LG bets on smart factory initiatives

Workers use LG Uplus' switchboard to diagnose a problem at the telecom firm's center in Incheon. Courtesy of LG Uplus

By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Uplus is pushing forward with "smart factory" initiatives, as the LG telecom affiliate aims to boost sales in its smart factory-oriented business significantly over the next five years.

As many manufacturers believe that productivity gains can be achieved through smart factory initiatives, expectations regarding their advantages are on the steady rise. Because implementation plans must be made before such envisioned productivity gains can indeed be made, with an emphasis on scale, the industry trend is providing new business opportunities for telecom companies.

In an online news conference, a senior LG Uplus executive said the company is planning to expand sales in its smart factory-oriented business sevenfold over the next five years, by teaming up with group units, including LG Electronics and LG Chem.

"We are on track to be a leader in this business, and LG Uplus will try to provide customized solutions to fit diverse businesses and factory sizes," its smart infrastructure unit chief, Seo Jae-yong, said, Thursday.

Simply put, "smart factories" equate to fully embedded, automated solutions that are being used for manufacturing purposes. But the method of building an entire smart factory helps streamline the material flows required for all the specific processes involved in manufacturing, therefore facilitating the efficient flow of materials across the factory floor. The availability of an advanced and fast telecom network is necessary for the smooth operation of smart factory systems.

During the conference, the LG executive said that its 5G (fifth-generation mobile network) and LTE (long-term evolution, 4G)-based wireless communication technologies will help its smart factory clients save costs, via easy monitoring and minimizing waste.

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