Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Apple brings Silicon Valley smarts to Korean factory floors
A promotional poster for the SME Week event to be hosted by the Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in June / Courtesy of POSTECH
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Apple will host a three-day intensive program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at its Manufacturing R&D Support Center in Pohang next month, offering local factories free access to the tech giant’s engineering expertise.
The event, called "SME Week," scheduled for June 9-11, aims to modernize Korea's traditional supply chains through artificial intelligence and carbon-neutral production strategies.
The initiative, to be hosted at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) campus, moves beyond theoretical research to address the gritty technical challenges of the factory floor. While Apple is best known for its consumer hardware, this center — the first of its kind globally — is dedicated to the "smart" evolution of its partners, focusing on optimizing algorithms, streamlining logistics and integrating machine learning into quality control.
The event will feature a keynote by professor Ahn Hee-kap, a leading artificial intelligence expert at POSTECH, followed by sessions led by industry veterans from Kolon Industries on sustainable manufacturing. These topics have become increasingly critical for smaller firms looking to maintain their standing in a global market defined by aggressive digital transformation and strict environmental standards.
"This SME Week is a platform to share practical strategies that businesses can actually apply, particularly regarding AI transformation and carbon neutrality," said Kim Deok-young, the center’s director.
The program also offers hands-on training in the center’s specialized "Smart Labs." Engineers will demonstrate how large language models and vision-based machine learning can be used to diagnose production bottlenecks and implement Lean manufacturing principles.
On the final day, the center will provide one-on-one consulting, allowing individual factory owners to receive bespoke evaluations of their manufacturing environments. By removing the financial barriers to high-level research and development, Apple is attempting to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley’s technological frontier and the essential Korean workshops.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.