GE Healthcare

Have you heard of a company that evolved from selling hardware to crafting solutions for an aging nation? GE Healthcare in Tokyo has done just that. GE Healthcare started in Japan in 1982 as Yokogawa Medical System. This was a joint venture between GE and Yokogawa Electric Corporation. The company rebranded as GE Healthcare Japan Corporation in 2009. GE Healthcare isn’t just about selling medical equipment. They’re developing solutions for Japan’s healthcare challenges. They collaborate with research institutes, university hospitals, and Japanese companies. Their president and CEO, Soichiro Tada, highlights the importance of an ecosystem. He emphasizes collaboration, not individual efforts. GE Healthcare’s “Brilliant Factory” initiative exemplifies this. This next-generation plant uses digital technologies to improve productivity and quality. It leverages “Predix,” GE’s IoT platform. The Hino Plant, a showcase site, spearheads this initiative. GE Healthcare also champions the “Brilliant Hospital” project. This project uses “Predix” to analyze data from networked medical equipment. It visualizes problems and provides consultation to optimize medical services. Tada emphasizes the attractiveness of Japan’s universal healthcare system. He notes its ability to provide high-quality services to everyone. He also acknowledges the market size and high level of health awareness. Tada points to extending healthy life expectancy as a major challenge. He highlights the increasing costs of cardiovascular diseases and dementia. GE Healthcare’s mission is to improve the lives of these patients. Problem-solving in Japan, he believes, contributes to global solutions. GE Healthcare understands Japan’s unique challenge of treating patients with multiple diseases. They are developing technologies using monitoring, sensors, and AI to improve primary care quality. Tada stresses the importance of agile R&D in Japan. He cites Japan’s rapid encounter with global medical challenges. GE Healthcare embraces “FastWorks,” a process that emphasizes rapid experimentation and adaptation. They recognize the value of collaborating with Japanese companies possessing key technologies. An example of this is the development of a pocket-sized echo (ultrasonic diagnostic equipment). Localized initially for rural areas in China and India, this device showcases reverse innovation. It was further developed with durable and smaller features for emergency use in developed countries. This project highlighted the technical prowess of Japanese companies, who were the sole manufacturers of specific batteries and cables required for the device. GE Healthcare aims to create world-applicable technologies in Japan. GE Healthcare’s Tokyo story is one of evolution and collaboration. It’s a commitment to solving Japan’s healthcare challenges and contributing to global solutions.