A leading Japanese manufacturer of printed wiring boards (PWBs) for electronics, Lincstech Co., Ltd., is taking steps to integrate generative AI into its operations, aiming to boost productivity and address labor-intensive internal processes commonly seen in high-mix, low-volume PCB production environments.

To bridge its in-house knowledge gap, Lincstech partnered with Hitachi Systems to implement its "Generative AI Adoption Support Service." The initiative covers the full rollout cycle—from identifying use cases to post-deployment performance evaluation.

In a recent proof of concept (PoC), Lincstech developed a generative AI tool to assist with internal employee inquiries in the HR and IT departments. By training the system on past email responses and company policy documents, the company was able to reduce workload by around 70% and achieve over 90% response accuracy. The results earned a "Special Award" at Lincstech's internal improvement showcase and led to management's approval for full-scale adoption.

Known globally for its advanced multilayer PWBs used in automotive and industrial electronics, Lincstech has also pioneered high-density interconnect solutions, such as its proprietary MWB (Multi-Wire Board), which it remains the only company in the world capable of producing. These products demand extremely rigorous internal coordination, making AI-driven efficiency gains especially valuable.

The generative AI initiative was launched with a focus on bottom-up participation. A workshop involving 15 employees and several executives identified key processes for AI support, ultimately choosing internal inquiry handling as the pilot case due to its scalability across departments—including engineering, procurement, and production planning in PCB manufacturing.

Known globally for its advanced multilayer PWBs used in automotive and industrial electronics, Lincstech has also pioneered high-density interconnect solutions, such as its proprietary MWB (Multi-Wire Board), which it remains the only company in the world capable of producing. These products demand extremely rigorous internal coordination, making AI-driven efficiency gains especially valuable.

Over several months, Lincstech and Hitachi Systems conducted three rounds of testing and fine-tuning using Microsoft Azure OpenAI. The project successfully demonstrated measurable improvements in response time and accuracy, laying the groundwork for broader deployment.

As of March 2025, Lincstech is continuing its collaboration with Hitachi Systems to expand the use of generative AI into additional departments. The company sees this as a strategic move to improve operational efficiency and reinforce its global competitiveness in the printed circuit board industry.