IBM Yamato Facility
| Company type | Research and development facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Information technology, Research and development |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Yamato , Japan |
Area served | Global, Asia-Pacific |
Key people | Edward V. Hoffler, Nobuo Mii, Keiichiro Meigo, Hajime Watabe, Toshio Yasui, Kiyoji Ishida, Tsutomu Maruyama, Yukako Uchinaga, Yoshinori Sakaue, Kazushi Kuse |
| Products | Server and storage systems, embedded hardware, communication devices, printing technology, retail systems, software applications, telecommunications infrastructure, Internet-related innovations, pervasive computing, financial systems, CRM, BI, consulting services |
IBM Yamato Facility, situated in Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, functioned as IBM's central hub for research and development serving both global and Asia-Pacific regions. The building, completed in 1985, was the work of the architectural firm Nikken Sekkei Ltd.. By July 2012, all R&D operations were transferred to the IBM Toyosu Facility in Tokyo, and by September 2012, the site had ceased all IBM-related activities, marking the end of its connection to IBM.
The facility was located at 1623-14, Shimo-tsuruma, Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Background
During the 1960s, IBM initiated limited development activities in Japan through its Special Engineering department using the RPQ process. The IBM Japan Development Laboratory (JDL) was founded in Tokyo in 1972 and later moved to the Fujisawa Plant location in 1975, where it was renamed IBM Fujisawa Development Laboratory (FDL). In 1985, the laboratory relocated to Yamato and became known as IBM Yamato Development Laboratory (Yamato Lab), merging with the IBM Tokyo Programming Center previously based in Kawasaki. Additionally, the IBM Tokyo Research Laboratory transferred to Yamato in 1993. Following IBM’s divestiture of its Personal Computer Division to Lenovo in 2005, the ThinkPad teams at Yamato separated but continued operating at the same site.
Leadership of Development Lab
Notable figures who led development and manufacturing efforts included:
- Edward V. Hoffler (1971–1974)
- Nobuo Mii (1974–1977)
- Keiichiro Meigo
- Hajime Watabe
- Toshio Yasui (1987–1991)
- Kiyoji Ishida
- Tsutomu Maruyama
- Yukako Uchinaga (2004–2007)
- Yoshinori Sakaue (2007–2008)
- Kazushi Kuse (from 2009 onward)
Research and Development Focus Areas
The scope of IBM Yamato’s R&D encompassed a broad range of technologies including server and storage solutions, embedded systems hardware, communication devices, printing technology, retail systems, software applications, telecommunications infrastructure, Internet-based innovations, pervasive computing concepts, financial sector systems, customer relationship management (CRM), business intelligence (BI), along with consulting services related to both hardware and software domains.
IBM Tokyo Research Laboratory
Founded in 1983 as IBM’s inaugural research center in Asia, the IBM Tokyo Research Laboratory (TRL) moved its operations to Yamato in 1993. This laboratory concentrates on foundational research projects conducted in partnership with other IBM research centers worldwide such as those located in Yorktown Heights and Zurich. As of 2008, TRL employed approximately 200 researchers.
See also
- IBM
- IBM Japan, Ltd. (Japanese)
- IBM Hakozaki Facility (Marketing)