'Japanese Manufacturing Is Not Over' — S-Mat CEO Hidetoshi Hayashi to Publish First Book 'Human-Centric DX' on June 30, 2026

S-Mat, Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEOs: Takayuki Shiga / Hidetoshi Hayashi) is pleased to announce the publication of the first book by Hidetoshi Hayashi, CEO and Representative Director of the Manufacturing DX Association, titled 'Human-Centric DX' (Publisher: Yugeisha Co., Ltd.), set for release on June 30, 2026. Based on the philosophy that 'DX is not about replacing people, but about amplifying human power,' this book envisions a new future for manufacturing by fusing the improvement culture and tacit knowledge of Japanese production sites with AI, IoT, and data utilization. From the perspective of an author who understands both the factory floor and digital technology, the book proposes practical DX strategies for Japanese manufacturing to shine on the global stage once again. Pre-orders are currently available on Amazon. While many manufacturers are pursuing DX, 'DX fatigue'—where systems fail to take root—has become a significant challenge. Hayashi, drawing on his experience as a strategy consultant and at Amazon Japan, founded S-Mat in 2014. Through supporting over 1,200 companies, he realized that the key to success lies in 'building systems centered on the people working on the front lines.' The book shares behind-the-scenes stories of the 'SmartMat Cloud' development and case studies, providing concrete guidance on DX that doesn't increase the burden on the floor, digitizing tacit knowledge, and utilizing AI/IoT. The author emphasizes 'Human x AI' rather than 'Human vs. AI,' aiming to support the challenge of Japanese manufacturing to lead the world again.