"Smart Factory Innovation at a Glance"…Samsung Electronics Hosts 'SmartBiz Expo'

Held at Seoul COEX from 26th to 29th
78 Small and Medium Enterprises Participating

An employee of Punglim Pharmatech, a manufacturer of low dead space syringes for vaccines, is showcasing a mold model used in syringe production.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Samsung Electronics announced on the 27th that the '2021 Smart Biz Expo,' hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and co-organized with the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Fair Trade Commission, and the Smart Factory Promotion Group, will be held at COEX, Seoul until the 29th.

This Smart Biz Expo was organized to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participating in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Korea Federation of SMEs, and Samsung Electronics' 'Smart Factory Construction Support Project' to develop new sales channels. A total of 78 companies from various fields such as quarantine health products, materials-parts-equipment (SoBuJang), and food and beverages are participating.

Samsung Electronics is implementing the Smart Factory support project to enhance the competitiveness and self-sustainability of domestic manufacturing SMEs and mid-sized companies, regardless of transaction status. In particular, it provides comprehensive support including manufacturing site innovation, market development, workforce training, and technical assistance to establish sustainable management systems for SMEs.

Kim Jong-ho, head of Samsung Electronics Smart Factory Support Center, said, "The Smart Factory project is not a one-time support but continues with follow-up management to help SMEs secure self-sustainability, increase sales, and create jobs even after the support is completed." He added, "We will support this event to be a practical help for SMEs struggling with domestic and overseas market development amid the COVID-19 situation."

Operation of Three Themed Zones: K-Quarantine Zone, Family Innovation Zone, and Experience Zone

This exhibition is operated with three themed zones: K-Quarantine Zone, Family Innovation Zone, and Experience Zone. ▲ 15 companies of K-quarantine health products for overcoming COVID-19 (including Poonglim Pharmatech, SD Biosensor, CoGen Biotech, Solgent, etc.) ▲ 5 companies promoting family innovation with partner companies (including Autoswing, SBB Tech, Autoilex, Sunil Safe Manufacturing, DH Global, etc.) ▲ 10 companies in the Experience Zone where visitors can directly experience the technology of SMEs (including NF, Samsong Caster, Mugunghwa Electronics, NJ Company, etc.), along with food and beverage companies such as 'Cookiea (tofu snacks)', 'Bugak Village (seaweed crisps)', 'Korea McNulty (coffee and health foods)', and various household goods and parts companies, forming 38 general booths to showcase innovative products from a total of 78 SMEs.

Notably, Poonglim Pharmatech participating in the K-Quarantine Zone is an SME producing world-class low dead space (LDS) vaccine syringes. At the end of last year, when global demand for COVID-19 vaccine syringes surged, it received emergency support from Samsung Electronics and completed mold production and prototype manufacturing within 4 days, establishing a mass production system capable of producing over 10 million units per month within one month.

This was achieved by utilizing Samsung Electronics' ultra-precision mold and injection technology to improve syringe injection productivity and receiving know-how in manufacturing automatic syringe assembly equipment. According to Samsung Electronics, Poonglim Pharmatech was able to increase productivity by 2.5 times compared to its own production plan (4 million units per month). When vaccinated with LDS syringes, the number of doses per vial of Pfizer vaccine increases from 5 to 6 or more.

Autoswing, participating in the Family Innovation Zone, is a face shield specialist company with 90% export ratio. Facing serious considerations of relocating factories overseas due to weakened domestic manufacturing competitiveness, it promoted 'Family Innovation' with seven partner companies supplying core components, resulting in a 32% increase in productivity and a 49% reduction in process defect rates. Over 60 Samsung Electronics experts transferred know-how over three months.

NF, an oxygen generator manufacturer participating in the Experience Zone, contributed to resolving the oxygen respirator shortage crisis in India in May this year. At that time, India faced a severe shortage of oxygen respirators due to a surge in COVID-19 patients, putting many lives at risk, and it was difficult to increase oxygen generator supply in a short period.

NF urgently switched its production method from working on simple tables to a cell-based system in collaboration with Samsung Electronics and carried out innovation activities to improve quality. As a result, productivity improved by 22% and defect rates decreased by 85% in a short time, enabling timely supply of oxygen generators to India.

Hemunyoung Heo (center), CEO of the facial protective gear manufacturer 'AutoSwing,' is discussing the product under development with Samsung Electronics officials.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

Support for Various Market Development Programs Including Global Promotion and Samsung Direct Trading Market

In addition to hosting the Smart Biz Expo, Samsung Electronics actively supports market development by ▲ introducing companies and promoting products to 105 countries through global broadcasting ▲ continuously matching domestic and overseas buyers ▲ inviting companies to Samsung employees' direct trading markets during holidays ▲ supporting entry into Samsung employees' online malls.

According to Samsung Electronics, products from companies supported by the Smart Factory project have been very popular at in-house direct trading markets held at Samsung business sites nationwide during Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays every year. Starting with sales of 400 million KRW in 2019, sales have increased to about 2 billion KRW annually since last year after switching to an online market.

Previously, Samsung Electronics has been operating the 'Smart Factory Construction Support Project,' a manufacturing environment improvement project for SMEs initiated in 2015, and since 2018, it has evolved into a comprehensive support activity. To support all SMEs and mid-sized companies in need regardless of transactions with Samsung, it has jointly raised 110 billion KRW with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and collaborates with the Korea Federation of SMEs.

Additionally, Samsung Electronics selected about 200 in-house experts in fields such as manufacturing site innovation, factory operation systems, and manufacturing automation. These experts reside or visit supported companies for 8 to 10 weeks, transferring know-how tailored to each company's situation. Furthermore, support is provided for domestic and overseas market development, professional workforce training, technical problem-solving, and smart factory construction maintenance and advancement through the Smart365 Center.

From 2015 to last year, Samsung Electronics supported a total of about 2,500 companies in smart factory construction and plans to support around 300 companies this year as well.

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