[AI Era, Jobs Are Changing] LG Smart Factory Demonstrates Coexistence: "In the End, Humans Are the Link"

Hwang Wonjae, Head of Smart Factory Business Development at LG
"Continuous Change in Manufacturing Lines, Like a Living Organism"
"Human Roles Are Crucial for AI to Perform Optimally"
LG Electronics Equips Entire Workforce with Company-Wide

Editor's NoteThe use of artificial intelligence (AI) in industrial sites, including manufacturing, is expected to become the biggest topic in the industry this year. AI, already deployed in manufacturing sites, has proven to be a driving force in improving productivity. This year, its scope will expand significantly. However, concerns about job losses are emerging alongside AI-driven production innovation. As the concept of the so-called "Dark Factory," where production occurs without human intervention, becomes increasingly realistic, the possibility of full automation is growing. Nevertheless, The Asia Business Daily has found that job changes in AI-powered manufacturing sites are complex. Machines handle repetitive and hazardous tasks, while humans are responsible for judgment, management, and accountability, resulting in a clear division of roles. Rather than displacing humans, AI is beginning to redefine jobs. The AI era presents not only challenges of productivity and technological competition but also the task of job transformation. The Asia Business Daily visited industrial sites in the new year to observe firsthand the changes in jobs brought about by AI.

"AI and humans must collaborate and coexist on the manufacturing floor. While AI can perform tasks quickly and accurately, humans are essential for handling new processes, addressing errors, and ensuring that AI solutions perform optimally across the entire manufacturing process. If AI is a 'dot,' humans are the 'connectors' linking those dots."

Hwang Wonjae, Executive Director in charge of Smart Factory Business Development at LG Electronics' Production Technology Institute, is giving an interview to The Asia Business Daily at LG Digital Park in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. LG Electronics

Hwang Wonjae, Executive Director in charge of Smart Factory Business Development at LG Electronics' Production Technology Institute, recently met with The Asia Business Daily at LG Digital Park in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. He stated, "While all manufacturing plants may aspire to become dark factories, humans can never be completely excluded or replaced. It is crucial to establish a virtuous cycle where AI performs repetitive tasks quickly and accurately, while humans oversee the entire process and handle situation assessment and responses that go beyond technical monitoring."

As AI spreads into manufacturing sites, both production methods and workforce structures are rapidly changing. From real-time data-driven predictive maintenance to process optimization, smart factories-where AI performs key functions-have become a reality. Now, the era of the "dark factory," where plants operate completely unmanned 24 hours a day, is approaching. Although it may seem that AI could replace all human roles, the reality on the ground is different. In fact, coexistence is being emphasized.

"Why Humans Are Essential: The Constantly Changing Manufacturing Line"

At LG Smart Park in Changwon, Gyeongnam, employees are checking the operational status and potential errors of the production line through digital twin and Production Intelligence & Execution (PIE) platforms. LG Electronics

Hwang, who emphasizes "coexistence," bases his perspective on the 4Ms (Man, Machine, Material, Method) of the manufacturing line, referring to the four key components: workforce, equipment, raw materials, and processes. He explained, "With the launch of new products, technological advancements, and the emergence of previously unseen errors, the 4Ms of the manufacturing line are in a state of constant change. In such situations, human decision-making is necessary for AI solutions to function properly."

This means that when situations arise on the ever-changing manufacturing line that AI has not learned, human creativity and know-how become indispensable. Hwang described the partnership between AI and humans by saying, "The manufacturing line is like a living organism." He added, "If AI takes over dangerous tasks and increases production efficiency, humans will shift toward more creative and high value-added production activities."

A prime example is the "Lighthouse Factory," LG Smart Park, located in Changwon, Gyeongnam. In the integrated production building for refrigerators, a digital twin predicts the process status 10 minutes into the future like a time machine, while the intelligent inspection platform (PIE) analyzes and presents real-time data. Inside the factory, three-dimensional logistics systems such as logistics robots (AGVs) and overhead conveyors (OHTs) are in operation. Previously, automation meant robots simply repeated actions at fixed locations, but now, with technologies like vision recognition, mixed-model production on a single line has become possible.

Hwang Wonjae: "To Enhance Manufacturing Competitiveness, AI Cost Efficiency Must Be Pursued"

Hwang Wonjae, Executive Director in charge of Smart Factory Business Development at LG Electronics' Production Technology Institute, is giving an interview to The Asia Business Daily at LG Digital Park in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. LG Electronics

Hwang offered a realistic perspective on unmanned factories known as "dark factories." He pointed out, "Even at the Changwon plant, which collects data from thousands of points, if you look at each section, a de facto dark factory has been implemented. However, someone still needs to oversee and take action based on the digital twin." He continued, "As the barriers to adopting new technologies are lowered, the likelihood of field operations being replaced by AI-based automation solutions increases. However, for manufacturing lines to continue evolving, AI and humans must coexist."

With humans handing over field operations to AI, the focus shifts to how manufacturing know-how can be accumulated as data. Hwang noted, "There are already many technical methods for digitizing expertise on the manufacturing floor," but added, "The bigger obstacle is not technical issues, but cost-specifically, the return on investment." He explained that the key to future manufacturing competitiveness will be how efficiently the entire pipeline-from accumulating skilled workers' know-how as data and applying it to AI, to more critical maintenance and updates-can be managed in terms of cost.

No Distinction Between Research and Office Jobs... Companywide Emphasis on AI Competency

A robot installed at LG Smart Park in Changwon, Gyeongnam is assembling refrigerator doors weighing up to 20 kg instead of humans. LG Electronics

The spread of AI has also impacted workforce retraining and job transitions. LG Electronics has established a policy that all employees, not just those in research and development (R&D), must acquire AI as a basic competency. To this end, the company operates companywide AI transformation (AX) competency assessment and certification systems, as well as training programs, with additional specialized education for each division. The Production Technology Institute is also nurturing experts through university-linked programs.

Hwang Wonjae emphasized that AI competency should be viewed not from a "winning" but a "survival" perspective. He said, "At LG Electronics, all employees, regardless of whether they are in research or office positions, are receiving AI training. We are constantly considering how to enhance efficiency in even simple tasks using AI agents, and how to delegate repetitive tasks to AI so that humans can focus on relatively creative work."