Solutions to manual-related challenges for leading major companies in the industry

Feeling the growing social needs

I joined the company as a new graduate and this is my 21st year. During my job search, I applied to various companies without narrowing down my job type, so I actually had no concrete image of the manual industry even after going through interviews. However, at that time, Windows 95 was released in Japan, and the IT boom was sweeping through society. Along with that, the demand for computer user manuals was increasing, which made me feel attracted to the idea of being able to work in a cutting-edge field. By chance, I was able to join Human Science, and since then, I have been involved in manual work. I feel every day that it is a deep and evolving job, with needs continuing to expand even as times change.

Responsible for a wide range from upstream to downstream

For the first five years after joining the company, I was involved in the production of manuals for consumer software, experiencing the entire process from manuscript creation to delivery to the printing company. After that, I was responsible for project management in a large-scale project for a major automobile manufacturer's business system renewal. Currently, I am working as a manual consultant, engaging in consulting services. Recently, to directly engage with more clients in the future, I have been holding corporate manual seminars that leverage the experience we have cultivated at our company. Through this, I have become acutely aware of the challenges companies face in manual production and am daily proposing how we can provide our know-how as a service.

Promotion and Proposal of "Clarity"

Our main business is consulting for companies facing issues with manuals. Some clients have their own manual departments, while in many cases, manuals are produced as part of the design department's work. For one manufacturer, the top priority was to improve the quality of manuals from a designer's perspective to user-friendly manuals in order to compete with rival companies in the future. Therefore, we proposed manual production utilizing the know-how we have cultivated. A manual written by the designer who knows the product best is not necessarily the easiest for users to understand. Understanding what a user-oriented manual is and assisting the internal production process of our clients is also part of our job. We value conveying the appeal of the product and the thoughts of developers and designers in an easy-to-understand manner.

Expanding the Possibilities of Manuals

I find it rewarding to be able to provide direct consulting to large companies and manufacturers. At a certain rocket development manufacturer, there was an issue within the company regarding a difficult-to-understand manual, yet no solutions had been proposed. During this time, they became interested in our services at an open seminar we held regularly, and our business relationship began. The power of manuals is beneficial not only in the manufacturing industry but also for companies where the amount and depth of information hold value. In the insurance industry, there is an increasing number of projects where salespeople and agents need to accumulate product knowledge deeply and broadly, leading to requests for the creation of easy-to-understand manuals for insurance products, and I feel that the potential of manuals is expanding.

Development of personnel who can see through the essence

There are still many documents in the world. Not only for users of products, but also, for example, by utilizing our expertise in specifications during system development, there are cases where quality and efficiency improvements in development are being realized. I tell our members every day, but there are no customers who clearly understand their own challenges from the beginning. We want to create the future of the industry as a team by empathizing with our customers' vague concerns, formulating hypotheses, and nurturing personnel who can explain things clearly, so that we can uncover potential challenges and lead to solutions.