Minister Han Seongsuk Visits SMEs to Gather Feedback on Digital Transformation Policies

Visit to ID Mode in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul on the 14th
Gathering Opinions on the Designation System for Specialized Smart Manufacturing Companies

Han Seongsuk, Minister of SMEs and Startups, visited the field to assess the progress of digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to gather feedback on related policies.

Han Seongsuk, Minister of SMEs and Startups, is delivering a greeting at the "Policy Field Tour for Revitalizing the Venture Ecosystem" held on the 13th at the Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

On the 14th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that Minister Han had visited ID Mode in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul as the third destination of her policy field tour for the SME sector, where she directly confirmed the achievements of digital transformation on site. She also listened to the opinions of various stakeholders, including experts on the soon-to-be-established designation system for specialized smart manufacturing companies, companies that have adopted smart factories, and smart manufacturing solution providers.

The policy field tour for the SME sector is a series of on-site visits conducted in a relay format by Minister Han to ensure that the voices from the field are reflected in policy. On the 1st, she held a roundtable on measures to eradicate technology theft in SMEs, and on the 6th, she visited an export-oriented company. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to continue holding additional tours, focusing on areas within the SME sector that require urgent attention.

ID Mode, the company visited on this day, has established an Internet of Things (IoT)-based equipment monitoring, process analysis, and production history management system, which has increased equipment utilization rates and reduced defect rates by more than half, thereby demonstrating improvements in productivity and quality through digital technology. The company plans to further enhance productivity by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for new product planning, defect detection, and production planning.

Particularly noteworthy is that the apparel and fabric manufacturing sector, which has seen its competitiveness weakened due to low-cost competition from China and other countries, is now regaining its edge by achieving productivity improvements and quality upgrades through digital transformation. This is being evaluated as a case that highlights the future potential of traditional manufacturing industries through digital process innovation.

During the on-site roundtable, there was an explanation of the designation system for specialized smart manufacturing companies, and experts, smart manufacturing solution providers, and companies that have adopted smart factories freely shared suggestions to enhance the effectiveness of the system.

The designation system for specialized smart manufacturing companies is a new system to be established to identify and designate solution providers with the technical capabilities to support the digital transformation of SMEs, such as smart factories, and to systematically support their growth into globally competitive specialized companies. Designated companies will receive customized support at each stage, including R&D, policy funding, financial assistance, and market access. The institutional foundation will be further strengthened through the enactment of the Smart Manufacturing Industry Promotion Act in the future.

Companies participating in the roundtable proposed several measures: securing global competitiveness for manufacturing AI technology providers; expanding data collection and AI technology adoption among small manufacturers; fostering AI professionals with hands-on manufacturing experience; providing ongoing support for the operation and utilization of digital transformation equipment and systems introduced in small manufacturing sites; and developing industrial accident prevention measures for SMEs using AI. In response, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups pledged to actively incorporate these suggestions into future policies and to further detail plans to support digital and AI transformation and foster solution providers.

Minister Han stated, "Through today's visit to ID Mode, I confirmed that digital transformation is delivering tangible results in small manufacturing companies, regardless of industry or company size, and that productivity can be further enhanced through the adoption of AI technology." She emphasized, "For this transformation to spread throughout the small manufacturing sector, the role of smart manufacturing solution providers-who best understand the field and can implement technology-is extremely important." She added, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will establish institutional and legal support systems to foster smart manufacturing solution providers and build an industrial ecosystem, thereby accelerating the digital and AI transformation of small manufacturing companies."

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