"AI Automates Manufacturing"… GS Caltex Aims to Optimize Processes

GS Caltex Develops 'AI Platform' as National Project Led by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
Aims for Demonstration by End of 2028... Two-Phase Implementation
"Expected to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions"

GS Caltex is embarking on the establishment of an AI (Artificial Intelligence) autonomous manufacturing platform to optimize refining and petrochemical industry processes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

On the 13th, GS Caltex announced that it is promoting the 'AI Autonomous Manufacturing Platform Establishment' as part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's national project, the 'AI Autonomous Manufacturing Leading Project.' AI autonomous manufacturing refers to a manufacturing environment that implements production advancement by integrating AI technology with robots and other manufacturing processes. One advantage of AI autonomous manufacturing is that it can optimize production systems from mass production of a few varieties to multi-variety personalized production systems.

A view of the GS Caltex Yeosu Plant located in Jeollyang-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do. Photo by GS Caltex

This national project involves collaboration among GS Caltex, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Pusan National University, Kyung Hee University, Hanyang University, Jeollanam-do Province, and Yeosu City. GS Caltex is responsible for developing and demonstrating the AI autonomous manufacturing platform. Refining and petrochemical processes are characterized by generating vast amounts of real-time data and complex interactions among each unit process. GS Caltex plans to develop an AI model that derives optimal operation strategies by calculating raw material input amounts, product yields, and carbon dioxide emissions based on real-time data from each process.

GS Caltex will carry out the project until the end of 2028, dividing it into two phases. In the first phase, operational data for each refining and petrochemical process will be collected and analyzed to develop AI optimization models for each unit process based on this data. In the second phase, an integrated AI autonomous manufacturing platform for all processes will be established, and demonstration work will be conducted at the Yeosu plant.

Earlier, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the 'AI Autonomous Manufacturing Strategy 1.0' in May last year, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic manufacturing industry based on AI, and launched the 'AI Autonomous Manufacturing Alliance' in July of the same year. The AI Autonomous Manufacturing Alliance consists of 12 key industry sectors in Korea. GS Caltex was selected as the leading company (anchor company) in the petrochemical industry sector.

A GS Caltex official said, "Through the application of AI technology in factories so far and the current promotion of establishing the AI autonomous manufacturing platform, we have accelerated our digital transformation."

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