The South Korean government has initiated a comprehensive plan to systematically support the transition of private companies to AI autonomous manufacturing. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEJONG, Mar. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – Amid intense global competition, particularly from the United States and China, in the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing sector, the South Korean government has initiated a comprehensive plan to systematically support the transition of private companies to AI autonomous manufacturing.
During a meeting held in Seoul on March 7, chaired by Deputy Minister Kang Kyung-sung and attended by representatives from companies such as LG Electronics, LS Electric, DN Solutions, and MakinaRocks, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced the commencement of the ‘AI Autonomous Manufacturing Masterplan.’
The concept of ‘AI autonomous manufacturing’ introduced by the ministry aims to significantly enhance onsite productivity in the manufacturing sector by integrating manufacturing processes with AI technology.
The plan focuses on the radical innovation of manufacturing processes through intelligent AI autonomous production, advanced equipment integration, and the unification of autonomous manufacturing systems.
While South Korea has already seen substantial automation in various industrial fields, such as automotive and semiconductors, through extensive use of robots, these automations are largely limited to executing fragmented production procedures.
The vision of AI autonomous manufacturing goes beyond, aiming for a holistic integration of industrial AI, a variety of onsite equipment, and data to manage the entire process automatically.
To drive the development of AI autonomous manufacturing, the ministry plans to identify key elements based on an analysis of major manufacturing processes.
These include systems combining industrial data and AI, integration and network connectivity of production equipment at various stages, and software and algorithm structures for system integration.
The AI Autonomous Manufacturing Masterplan, which will also encompass a government-wide collaboration plan, is set to be established within the first half of this year.
Additionally, pilot projects targeting one or two industries per region will be conducted to foster equipment innovation and AI software development tailored to the manufacturing sector’s needs.
The AI Autonomous Manufacturing Task Force, a consultative body involving the government and corporations to discuss technology development, financial support, and workforce training, will also be formed in the first half of the year.
Furthermore, the government is committed to providing a legal framework for package support across technology development, workforce training, financial assistance, and regulatory innovation to facilitate the adoption and expansion of AI autonomous manufacturing.
Andre Yoon, CEO of MakinaRocks, emphasized at the meeting the pivotal role of industrial AI and robotics technologies in the future competitiveness of manufacturing.
Deputy Minister Kang Kyung-sung assured strong support from the government to incorporate AI into manufacturing, enabling a significant leap forward for the Korean manufacturing industry.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
