"SOKEIZAI" is a newly-created Japanese word that denotes those products made of metal or other raw materials by using material processing methods which apply force or heat to raw materials against some molds or dies to fabricate them into almost the net shape of the product in a single or short-time operation.Metal-based Sokeizai are largely classified into four categories using distinctive processing methods, i.e. casting, forging, metal stamping and powder metallurgy. Many of these products are supplied to the automobile and other machinery industries as components and parts.Activities of the Materials Process Technology Center (Sokeizai Center) covers not only the sokeizai producing industry but also those "sokeizai-related" industries which are essential for those processes as casting, forging, metal stamping and power metallurgy, including i) industries manufacturing wooden patterns and metal molds and dies, ii) industries manufacturing casting, forging and metal stamping machinery and industrial furnaces, and iii) the metal heat treatment industry.