POSCO has been chosen as the" Lighthouse Factory" that will lead the future of the world's manufacturing industry. It is the first time that a South Korean company has been selected as a lighthouse factory.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) selected POSCO as the world's "Lighthouse Factory" at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, from July 1-3.
Lighthouse Factory refers to a factory that actively introduces core technologies of the fourth industrial revolution such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data to lead the future of the world manufacturing industry, and the WEF has reviewed factories around the world twice a year since last year.
Previously, 16 factories were listed as lighthouse factories in the world, nine in Europe, five in China, one in the United States, one in Saudi Arabia. The world's leading companies such as Siemens, BMW, Johnson & Johnson and Foxconn were selected. With this announcement, 10 new lighthouse factories around the world, including POSCO, have been added to the list.
POSCO is applying artificial intelligence technology to improve productivity and quality in the steel industry, the WEF said, adding that POSCO is also creating its own smart factory platform for the steel industry by building an ecosystem of cooperation with universities, small and medium enterprises and startups.
Since taking office last year, POSCO Chairman Choi Jung-woo has been actively leading the construction of the company's smart factory system, saying, "To continue to provide the world's best premium products and services, we will strengthen the world's best competitiveness by applying effective smart technologies throughout the ecosystem and focusing on establishing a safe and economical production system."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy designated POSCO's CGL plated automatic control technology and smart furnace technology as the core technology of Korea and regarded its smart factory technology as a core capability of the Korean manufacturing industry.
With the selection of the Lighthouse Factory at the WEF, POSCO will be able to gain global recognition for its technological prowess in producing the highest-quality world top premium products, while also contributing to enhancing Korea's status as a technologically advanced country.