Introducing the world's first cleaning method using an AI image diagnostic CBM system to a commercial facility - From TBM to CBM, building a new cleaning workflow -

JR East Environmental Access Co., Ltd. (Head office: Taito-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Hitoshi Suzuki; hereinafter referred to as "JEA") and Macnica (Head office: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter referred to as Macnica") have developed an AI image diagnostic CBM ^​* 1 system (hereinafter referred to as "CBM system") after more than three years of joint testing with the JR East Group to realize JEA's vision of "overcoming the worsening labor shortage through business reform using CBM, which optimizes cleaning timing and methods." Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that from October 1, 2025, the world's first ^{* 2} innovative cleaning method utilizing the CBM system will begin operation at "Perie Chiba," a station building-type commercial facility directly connected to JR Chiba Station.

■Background
As Japan's super-aging society progresses, the cleaning industry, including JEA, is facing a serious labor shortage problem. This issue is making it difficult for cleaning companies to continue their business, and new solutions are being sought across the industry. In this situation, Macnica deeply sympathizes with JEA's approach of "solving industry-wide issues through business transformation based on CBM, which performs cleaning at the optimal time and in the optimal way," and began working with JEA in 2021.

■Introduction
Specifically, regular cleaning of floors ^{* 3} To achieve CBM in the future, we have focused on the following three initiatives.

1. Establishment of quality evaluation standards: Establishment of evaluation standards for determining whether cleaning is necessary, which do not exist in the industry.
② Development of an AI image diagnosis CBM system: By taking a photo of a specific floor surface with a smartphone, the AI will be able to judge its aesthetic condition with the same accuracy as the "master's eye" of a skilled cleaner.
3) Establishment of new business operations: Establishment of new operations that handle everything from data collection to judgment and cleaning implementation.

As a result of these three initiatives, the company has been able to move away from the time-based maintenance (TBM) method commonly used in the industry and transition to CBM, which performs cleaning at the optimal time based on objective evaluations using AI, establishing a system that can mitigate labor shortages while maintaining quality.
Tests conducted at multiple facilities, including commercial buildings and train stations, demonstrated that the CBM system can maintain the beauty of facilities through focused cleaning of areas that are prone to getting dirty and through new operational practices, leading to its full-scale implementation at Perie Chiba.

■Operation
On-site cleaners take photographs of the floors in designated locations at regular intervals and check the evaluation results using the CBM system. If the evaluation results of the location fall below the standard, an action plan is formulated based on the evaluation results. The target area is then cleaned based on the implementation plan.

Future
New business operations based on the CBM system will encourage cleaning companies to utilize various technologies and be more creative, while also helping them move away from a cost structure that is proportional to labor costs and becoming a foundation for sustainable business operations.
Going forward, JEA and Macnica will transform the culture of cleaning by pioneering the social implementation of "Floor Cleaning x Regular Cleaning CBM," while also contributing to the resolution of a wide range of social issues by applying CBM concepts and technologies to other cleaning tasks.
This CBM system is currently patent pending and aims to set a new standard in the cleaning industry.

*1: CBM (Condition-Based Maintenance): A maintenance method that involves continuous monitoring and maintenance according to the "condition." On the other hand, TBM (Time-Based Maintenance) is a maintenance method that involves time-based maintenance. It is a maintenance method that involves maintenance at regular "periods." In the cleaning industry, the mainstream cleaning flow involves cleaning work at regular intervals to maintain aesthetic appearance.

*2: According to Macnica

*3: Regular cleaning: Cleaning work carried out at medium- to long-term intervals to maintain the hygiene and beauty of a facility. It often includes specialized work that cannot be done on a daily basis, such as washing and waxing floors and cleaning carpets, and plays an important role in the long-term maintenance and management of a facility.

*Company names and product names mentioned in the text are trademarks or registered trademarks of each company.
*The information published in the news release is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that the information may be subject to change without prior notice.