"The moment autonomous manufacturing technology where AI makes decisions independently leaps to Level 3 or higher, the market will enter a period of explosive growth."
Byung-dong Yoon, CEO of manufacturing AI specialist ONEPREDICT (pictured), stated during an interview on the 7th in Seocho-dong, Seoul: "Currently, the level of autonomous manufacturing in industrial plants remains at Level 1 to 2, where AI merely assists human operators." Yoon added, "Just as autonomous driving technology like Full Self Driving (FSD) foresees rapid growth by demonstrating Level 3–4 capabilities, AI automation in manufacturing plants faces a similar trajectory. To make the leap within the next 3 to 4 years to Level 3 autonomous manufacturing where autonomy in specific processes is guaranteed we are researching and developing alongside several major enterprises as an industry pioneer."
Yoon, an active professor of Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University, founded ONEPREDICT in 2016 right after the arrival of AlphaGo, deeply realizing the necessity of AI transformation in Korean manufacturing. "Manufacturing AI companies are solving structural labor shortages on the shop floor, such as population aging and the retirement of skilled workers," Yoon explained. "We currently supply solutions to 81 plants domestically and internationally across sectors including oil refining, power generation, semiconductors, secondary batteries, automotive, and food and beverage (F&B)."
He continued, "ONEPREDICT's technology is evolving into an 'AI Factory Solution' that encompasses entire plants, including quality prediction, process optimization, and energy management. Over the next five years, based on advanced autonomous manufacturing technology, 'task specific AI agents' replacing production, quality, and maintenance functions will be deployed en masse to the field, innovating manufacturing productivity."
Yoon pointed to the 'black box' limitation where AI provides conclusions without explaining its reasoning and the resulting pushback from veteran shop floor technicians as the biggest obstacle to manufacturing AI adoption. Yoon noted, "We are persuading 20 to 30 year veteran technicians through 'Gray Box' technology, which clearly and simply explains where an anomaly occurs in a machine and why it causes defects."
Regarding national level AX (AI Transformation) strategies, Yoon argued, "Rather than engaging in a resource war with the US and China, we should leverage our strengths with focus and selection." He remarked, "While even Germany and Japan face difficulties collecting manufacturing data due to slow digitalization, South Korea possesses well built production lines and abundant data resources. However, as AI could deepen the polarization between large enterprises and SMEs, public resource provision and workforce reskilling are urgent."
ONEPREDICT's half yearly revenue is growing steeply, nearly tripling every half year. CEO Yoon concluded, "Building upon our technological prowess and financial results, our goal is to list on the KOSDAQ in the first half of next year."
Source : HanKok KyungJae (https://www.hankyung.com)
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"The moment autonomous manufacturing technology where AI makes decisions independently leaps to Level 3 or higher, the market will enter a period of explosive growth."
Byung-dong Yoon, CEO of manufacturing AI specialist ONEPREDICT (pictured), stated during an interview on the 7th in Seocho-dong, Seoul: "Currently, the level of autonomous manufacturing in industrial plants remains at Level 1 to 2, where AI merely assists human operators." Yoon added, "Just as autonomous driving technology like Full Self Driving (FSD) foresees rapid growth by demonstrating Level 3–4 capabilities, AI automation in manufacturing plants faces a similar trajectory. To make the leap within the next 3 to 4 years to Level 3 autonomous manufacturing where autonomy in specific processes is guaranteed we are researching and developing alongside several major enterprises as an industry pioneer."
Yoon, an active professor of Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University, founded ONEPREDICT in 2016 right after the arrival of AlphaGo, deeply realizing the necessity of AI transformation in Korean manufacturing. "Manufacturing AI companies are solving structural labor shortages on the shop floor, such as population aging and the retirement of skilled workers," Yoon explained. "We currently supply solutions to 81 plants domestically and internationally across sectors including oil refining, power generation, semiconductors, secondary batteries, automotive, and food and beverage (F&B)."
He continued, "ONEPREDICT's technology is evolving into an 'AI Factory Solution' that encompasses entire plants, including quality prediction, process optimization, and energy management. Over the next five years, based on advanced autonomous manufacturing technology, 'task specific AI agents' replacing production, quality, and maintenance functions will be deployed en masse to the field, innovating manufacturing productivity."
Yoon pointed to the 'black box' limitation where AI provides conclusions without explaining its reasoning and the resulting pushback from veteran shop floor technicians as the biggest obstacle to manufacturing AI adoption. Yoon noted, "We are persuading 20 to 30 year veteran technicians through 'Gray Box' technology, which clearly and simply explains where an anomaly occurs in a machine and why it causes defects."
Regarding national level AX (AI Transformation) strategies, Yoon argued, "Rather than engaging in a resource war with the US and China, we should leverage our strengths with focus and selection." He remarked, "While even Germany and Japan face difficulties collecting manufacturing data due to slow digitalization, South Korea possesses well built production lines and abundant data resources. However, as AI could deepen the polarization between large enterprises and SMEs, public resource provision and workforce reskilling are urgent."
ONEPREDICT's half yearly revenue is growing steeply, nearly tripling every half year. CEO Yoon concluded, "Building upon our technological prowess and financial results, our goal is to list on the KOSDAQ in the first half of next year."
Source : HanKok KyungJae (https://www.hankyung.com)