Digital Transformation of Toyosu

TokyoMarket’s Sanitation Inspection:
Implementation of an HACCPcompliant system through tablets andcloud computing
Background and Reason for the Project

data was on paper, a large amount of paper was

Due to the revision of the Food Sanitation Act,needed, and there was the chance that papers could

sanitation management in accordance with HACCP

be lost.

(Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) has been

- There were no tools for simple exchange ofmandatory since June 2021, and the number of items

information between the on-site inspection teams orto be inspected during monitoring and guidance has

between the site and the office, making information

increased significantly. To maintain appropriate

sharing and emergency communication difficult.

levels of monitoring and guidance, there was anurgent

needtoreform

operations

through

To solve these issues, a digital transformation team

digitisation.

headed by the director of sanitary inspections wasformed within the inspection team to reform theProject Aims

entire operation, including HACCP-based guidelines,

Utilise ICT technology to improve the overall

using tablets and cloud computing.

efficiency of the sanitation inspection system, inFeatures and Innovations

accordance with HACCP compliance.

A specialized inspection system was developed byProject Outline

on-site staff with the support of ICT personnel using

Toyosu Market originally had the following issues but

no-code/low-code tools and agile development.

was unable to find the best way to address themwhile keeping in line with their everyday operations.

Results of the Project- The results of on-site monitoring and guidance

The following results were achieved through thewere recorded on paper and then later transcribedcreation of various applications such as one to recordinto Excel at the office, which made it difficult toand reference the HACCP implementation status ofcalculate totals and added extra manual work, and iteach store, one to store data, and the construction of

was difficult to check previous guidance records,

a message board feature.

making continuous guidance difficult.
- Those carrying out monitoring and guidance need

1. Improved efficiency and quality of sanitation

to confirm the latest information, but since all theinspections
1

Managing operations has become more efficientwith continuous recording of interviews withoperators and when checking operation records. By
quantifying the level required for each HACCP
guideline, it has also become possible to provide
guidance in a well-structured manner; for example,
by identifying and focusing on those operators whoare behind in their efforts. In addition, software thatallows data to be handwritten directly onto thescreen and an inspection checklist was also added tothe application. By entering interview data on theDigitalised Inspection 1

checklist image on the spot by hand, even detailed
information that cannot be compiled into numerical
data can be stored and referenced with the system.
2. Digitalisation
On-site fish identification has been improved andmade more convenient by digitising the toxic fishcatalogue, which used to be carried on paper, and by
moving it to the cloud together with databases suchas examples of received goods. In addition, the ‘list

Digitalised Inspection 2of shipping restrictions due to shellfish poisoning’,
which previously had to be printed out and carriedby each team each time a notice came in, is now
stored electronically in the cloud, and can bereferenced through the tablet, resulting in asignificant reduction of paper use and the reliable
sharing of the latest information.
3. Revitalised communication
Communication between staff members was difficult
as they work according to the market opening dateInspection Tools

on a rotating shift from early morning inspections(wholesalemarket)

toregularIssues, Problems and Responses

inspections(intermediate wholesalers, etc.). However, it is now

With this project, the use of digital tools changed thepossible to chat and share notices on the app's

very way of doing business and solved the issues thatmessage board regardless of the time or location,

had been present. In addition, inspectors are now

which has helped increased communication within

better able to present information, such as being

the entire team. In addition, information can now beable to answer questions from operators with on-siteshared simultaneously between on-site inspectors,

evidence, a result that is beneficial not only to theinspection teams, and the office, improving crisis

staff but also to the operators.

management measures in the event of an emergency.
2This project has shown the secret to a successful

continue to reflect the opinions of the staff whodigital transformation to be the following:

utilise the system in their daily inspections to• For no-code development, the staff should learn

improve the system, and we will also refer tohow to use the tools and be able to use the standard

successful cases in other offices and municipalities tofunctions on their own, while still receiving

further promote digital transformation in theappropriate support from the ICT staff. This helps in

Wholesale Market Sanitary Inspection Station.

a variety of ways, such as allowing the staff toaccurately communicate necessary functions to theReference URL

ICT staff, and simple improvements can be made on

https://note.com/kouzoukaikaku/n/n316fb9afa927

their own, without waiting for a meeting with the ICT
staff, which dramatically speeds up the development

Contact:process.
• The digital transformation team must have a strong
desire to improve operations. The methods

Division in Charge: Tokyo Metropolitan

proposed by the ICT professionals may not be theGovernment, Bureau of Public Health, Wholesale

best on-site solution. It is also expected that someMarket Sanitary Inspection Station, Inspection

staff members may be uncomfortable with digital

Divisiontechnology. The digital transformation team needs to
Email: S1153901@section.metro.tokyo.jp

be persistent in coordinating with relevant parties toensure a system that is easy for on-site use.
• For no-code development, an agile development
approach is the best choice. This is when a portion of
the data is digitised to start, and then improved upon
while listening to user feedback. It is also important
not to be overzealous in trying to create something
perfect from the start, and for the supervisor tounderstand that it may be necessary to go back andmake corrections.

Future Developments (expected effects,project outlook, and issues)
For this project, the digitalization of sanitation
inspections was achieved by utilising tablets, cloudcomputing, and no-code/low-code tools. ThroughDevOps, a process of repeated user testing andrefinement, a dedicated system was developed andput into use in a short period of 5 months. Currently,
the system continues to evolve, not only monitoring
the seafood market at Toyosu Market, but also
expanding the scope of users to include subbranches and the fruit and vegetable market. We will3