[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has helped build smart factories for 105 small and medium enterprises during the first half of the year, the company said July 4.

Starting with support to 120 SMEs in North Gyeongsang Province last year, the electronics company has accelerated its steps to build smart factories in other regions including Gyeonggi Province, Jeolla provinces and Chungcheong Province, with the total number currently reaching 225.
 

The tech giant said it aims to spread its manufacturing technology know-how to SMEs focusing on factory running system, automatic manufacturing system and production process simulation.

The smart factory business helped SMEs boost working efficiency and make significant achievements, according to the data compiled by Samsung Electronics.

One such firm is Saehan Tungsten. The lighting material company, which implemented a smart factory from April to June, improved its productivity 60 percent, reduced working hours 14 percent, and returning products rate dropped 44 percent, aided by the Manufacturing Execution System.

Samsung Electronics has joined hands with Contents Korea Lab in reach region for smart factory business and was supported by the Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy and Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

The tech giant has set a target of 1,000 smart factories across the country by the next year and has pooled 30 billion won (US$26.1 million) with the Industry Ministry investing half the amount.

By Park Yuna (yunapark@heraldcorp.com)