#Japan #Tokyo #LTS #Kanto Natural Gas #Gas Balance Visualizer

Transforming Implicit Knowledge into Organizational Assets with AI Technology

In a significant advancement in organizational knowledge management, LTS (株式会社エル・ティー・エス), based in Minato, Tokyo, has successfully completed the implementation support for a command center support system at Kanto Natural Gas, a company headquartered in Mobara, Chiba. This cutting-edge system leverages AI and digital technologies to visualize implicit knowledge, thereby significantly reducing the lengthy training period traditionally required for new employees.

The Importance of the Command Center

The command center at Kanto Natural Gas plays a critical role in monitoring and controlling various facilities and equipment. It adapts to dynamic factors such as seasonal changes, weather conditions, and emergency scenarios, ensuring efficient gas production and supply. Historically, the decision-making process within this center relied heavily on the expertise and experience of veteran staff members. This dependency led to challenges regarding the tacit knowledge held by individuals and extended training periods for new hires.

In response to this issue, LTS is committed to preserving the implicit knowledge as organizational assets, thereby facilitating a more efficient training framework. From September 2024 to February 2026, LTS will develop the AI system named 'Gas Balance Visualizer'. This system will gather real-time gas supply data and present decision-making options directly on user computers.

Phased Development Approach

The development of the Gas Balance Visualizer will be conducted in four key phases:

• - Phase 1 (September 2024): Planning the command center support system, conducting thorough assessments, and formulating the roadmap and basic plans.
• - Phase 2 (January 2025): Defining requirements by investigating functional needs and outlining product hypotheses.
• - Phase 3 (April 2025): Developing and refining the system through an agile methodology.
• - Phase 4 (December 2025): Constructing the usage environment and evaluating function expansions for system updates.

As of now, the Gas Balance Visualizer has been utilized to assist new employees in making operational judgments, facilitating their skills development effectively, and we are currently in the process of refining the system further.

Voices from the Project Team

Mr. Hayatsu, Deputy Head of the Mining Department at Kanto Natural Gas, comments:
"In the initial phase of the project, we dedicated considerable time to not only reviewing the command center's operations but also interviewing all team members to analyze and extract challenges thoroughly. This emphasis on communication allowed our team to align towards the same goals. The top priority identified was the swift acquisition of skills needed for gas balance regulation. The development of the Gas Balance Visualizer marks our commitment to addressing these operational challenges fundamentally. Moreover, achieving the visualization and standardization of the gas balance operation judgment process is a notable success that finally resolves a long-standing issue. The Gas Balance Visualizer aids less experienced members, lowering their psychological barriers and providing more opportunities to engage with gas balance operations. We are currently evaluating the system’s effectiveness, and we aim to adapt based on feedback to expedite the training period for newcomers."

Mr. Funayama, Data Lead at LTS’s Strategic Consulting Division, shares:
"The command center's operations require continuous, sophisticated judgment based on various factors like seasons, weather, and the overall gas network status. For years, these decisions were supported by the invaluable experience of veteran staff. Our goal in this project is not to replace human judgment with AI but to transform the knowledge and foundation of experience accumulated individually into a shared organizational asset. We believe that the Gas Balance Visualizer will support the learning of inexperienced staff and become the starting point for technical knowledge transfer at Kanto Natural Gas. We will continue to refine the system in collaboration with field staff, contributing to the foundation for stable gas supply."

About LTS

株式会社エル・ティー・エス operates within Japan's Prime Market under the Tokyo Stock Exchange with stock code 6560. LTS provides comprehensive services focused on enhancing clients' business agility and transformation capabilities.

About Kanto Natural Gas Development Co., Ltd.

For more information, visit Kanto Natural Gas Development. Kanto Natural Gas plays a crucial role within the K&O Energy Group, overseeing the development and management of natural gas operations from production to sales.