Import Substitution Effect Through Core Technology Development... Upgrading National Competitiveness

The 46th National Productivity Conference
Reviewing Individual Sector Industrial Awards and Presidential Citations

At the 46th National Productivity Conference held on the 3rd at the Seoul Federation of Korean Industries Conference Center, An Wanki, Chairman of the Korea Productivity Center, is delivering the opening address.

At the 46th National Productivity Awards, business leaders who enhanced corporate competitiveness through productivity improvements in the industrial field and contributed to national economic development were honored with awards.

Hwang Seong-ho, CEO of Samhyeon, who received the Industrial Medal in the individual category, achieved an import substitution effect of approximately 10 billion KRW over three years by developing and domesticating the core technology of the automotive part ‘SBW actuator.’ The company invests more than 10% of its annual sales intensively in research and development (R&D) and focuses on strengthening global competitiveness, generating about 30% of its sales through exports. Additionally, last year, compared to 2018, the overall production efficiency increased by 14 percentage points, and production per person rose by 54%. This year, the company was selected for the K-Smart Lighthouse Factory program hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and is accelerating the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI) smart factory.

Park Yoon-ha, CEO of Wookyung Information Technology, who also received the Industrial Medal, developed various solutions through active R&D investment in future core technologies such as AI, big data, blockchain, and cloud computing. Using the deep learning-based AI solutions developed, the company actively responds to increasingly sophisticated security threats, protecting public safety in the fields of law enforcement and disaster management. With advanced ICT convergence technology, it also provides user-customized services in various sectors such as smart cities, transportation, agriculture, and factories. Having proven its technological capabilities in the public sector, the company is promoting the expansion of intelligent video analysis-based services through the advancement of video analysis technology and continuously strengthens product competitiveness through ongoing new technology development.

Gu Ja-cheon, Chairman of Shinseong Delta Tech, who received the Presidential Citation, was highly praised for securing specialized technology in the injection molding field and establishing an automated and informatized system, laying the foundation for an intelligent autonomous factory. Through automation of heavy object handling, the company improved workers’ working conditions and contributed to exports. Chairman Gu also recognized the need for work innovation not only on the manufacturing floor but also in office spaces, adding automation processes to simple and repetitive tasks.

Kim Dae-hwan, CEO of Ace E&T, also received the Presidential Citation. Kim founded Ace E&T in 2004, focusing on design and shipbuilding and offshore plant businesses, and has concentrated on nurturing engineering talent and revitalizing research and development. Leading industrial innovation through renewable energy and detergent development, the company has achieved over 10% annual sales growth. It possesses the best domestic technology and experience in ship air conditioning systems and has expanded its business into developing engineering IT software that integrates 4th Industrial Revolution IT technologies.

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