JapanChemicals and materials2024 – ongoingNippon Paint
Ai-Tech technical knowledge search
Nippon Paint reported technical research taking 1/20 of the previous time in an internal trial
Problem
Engineers spent time configuring keyword searches and assembling technical information. Research into unfamiliar subjects required finding internal experts and arranging interviews.
Approach
Nippon Paint developed Ai-Tech, a retrieval-augmented generation tool, from its existing i-Tech knowledge system. It tested conversational technical search with engineering teams and linked answers to original documents. Development remained underway, with completion expected during fiscal 2026.
Results
Takeaway
The reported time reductions came from internal trials. They did not establish the average saving across everyday engineering work.
Categories
- Size
- Large enterprise
- Industry
- Chemicals and materials
- Business function
- Internal work and knowledge managementIT and R&D
- Innovation type
- Process innovation
- AI technology
- Generative AI
- Adoption
- Built in-house
- Evidence
- Company's own claim
Sources
Source summaries
Company managers described development of Ai-Tech from the existing technical search system. They said development continued toward completion during fiscal 2026.
Nippon Paint reported research time falling to 1/10 for familiar subjects and 1/20 for unfamiliar subjects in internal tests. Answers linked to original technical records.
Full details are in the original sources.
