Gu Ja-eun, Head of LS Future Innovation Division, "Dongje Ryeon Smart Factory, a Role Model for Digital Innovation"

Gu Ja-eun, Head of Future Innovation Division of LS Group and Chairman of LS Mtron, visited the LS Nikko Dongjin Onsan Smelter on the 23rd and toured the DCS (Open Bidirectional Control System) control room of the Dongjin Smart Factory (ODS).

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Koo Ja-eun, Head of Future Innovation Division of LS Group and Chairman of LS Mtron, visited the LS Nikko Dong Smelting Onsan Smelter on the 23rd, a site showcasing the group's future preparation strategy of 'digital transformation,' to encourage employees amid the COVID-19 crisis and urge them to achieve results.

About 50 related personnel attended the event, including Chairman Koo, the Head of Business Strategy Division (CSO) of LS Corporation, the Head of Value Management Division, and the Smelter Manager of LS Nikko Dong Smelting. Do Seok-gu, President of LS Nikko Dong Smelting, demonstrated the first phase results of the 'Smelting Smart Factory (ODS)' project, which has been underway since 2017.

The ODS project of LS Nikko Dong Smelting is part of the digital transformation initiative aimed at advancing the smelting business based on data and becoming the global number one smelter by introducing digital innovation technologies across all production areas. Since the vision declaration in 2017, LS Nikko Dong Smelting has established a master plan and built the first phase of the smart factory platform from last year through this year. The goal is to achieve optimization and autonomous operation by 2023.

Among the total three-stage roadmap, the currently ongoing first stage involves the introduction of ▲MES (Manufacturing Execution System) ▲APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling system for optimal raw material combination) ▲DCS (Distributed Control System with open bidirectional control), marking the initial step of integrating digital technology into the three core competitive strengths of the smelter.

After witnessing the demonstration of the first phase results and visiting the DCS control room, Chairman Koo said, "LS Nikko Dong Smelting’s ODS reinterprets and implements digital technology tailored to the smelting industry by its employees, presenting a good role model within the group on how the digital transformation, a key task of LS, should be promoted." He added, "This successful experience in digital transformation will be an important differentiating weapon in achieving the vision of 'Global No. 1 Smelter.'"

He also urged, "With clear vision and leadership centered on the CEO, accelerating future innovation is essential to lead a fundamental and sustainable digital transformation journey." He requested, "All employees of LS Nikko Dong Smelting should continue to strive through the second phase of expansion and advancement and the third phase of optimization and autonomy so that the company can further strengthen its leadership as a global standard in the smelting smart factory field."

Koo Ja-yeol, Chairman of LS Group, is leading digital transformation as a future strategy at the group level to transform into a company strong in digital by integrating artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and smart energy technologies into the traditional manufacturing sector in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Chairman Koo Ja-eun has also been focusing on promoting the group’s key future strategy of digital transformation and spreading Agile management techniques since early last year when she took the position of head of the newly established Future Innovation Division within the holding company.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.