LG Innotek utilizes AI to optimize manufacturing process

LG Innotek succeeded in dramatically reducing the defect rate in the manufacturing of its high-end camera modules by utilizing AI technology, the company said Thursday.

The company began developing a technology that uses AI to predict defects that often occur during the initial mass production of high-priced new products in 2021.

Thanks to the introduction of AI, LG Innotek is expected to shorten the time it takes to mass produce products that require difficult manufacturing processes, allowing the company to further solidify its position as the global leading camera module maker.

LG Innotek has been developing an AI process recipe that predicts process failures in advance since 2021.

Before using AI, the company had to repeat the modification and sample production processes several times, which can take more than 72 hours, to find a new manufacturing recipe when it detects a defect in the early stages of the mass production of camera modules.

However, after applying AI, the process was reduced by more than 92 percent to less than 6 hours, and the defect rate was reduced by up to 90 percent in key inspection items that previously had a high defect detection rate, the company said.

“We trained our AI on tens of millions of camera module process-related data to find an optimal manufacturing recipe,” a company spokesperson said. “These data assets will perform a critical role in driving the company's quality capabilities going forward.”

The AI helps the firm enhance its cost competitiveness as it has reduced the failure cost required to correct defects after mass production.

LG Innotek's operating profit for the first quarter was 176 billion ($127.5 million), up 21.1 percent from the same period last year and the company attributed this performance to the innovation of the camera module manufacturing process through AI technology.

The company added it plans to expand the application of AI to the semiconductor substrates manufacturing process this year.

“We will continue to innovate digital manufacturing processes utilizing advanced AI and strengthen our position as a global technology innovator that makes our customers No. 1 globally with overwhelming technology, quality and production competitiveness,” Moon Hyuk-soo, CEO of the company, said.