[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 6th that the voluntary win-win cooperation project called 'Jasanghan Company,' which is being promoted to realize the values of coexistence and mutual growth, is shining in the mask production phase amid the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) crisis.
Samsung Electronics, a Jasanghan Company that signed a win-win cooperation agreement with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Federation of SMEs, dispatched its own mentors to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) such as Hwajin Industry, which is promoting smart factories, to support the improvement of mask production when a mask shortage occurred due to COVID-19.
The mentors dispatched to SMEs are composed of production equipment experts with an average of 25 years of experience. Through production process improvement, efficiency enhancement, and technical guidance, they helped mask manufacturers maximize production volume in a short period without additional investment.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the productivity of mask manufacturers E&W, Restec, Evergreen, and Hwajin Industry, which received smart factory support, greatly improved, with the total daily production of the four companies increasing by 51%, from 920,000 to 1,390,000 units.
Samsung Electronics experts provided not only technical support such as setting up new equipment and resolving momentary stoppages of existing equipment but also directly manufactured necessary tools on-site, such as workbenches. They also connected filter suppliers and received mold production support from Samsung Electronics Mold Center, greatly contributing to practical productivity improvement.
Support applications are continuing not only from mask manufacturers but also from manufacturers of hand sanitizers, medical safety goggles, and diagnostic kits. As of the 31st of last month, a total of 30 companies applied for support: 14 mask companies, 8 hand sanitizer companies, 3 medical safety goggle companies, 2 diagnostic kit companies, and 3 other medical device manufacturers.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Federation of SMEs plan to take measures to provide fast-track support to these companies as well. Samsung Electronics will also support the rapid dispatch of mentors to provide technical guidance for productivity improvement.
Jasanghan Companies are voluntary win-win cooperation companies that share their infrastructure, win-win programs, and know-how with partner companies, non-trading companies, small businesses, and self-employed individuals.
The Jasanghan Companies selected by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups include Naver, POSCO, Shinhan Financial Group, KB Kookmin Bank, Woori Bank, SoftBank Ventures, Samsung Electronics, KEB Hana Bank, Korea Rail Network Authority, Hyundai·Kia Motors, and Korea Aerospace Industries.
Jo Juhyun, head of the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Planning Group at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "We expect that the production volume of COVID-19 related product manufacturers who received smart factory support, promoted jointly by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Jasanghan Company Samsung Electronics, will greatly increase, stabilizing the supply of not only masks but also hand sanitizers and diagnostic kits."
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