Weathernews Inc. (head office: Chiba; president: Chihito Kusabiraki) have agreed to team with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (head office: Tokyo; president: Yasumi Kudo), Monohakobi Technology Institute (head office: Tokyo; president: Makoto Igarashi) , NYK Business Systems Co., Ltd. (head office: Tokyo; president: Toshiaki Takeda) and Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. (head office: Tokyo; president: Shota Hattori) on the joint development of next-generation solutions using state-of-the-art technology in the auto logistics field.

The effort has been given the name “Symphony Project” and will aim to create new value in the auto logistics supply chain and offer next-generation solutions for our customers under the slogan ”Bringing value to customers by providing value-added services and solutions that feature unique logistics technologies.” The project will fuse NYK Group’s knowledge, on-site capabilities, and global network which NYK Group have been building up in global auto logistics business, with Weathernews’ innovative infrastructure network and its weather forecast technology, and with Kozo Keikaku Engineering’s cutting edge simulations that make use of advanced operations research techniques and data-analysis technology.

Through this Symphony Project focusing on development of new services for each ASEAN country whose auto logistics demand is remarkably expanding, we are first moving to offer our new "Garuda" value-added services suitable to the local logistics situations in Indonesia, which is rapidly becoming the largest car market among the ASEAN countries.

Examples of development solutions include the following:

• Environmental assessments of transport and risk assessments
• Systems allowing visualization of complex transport processes
• Monitoring services using peculiar weather observation infrastructure
• Analysis of logistics process and inventory optimizing simulation
• Optimization of car's yard (seamless service that includes planning,designing, operation, and improvements)

Weathernews contribution to the Symphony Project will be the maximum application of the knowledge and acumen gained from many years supporting Japan’s highway and logistics markets. Starting with Indonesia, Weathernews is actively advancing weather risk communication services we provide, and expanding our innovative network of sensory infrastructure throughout Asia.

Outline of each company

About Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc.

Established

May 6, 1959

Head Office

4-38-13 Honcho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo

Representative

Shota Hattori

Description of business

Engineering consulting, systems solutions, product services

About Monohakobi Technology Institute

Established

April 1, 2004

Head Office

2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative

Makoto Igarashi

Description of business

Environmental conservation and energy-saving technology, ship-operating technology, consultation on quality transport, logistics solutions

About NYK Business Systmes Co., Ltd.

Established

April 1, 1988

Head Office

1-17-21 Shinkawa Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Representative

Toshiaki Takeda

Description of business

Know-how about computers and communication; databases; computer-system planning, development and operation; etc.

About Weathernews Inc.

Established

June 11, 1986

Head Office

1-3 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba

Representative

Chihito Kusabiraki

Description of business

Countermeasures based on weather forecasts, weather information for mobile phones, Internet, TV, and radio