"Production Speed UP"... How Small Manufacturing Businesses Become 'Smart'

Naturemedi, Automation System Introduced
Participation in Small Enterprise and Market Service's 'Smart Workshop Technology Dissemination' Project
"Mass Production Possible... New Product Planning Underway"

So Hyun-ah, CEO of Naturemedi (pictured), has suffered from the three major allergic diseases?rhinitis, atopy, and asthma?since childhood. With the thought of "Let me cure my own illness," she studied aromatherapy and obtained certification. After testing it on her own body, her rhinitis disappeared within a year. Having experienced the effects of aromatherapy firsthand, CEO So founded her company in 2014. She produces cosmetics and air fresheners using aromas such as eucalyptus and lavender. CEO So stated, "Recently, we have been focusing on functional products that help improve skin conditions in infants and young children," adding, "Our goal is to solve parenting problems through aroma technology."

Last year, CEO So introduced an automation system into the production process to increase the output of children's room sprays. Until then, the room sprays had been handmade by two employees. While searching extensively for ways to establish automated equipment, she learned about the "Smart Workshop Technology Diffusion Project" implemented by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Small Enterprise and Market Service).

She was able to overcome a 5-to-1 competition ratio by directly discovering equipment suppliers and submitting a business plan. Selected as a project recipient, she established automated devices such as material mixers, fillers, automatic labelers, and a software program (MES) to control and manage the production process. Although she had to bear 30% of the project cost, she received government funding of 49 million KRW.

Since adopting smart technology, Naturemedi has greatly improved production efficiency. The process that used to take 10 hours to produce 200 room sprays can now be completed in 87 minutes. CEO So said, "With the possibility of mass production lines, we are planning new air freshener products using natural aroma scents."

Since 2020, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has been supporting companies facing production difficulties through the Smart Workshop Technology Diffusion Project. It targets small business owners with fewer than 10 regular employees engaged in manufacturing. Legally, they are referred to as "urban small manufacturers." Last year, the project budget was 61.2 billion KRW (supporting 1,250 companies), and this year it increased to 73.5 billion KRW (supporting 1,500 companies). The maximum project cost per company is 70 million KRW.

Eight out of ten domestic manufacturers are urban small manufacturers, with 1.18 million workers. However, most operate with insufficient capital or in poor environments. CEO So said, "I would like to recommend the Smart Workshop support project to other manufacturing small business owners around me," adding, "It is necessary to prepare by clearly planning the business plan in advance."

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