Takayuki Hirayama transformed ARUM from an ODM into a fabless AI-driven manufacturer. ARUMCODE and TTMC automated metalworking, boosting profits and enabling an Azure-based TTMC network, GPT-5 natural-language control, and plans to export machines to the US, South Korea and India.
Takayuki Hirayama has shifted ARUM Inc from precision parts manufacturing to AI-driven automated machining. The company now combines ARUMCODE software with TTMC automated milling machines to scale production and margins globally.
Main feature/change and impact
ARUM pivoted from ODM metal parts to building AI machining systems. ARUMCODE automates initial programming processes while TTMC handles the remaining nine machining steps. This integration increased profits eight- to ten-fold and transformed ARUM into a fabless design and development firm. The brand now sells systems, not just parts, expanding market reach and enabling global deployment.Practical implications
The ARUM platform enables distributed manufacturing via a nationwide TTMC procurement network on Microsoft Azure. Networked TTMCs allow production failover between regions during disasters, improving resilience. GPT-5 via Azure OpenAI enables natural language machine operation and simplifies multilingual deployment. Collected design and process data feed continuous machine learning and optimization across the fleet.“This will sell, we can sell this, we can go with it.”ARUM plans to connect over 100 TTMCs domestically and pursue exports to the US, South Korea, and India by August 2027. Targets for fiscal 2026 include 7 billion yen revenue and 2 billion yen net profit, supporting a 40-person workforce and a planned 2030 listing. Next steps require regulatory approvals and scaling of cloud controls. ARUM’s approach converts artisanal metalworking knowledge into scalable AI infrastructure for manufacturing. Companies should evaluate cloud-native control, distributed failover, and LLM-driven operator interfaces when modernizing precision machining. Continuous data collection and model retraining are essential for improved yields and cross-site consistency.
Key points from the article:
Related Coverage:
- Announcing Copilot Cowork, a new way to complete tasks and get work done in M365. When you hand off a task to Cowork, it turns your request into a plan and executes it across your apps and files, grounded in your work data and operating within M365’s secu
- Copilot Cowork: A new way of getting work done
From the Source
