(Development of WISE Program to foster AI Professionals
for Marine Industries)

Report on Completion of Internship at BEMAC Corporation Tokyo Data Lab (TAKAHASHI, Course of Maritime Technology and Logistics)

I participated in an internship at BEMAC TOKYO DATA LAB for two days a week from September 25 (Wed) to October 31 (Thu). The work involved data analysis of business issues.

 

During the internship, I first gained an understanding of the background and status of an ongoing project to utilize AI, and worked with a mentor to understand the business problem and confirm the goal of the project. Then, we designed an analysis to solve the business problem, and created and verified the logic to be incorporated into the system using exploratory data analysis (EDA) and AI.

 

This internship gave me the opportunity to work on data analysis in a business setting, which was a very valuable experience. In particular, I deeply realized the importance of setting up analysis tasks based on the user's perspective. Business processes that go beyond mere data processing and take into account business needs and issues provide new perspectives that cannot be obtained through ordinary research. By accurately understanding the needs of society, one can review one's own research objectives and modify them appropriately. It was a good opportunity for me to objectively view the value of my research.

 

The mentors were very attentive and supportive in the implementation of the internship. Even though I was not familiar with data analysis, it was a very easy environment for me to work in. Aside from data analysis work, I visited the head office in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, and was able to tour the factory where switchboards and other products are manufactured. We were able to observe welding operations and the operation of an automated warehouse, which provided us with a good opportunity to deepen our thinking about the current state of logistics efficiency and the issues it faces. In addition, the company dormitory where we stayed, the "bakushin base," was newly built and was a very comfortable environment. I also had the opportunity to participate in meetings with partner companies and outside vendors on other projects. By observing actual meetings up close, I felt the importance of shared recognition and consensus building in the field of business.

 

This internship allowed me to experience data analysis from the user's point of view and gave me an opportunity to reconsider the value of my own research. I also learned the importance of communicating this value to others with evidence and having them actually utilize it. I would like to make use of this experience in my future research.

 

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the BEMAC TOKYO DATA LAB Corporation for accepting me for the internship.

TAKAHASHI, 2nd year student,  Course of Maritime Technology and Logistics