Firms eye manufacturing consortium - UPI.com TOKYO, June 29 (UPI) -- A Memorandum of Understanding to create a consortium for industrial-scale manufacturing technology and processes has been signed in Japan. Partners in the venture are Boeing and its three major Japanese airframe partners -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries -- and the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo. Boeing said initial efforts of the group will be on development of machining and drilling process technology for titanium, aluminum and composite materials. "The parties' aim is to form a consortium for manufacturing innovation within IIS to tackle manufacturing issues common across different industries in current and future production," Boeing said. The cooperation builds on the research capabilities of IIS, the expertise of the industrial partners in aerospace manufacturing and the desire by all to enhance the skills and capabilities of Japanese industry. The details of financial investment and management have yet to be fully developed but the aim is an initial commitment of five years. Industrial members would fund research and also compete for government research grants.