POSCO Donates Talent for 'Smart Factory Construction' for SMEs ... Signs MOU with Pohang City

Support for Building Smart Factories in Local SMEs... Efforts to Enhance Competitiveness of Regional Industry Ecosystem

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 2nd, Pohang City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, signed a 'Business Agreement to Support the Establishment of Smart Factories for POSCO and Small and Medium Enterprises' with Mayor Lee Kang-deok and POSCO CEO Jang In-hwa in attendance.

The signing ceremony was prompted by a visit to POSCO's smart factory in February by related officials, including Vice Mayor Song Kyung-chang of Pohang, to enhance understanding of smart factories, which are the foundation of competitiveness for manufacturing SMEs.

At that time, Vice Mayor Song requested POSCO to support local SMEs in strengthening their competitiveness through the establishment of smart factories based on POSCO's manufacturing know-how. POSCO expressed active support by forming the 'Pohang Smart Manufacturing Innovation Promotion Team' (hereinafter referred to as the Promotion Team), composed of related experts.

Accordingly, the Promotion Team will dispatch professional personnel to hopeful companies recommended by Pohang City to provide on-site technical support. The Promotion Team, which has already begun full-scale activities, consists of about 80 members from five departments: POSCO Technology Research Institute, Equipment and Material Purchasing Office, Production Technology Strategy Office, Equipment Technology Department, and Electrical Equipment Control (EIC) Technology Department.

POSCO CEO Jang In-hwa said, "Based on accumulated on-site know-how, POSCO achieved the distinction of being the first in Korea to be selected as a World Lighthouse Factory last July. We will strive to share this experience with many local SMEs and upgrade the manufacturing sites of SMEs to the next level."

Mayor Lee Kang-deok responded, "POSCO's world-class talent donation activities will be a driving force for community development and a great example. Taking this agreement as an opportunity, we will work together so that many local manufacturing SMEs can establish smart factories and achieve manufacturing innovation that meets the new industrial environment."