frequency consumables are supplied directly to factory-installed vending machines without the risk of excess inventory. Moreover, the requirement for face recognition or ID for access to the vending machines mitigates overuse and helps in fostering awareness among employees regarding costs.
For more on the MISUMI floow service, visit this link.

Shaping the Future of Manufacturing with Digital Model Shift

The MISUMI Group has been at the forefront of transforming manufacturing processes through digital technologies. In 2000, it pioneered online ordering services in the industry, creating a seamless web-based solution for part selection and orders. With innovative offerings such as 'meviy'—an AI-based self-quotation tool utilizing 3D data—MISUMI has continuously driven productivity improvements in the industrial sector. The company positions 'digital model shift' as a core growth strategy, proposing its concept of 'Toku MISUMI, Raku MISUMI' to customers. By digitizing design and procurement processes, it significantly enhances the productivity of design and production environments while simultaneously achieving cost reductions through optimal procurement services. MISUMI aims to liberate its clients from tedious daily tasks enabling them to focus on more creative endeavors. The company is committed to turning each individual's time into valuable contributions and driving sustainable growth together in the future.

About MISUMI

MISUMI serves over 323,000 global clients (as of March 2025) by providing essential machinery components, tools, and consumables necessary for automation settings. By combining the roles of a manufacturer with distributors of other brand products, MISUMI embodies a unique business model, underpinning its mission to ensure 'global assured short delivery times' while enhancing customer convenience.