Kobo Consulting is a project-based support service that leverages AI, data analysis, mathematical optimization, and simulation to turn companies’ technical and operational challenges into concrete solutions.
Unlike Kobo Advisory, which is a continuous advisor, Kobo Consulting supports everything from problem organization, PoC design, data analysis, mathematical modeling, simulation, technology selection, prototype development, to report creation, ensuring deliverables are deliverable.
provision
| item | Support Details |
|---|---|
| Organize the challenges | We translate on-site issues into technical challenges and narrow down the points that need to be verified. |
| Read the data | Visualize existing data and identify trends, factors, and KPIs. |
| Thinking in Models | Compare options through prediction, simulation, and mathematical optimization. |
| Try small | Create PoCs, notebooks, simple dashboards, and prototype apps. |
| Decide on the Technology Policy | Organize the technologies, tools, data infrastructure, and scope of implementation to be used. |
| Preserve as deliverables | Prepare it as a report, model, code, or document that can be used for the next decisions. |
Target Issues
- Want to create more rational production plans
- I want to decide how far I should maintain inventory levels.
- Want to compare which measures should be taken in response to demand fluctuations
- Want to understand process bottlenecks
- Want to verify the effects of capital investment and personnel allocation in advance
- Data exists, but it is not being utilized for decision-making
- I want to decide whether to introduce AI or machine learning.
- Conducted a PoC but Unable to Move Forward
- I want to technically evaluate proposals from external vendors.
- Want to verify whether mathematical optimization and simulation can be applied in business operations
Support Themes
| Field | Support Themes |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing DI | Production planning, inventory, process improvement, demand fluctuations, capital investment decisions |
| Data Analysis | KPI design, visualization, anomaly detection, factor analysis, report creation |
| Simulation | Queues, process simulation, inventory simulation, measure comparison |
| Mathematical optimization | Scheduling, allocation, delivery, inventory optimization, production optimization |
| AI & Machine Learning | Demand forecasting, anomaly detection, classification, regression, and generative AI utilization |
| System Design | Data infrastructure, dashboards, APIs, cloud, and prototype development |
| Education and In-house Production | In-house study sessions, technical training, and development of analytical talent |
Support Process
1. Initial Hearing
Review current challenges, workflows, available data, and constraints.
2. Organizing Issues and Key Issues
Organize the issues to be solved, the points you want to judge, evaluation indicators, and constraints.
3. Design of Technical Policies
We consider which of data analysis, mathematical optimization, simulation, AI, or systematization are appropriate.
4. PoC, Analysis, and Prototyping
As needed, we create simplified analyses, mathematical models, simulations, dashboards, and prototype apps.
5. Result organization and decision support
Based on analysis and simulation results, we compare measures and organize the next steps.
6. Implementation, In-house Production, and Deployment
If necessary, we connect to internal operations, additional development, training, and Kobo advisory.
Examples of deliverables
- Issue Summary Report
- Technical Policy Report
- PoC Plan
- Data Analysis Report
- Visualization Dashboard
- Simulation Model
- Mathematical Optimization Model
- Python Analysis Code
- Prototype App
- Presentation materials for management
- Technical Documentation for In-House Production
In particular, we focus on analytical reports usable for decision-making, simulations for measure comparison, mathematical optimization models reflecting operational constraints, and prototypes usable in the field.
Differences from Kobo Advisory
| item | Kobo Advisory | Kobo Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Ongoing consultation and decision support | Solving Specific Issues |
| Contract Type | monthly contract | Project Contract |
| Period | continuous type | From a few weeks to several months |
| Main Contents | Wall Workout, Reviews, Advice | Research, analysis, design, PoC, prototype |
| deliverable | Minutes, advice, and reviews | Reports, models, code, materials, prototypes |
| suitable condition | I want someone to consult with. | I have a problem I want to solve |
Examples of Support
| Examples of Support | Contents | Examples of deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Support for reviewing inventory levels | When it is not yet possible to determine how much inventory should be held in response to demand fluctuations, we analyze past shipment data to visualize the characteristics of demand fluctuations, simulate the relationship between inventory levels and stockout risks, and organize materials to compare multiple proposals. | Demand fluctuation analysis reports, inventory simulations, decision-making materials |
| Process Bottleneck Analysis | When production capacity is insufficient and it is unclear which processes are constrained, process data is organized to analyze processing time, waiting time, and operating rate, and simplified simulations compare the effects of staffing and equipment expansion. | Process analysis reports, bottleneck visualization, and measure comparison materials |
| Mathematical Optimization PoC for Production Planning | When production planning relies on the experience of the person in charge and takes time to create it, we organize constraints to create a mathematical optimization model, calculate under multiple conditions, and compare differences and areas for improvement with the current plan. | PoC reports, optimization models, Python code, and organizing areas for improvement |
Suitable Consultations
Kobo Consulting helps organize and verifiably organize and verify issues that have not yet been resolved in a short period.
It is especially suitable for the following stages:
- While issues are shared within the company, they have not yet decided where to start their investigation.
- Want to use existing data and business knowledge to check possibilities in small ways.
- Before introducing external tools or vendor proposals, you want to identify the technology policy that best fits your company.
- I want to prepare reports and prototypes that serve as basis for judgment over weeks or months.