IBM to partner with Toyota Tsusho for waste disposal and recycling

IBM has announced that it will to help create, operate and maintain Toyota Tsusho Corporation's new 'Waste Disposal and Resource Recycling System'. Toyota Tsusho is the trading unit for the Toyota Group, which includes Toyota Motor and auto parts maker DENSO.Toyota Tsusho will provide the system as an application service provider (ASP), and it will be managed by a Toyota Tsusho subsidiary, which will be newly founded in line with the launch. Additionally, Toyota Tsusho will provide its clients with in-house management capabilities of secondary products by building the 'Waste Disposal and Resource Recycling System,' which manages the disposing status consistently through the entire disposing process of industrial wastes. Toyota Tsusho will also provide business consulting and training services related to waste control by exploiting the production business know-how owned by the company.IBM will handle the development, operations and maintenance for the launch and operations of the Waste Disposal and Resource Recycling System. IBM will leverage its information technology infrastructure and skills to maintain stable and continuous system operation as the system is provided on the internet and on the Japanese Automotive Network eXchange (JNX). IBM will also help Toyota Tsusho shorten the development period and lower the development and operational cost of the system.The agreement was signed in December of 2007 and is planned to launch in April 2008.