LG Electronics will transform its factory in Changwon to a ‘smart’ factory and hire at least 1,000 new workers for it by 2023.
The president of LG Electronics stated that “we need many workers to maintain and improve the automated and AI system, which the factory has adopted.” He also mentioned that 250 new workers will be hired every year from next year until 2023, making for an increase of at least 1000 new workers within 5 years.
LG Electronics will invest KRW 600 billion ($538 million) into the new factory, also explaining that current production time for home appliances could be reduced by up to 30% if production is optimized through ‘modular design.’ This refers to a design approach that involves development of main units into smaller parts, called modules, and then production of the final product by assembling the modules.
Regarding concerns that smart factories could pose a threat to jobs, the president of LG Electronics responded that LG Home Appliances has seen 5% growth every year. The firm needs more employees since production output is expected to increase with this growth, and smart/premium appliances require advanced technology.