Ono Die & Mold Co., Ltd. faced its biggest crisis in 2009, the year after the Lehman Shock. "No work came in at all. I tried to negotiate directly with clients, but it didn't work." At that time, the company was reportedly dependent on a single client.

Since about 80% of their work came from one company, their performance rapidly deteriorated when that company stopped placing orders.

"I had only done manufacturing, so my sales skills were zero. But I had to do something, so I was desperate."

He reached out to various people, and through that, a machine trading company introduced him to a die/mold manufacturer looking for an outsourced supplier for die/mold components.

He gained trust by thoroughly completing every job, delivering products that aimed for 100% of his capability, and strictly adhering to deadlines, and gradually the workload recovered.

Originally, Ono Die & Mold Co., Ltd. handled everything from die/mold design to manufacturing. It was this track record that enabled them to maintain high quality in the production of die/mold components, earning trust even from competitors.

In the manufacturing of die/mold components, which survived tough times, the ability to manufacture entire dies/molds was leveraged.

Components are completed by combining them with other parts.

Mitsutoshi doesn't just look at the requested component; he creates it by envisioning how it will be used.

"Since I design and manufacture dies/molds, I understand what function the requested component will serve. Therefore, I don't just finish it exactly according to the drawing; I anticipate its usable state and finish it accordingly."

In the case of resin molds, even a slight misalignment can prevent proper assembly or cause burrs on the resin product.

By making delicate adjustments with an awareness of how the requested component will be assembled and used, the quality of the die/mold can be enhanced.

Manufacturing with the finished product in mind applies equally to the production of entire dies/molds.

"What customers want is not the die/mold itself, but the products made with the die/mold. That's why we design and manufacture dies/molds with the aim of producing the highest quality products possible."

Even during the initial trial (T0 trial), where problems and defects are common, the high quality of the die/mold can be seen from the low number of issues and the production of good quality parts.

One of the crucial elements that produces this high quality is design.
Mitsutoshi says that his primary focus in design is to "create dies/molds that make products easy to manufacture."

"Dies/molds with poor product yield are somehow under strain. Such stress accumulates and makes them prone to breaking."

In other words, if you make a die/mold that is easy to produce products with, it will become a highly durable die/mold. Furthermore, he anticipates areas where the die/mold will be stressed and designs it for easy maintenance, such as by using a split structure.

This results in a die/mold that is durable, easy to maintain, and capable of producing good quality products.

Of course, the technical skill to bring the design to life is also necessary.

"When I design and then manufacture the dies/molds myself, ideas like 'I should have done this differently here' constantly come to mind. It's enjoyable to not just stop at theoretical design but to think about even better forms while manufacturing."

The high-quality dies/molds created through these design and technical innovations are durable. "After 5 or 10 years of continuous use, we get repair requests when they break, but they rarely break."

He says the appeal of die/mold manufacturing lies in how clear the results are.

"You can immediately see the results: designing, shaping, conducting trials, and producing good quality products. This pleases customers, and you get a sense of satisfaction that what you designed and created is useful."

He also finds it appealing that he can incorporate his own ingenuity into the process of determining what die/mold structure is best for efficient mass production, starting from the finished product the customer wants to create.

He also says that prototyping has a different kind of appeal.

"When mass production begins, the product's shape has been refined to some extent. However, during the prototyping stage, there are often many unreasonable demands regarding the product's shape. It's interesting to develop dies/molds through trial and error that can produce products where you think, 'How am I going to make this?'"

For challenging prototyping projects, he asks customers about their past manufacturing achievements to gain hints for the die/mold.

By taking on such challenges, his skills and knowledge are further enhanced.

Mitsutoshi says that Ono Die & Mold Co., Ltd. possesses strengths that only a small company can offer. As a company grows larger, it tends to adopt a division of labor. While this may increase technical expertise in each task and boost production volume,

it becomes difficult to view the overall picture from a broad perspective.

In contrast, at Ono Die & Mold Co., Ltd., Mitsutoshi handles everything: design, manufacturing, and troubleshooting.

This allows him to think not just in terms of points, but in lines, surfaces, and from a bird's-eye view. "Even if a shape is feasible in design, it can sometimes be very difficult to actually machine. Conversely, by understanding the design intent before processing, we can achieve higher precision machining."

Small companies possess strengths that only they can have. However, in Japan today, it is extremely difficult to aim for a "single craftsman overseeing everything" style like Mitsutoshi's. This is because the barriers to entry for new businesses have become extremely high.

In the past, it was possible to start small, just as Mitsutoshi's father founded the company with only one machine. However, this is difficult in modern times.

"To start a new business, you need at least four expensive machine tools, such as machining centers and electrical discharge machines. Furthermore, considering the building and electrical work, nearly a hundred million yen in capital is required. Despite such significant investment, manufacturing doesn't have a profitable image."

In such a situation, the number of new entrants is unlikely to increase.

Die/mold manufacturing is a creative job where you can find enjoyment.

Knowing this, Mitsutoshi hopes that the manufacturing industry will become a world where people can dream more.