Canon produces fully automatic cameras

The camera maker is moving toward producing full-automatic digital cameras to cut costs.

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If successful, the reliance on machines can help maintain technological strength without the use of workers in the production line, said Jun Misumi, spokesman for Canon.

The transition to automated production is likely to be complete in the next few years, as early as 2015.

Upcoming, Canon cameras will be produced without human hands.

Recently, Japanese manufacturers are relocating their manufacturing facilities abroad to offset declining sales from the appreciation of the yen.

Misumi said Canon would not cut jobs. "When machines become more complex, people can move on to new things."

Toyota is also promoting automatic production lines not only to cut costs but also improve the quality of products.

Recently, Toyota has proven that welding tasks are made much faster and more accurate thanks to instant laser printing technology. Toyota applies this technology in the production of Lexus.

GS. Akihito Sano of the Nagoya Institute of Technology says that Japan needs to do some additional tasks to perfect the extremely complex automation technology in which robots can replace people completely.