Professor Bu Seok-jun of the School of Computer Engineering at Gyeongsang National University said, "Small and midsize manufacturing companies feel the need for an AI transformation (AX), but they are facing difficulties due to expense burdens, lack of infrastructure, and data shortages." He added, "To overcome infrastructure gaps and move toward an AX transition, we need a model that combines hardware with artificial intelligence (AI)."
Bu made the remarks at the "SME AX Leaders Forum," held on the 26th at the Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong, Seoul, under the theme "Crisis into opportunity, innovation into the future." At the forum, Bu gave a lecture on "Practical AX dissemination in small and midsize manufacturing and voices from the field."
The "SME AX Leaders Forum" is a forum in the small and venture business field first hosted by the economic media outlet of the Chosun Media Group, ChosunBiz. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups, its affiliated agencies, small and midsize enterprise CEOs, and AI experts are participating to assess the current crisis facing small and midsize enterprises and to discuss AX strategies to drive innovation. SME is the English abbreviation for Small and Medium Enterprise, meaning small and midsize enterprises.
Bu said, "Small and midsize manufacturers in the Gyeongnam region expect productivity gains through workflow automation, stronger quality control, and improved safety by introducing AI," but added that "they are struggling with AX due to expense burdens, lack of infrastructure, and lack of data." To that end, Bu conducted a survey of 50 small and midsize to mid-tier companies in the Gyeongnam region.
He went on to explain, by comparing with large corporations, that small and midsize enterprises are having difficulty with AX due to infrastructure gaps. Citing as an example a "solution that detects manufacturing anomalies from in-vehicle noise," he noted, "To identify what problem is causing the noise inside a car and what needs to be replaced, existing infrastructure such as an anechoic chamber, vehicles, and computer equipment must be in place."
To overcome infrastructure differences and promote AX for small and midsize enterprises, he proposed adopting AI combined with "hardware." Bu explained, "If there were AI with hardware that, like a human operator, can visually identify abnormal areas and detect anomalies by ear—a system that has learned all the master technicians' know-how—AX would be possible even without the infrastructure in place."
He added that "long-term support" is needed to ease financial difficulties. Bu stressed, "AI and AX require both equipment and personnel," and "to lower small and midsize enterprises' initial investment, we need to go beyond short-term subsidies and introduce policies to ease the long-term expense structure."
To address the lack of data, he said it is necessary to activate the "AI Manufacturing Data Platform, KAMP," operated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Bu said, "The reason data is not well opened is that the moment it is made public there is a risk of information leakage," adding, "The state or local governments should consider a model in which they purchase data from corporations." He also emphasized actively using the collected data in competitions and other venues.
Finally, Bu said that building an AI ecosystem requires support across the entire cycle. He explained, "We need end-to-end support, such as dispatching experts to the field to collect data, enabling it to be shared and traded using platforms, and holding AI competitions to increase utilization."