Expansion of Smart Factory
The smart factory project which has been led by Samsung Electronics in North Gyeongsang Province from last year will be expanded through all creative economy and innovation centers across the country in earnest. The number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which introduce the smart factory system is expected to reach 1,000 by the end of next year.
Samsung Electronics announced the results of smart factory construction project in two creative economy and innovation centers in North Jeolla and Incheon on April 28.
The smart factory project is designed to improve the competitiveness of SMEs in the regions by transferring Samsung Electronics’ expertise in manufacturing technology to them. In August last year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Samsung Electronics jointly created funds by donating 15 billion won (US$13.16 million) each for two years to private and public joint smart factory promotion team. Starting from October, they have selected Samsung Electronics’ 150 experts in the field innovation, plant operation system and manufacturing technology sectors and supported the smart factory extension project.
As of the end of last month, Samsung Electronics completed the smart factory system construction in 140 companies in North Gyeongsang Province. Based on this, the company has selected 450 SMEs through creative economy and innovation centers across the country from earlier this year and opened the first smart plant in North Jeolla and Incheon each.
An official from Samsung Electronics said, “According to a survey of firms in North Gyeongsang Province, the productivity increased by 142 percent, while the defection rate decreased by 79 percent after adopting the smart factory system. We will expand the achievement of smart factories to all over the country this year.”