The “Takenaka Practical Technology Training Center (‘Omoi’)” With the Full-Size Frames Displayed Opens
To pass on technology by learning the basics of craftsmanship, the facility is based on “looking, touching, and realization”

February 14, 2011
Takenaka Corporation

With the basic policy of “ensuring that the processes involved in quality production are passed down to future generations,” and with the concept of experiencing through training by “looking, touching, and realization,” Takenaka Corporation (President: Toichi Takenaka) has constructed the “Takenaka Practical Technology Training Center (‘Omoi’),” which was opened on January 21, 2011. This is the first time for a general contractor to construct a training center where practical training is carried out using full-size frames.

In addition to the know-how that has built up in the company with regard to how to approach quality, quality control and inspection technology, with the large objective of sharing the company’s philosophy, training is planned for not only Takenaka employees, but from 2012 also for foremen working in partner companies.

In addition to this new center, the Group has two other training centers: the “Takenaka Training Center (‘Takumi’),” which was reopened after renewal work in April 2008, for management-related training; and the “Asahi Facilities Technical Training Center,” owned by the real estate and building management Group company Asahi Facilities Inc., where practical training is carried out using building equipment and machinery systems. These three training facilities are used to foster human resources who are able to give total support to a building, from the beginning to the end.

【About the training to be carried out at the “Takenaka Practical Technology Training Center (‘Omoi’)”】

＜Outline of the training＞
The facility is able to handle 25 trainees each time, and take in about 600 trainees per year. 37 front-line lecturers (as of January 2011) from various departments from Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka will lead the training. The trainees will learn the basics of craftsmanship at this experience-based facility by “looking, touching, and realization.”

＜Training curriculum＞
The curriculum is centered on experience-based practical work taking advantage of the features of this training center. With the architectural construction training, the trainees will gain realization of the points of quality control, using an RC mockup reproduction of part of a full-size condominium, to search for mistakes and carry out quality inspection practical training.

Also, in order to actually produce the mockup, the trainees will draw the necessary drawings by hand as an additional exercise.

Furthermore, the training carried out at this training center is positioned as “an opportunity to pass on the craftsmanship spirit,” so time is allocated for the trainees to listen to lectures directly from the chief engineers about craftsmanship.

The curriculum is basically divided up into “introductory,” “intermediate,” and “advanced” levels for each profession, with the principle aim for employees to take the training before their fifth, eighth and eleventh year after joining the company. Examinations will be carried out at the end of the courses to check the level of understanding of the trainees, and those who successfully finish a course will be awarded certificates.

＜Training example: architectural construction training＞

Candidates Concept Main content Introductory 3rd to 5th year employees To learn the basics of architecture（※） ・Extracting the points of quality control, and producing quality control procedures
・Carrying out practical inspection of reinforcement bars Intermediate 6th to 8th year employees To put some changes into practice using the basics（※） ・Practicing the production of working drawings
・Practicing quality control inspection before concrete placement Advanced 9th to 11th year employees To challenge something new you have thought of（※） ・The production of SRC joint drawings, and experiencing steel frame product inspections
・Drawing evaluation and production of improvement proposals

（※）These three levels are said to have originally come from the steps in training for the Japanese Tea Ceremony, meaning "first learn, then detach, and finally transcend."

【About the “Takenaka Practical Technology Training Center (‘Omoi’)”】

＜Outline of the display and training zones＞
There are nine display and training zones in the building.
① Technology zone: introducing the pile method and new materials
② Full-size model zone: models of column and beam assemblies and equipment pipe shafts
③ RC mockup zone: condominiums under construction with about 170 design mistakes
④ Outdoor training space: outdoor training space for exercises such as reinforcement bar arrangement trials
⑤ Frame zone: full-size displays of reinforcement bars and steel frames, showing the quality control points
⑥ Equipment zone: full-size displays of piping materials, showing the quality control points
⑦ Finishing zone: full-size displays of waterproofing and sealing, showing the quality control points
⑧ “Omoi” work record zone: display of the actual quality control data for this training center
⑨ Special display corner: a display area for objects and panels according to the selected theme

＜Outline of the “Takenaka Practical Technology Training Center (‘Omoi’)”＞

Building name “Takenaka Practical Technology Training Center (‘Omoi’)” Address 41-1 Yanagitani, Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture Number of floors/Structure 2 fl. aboveground, Steel Site area 79,900m² Building area 1,011m² Work period June 25, 2010 to November 30, 2010

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