Recruiting Participating Companies for Labor-Friendly Smart Factories
| Introduction of Collaborative Robots and Hazard Reduction Devices for Workers
| Strengthening consulting on process and work procedure improvements

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 15th that it will implement the '2019 Labor-Friendly Pilot Smart Factory Construction Project' to expand people-centered smart factories that enhance corporate competitiveness while guaranteeing safety and rest for workers. The support scale is approximately five companies.

Companies that have implemented smart factories have been shown to achieve results in both the quantity and quality of jobs, including improved productivity and reduced defect rates, as well as a 22% reduction in industrial accidents and an increase of 2.2 employees.

Based on these considerations, the Labor-Friendly Pilot Factory is a new initiative designed to systematically support smart factories by re-evaluating them from the perspective of tangible benefits for workers, such as improved safety, reduced workload, and job security.

The relevant ministries plan to collaborate to support the establishment of smart factories by linking four related projects, including robotics and consulting.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups supports 50% of the total project cost for the construction of the pilot factory, up to a maximum of 300 million won. Robot-assisted small and medium-sized manufacturing process innovation also supports 50% of the total project cost, up to a maximum of 300 million won.

However, the introduction of collaborative robots capable of working with employees should be prioritized, and in cases where hazardous tasks are replaced by automated equipment, job development and training will also be supported to enable existing workers to be assigned to new roles.

In addition, experts from large corporations with experience in smart factories (Smart Meisters) are dispatched for three months to transfer know-how, and consulting from specialized agencies is provided for up to 21 weeks to respond to changes in the workplace after the introduction of smart factories, such as human resources and organizational management.

It is expected that the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be reduced and business performance will be enhanced as they will be able to receive expert assistance starting from the business planning stage, which companies previously had to carry out themselves in the existing smart factory initiatives.

In addition, it supports partnership activities that can coordinate matters between labor and management. This is because close cooperation between labor and management is necessary to build a smart factory that satisfies both the company and the workers. The Ministry of Employment and Labor supports 90% of the total project cost, up to a maximum of 30 million won, for the labor-management partnership program.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle-sized companies wishing to apply for the program can do so through the Smart Factory Support Program Comprehensive Management System ( it.smplatform.go.kr ). Further details can be obtained by contacting the Korea Technology Information Promotion Agency for SMEs (1644-1736). The application period runs from today until 5:00 PM on April 26.