NEWS [Business Leader Column] Changwon’s Strong SMEs Need Greater Collaboration and AI Transformation

A company’s competitiveness is ultimately proven on the manufacturing floor. Producing quality products, meeting delivery commitments, and earning customer trust are the fundamentals of sustainable growth. Changwon’s strong small and medium-sized enterprises have upheld these principles for many years. The time has now come to add a new capability to that foundation: artificial intelligence. Each year, the Changwon Special City Government designates eight to ten promising companies as “Strong SMEs,” establishing a growth platform that now includes 137 companies. For this initiative to achieve its goal of discovering promising businesses and developing them into globally competitive enterprises, support must extend beyond designation itself. Companies need a continuous growth pathway that connects technology development, commercialization, talent acquisition, and exports. As Chairman of the 6th Changwon Association of Strong SMEs, I regard this as one of my most important responsibilities.Building on the trust established by previous chairpersons and member companies, I intend to create an action-oriented association in which collaboration leads to tangible business opportunities and growth. We will demonstrate, through measurable results in the field, what our members have gained by participating in the association. One of our key priorities is AI Transformation, or AX.For manufacturing companies, AX means improving the accuracy of production planning, identifying the causes of defects, and predicting equipment failures. It also means converting the experience and know-how of skilled workers into data that can be passed on to the next generation, while reducing repetitive tasks so that people can focus on higher-value work. However, implementing AX independently can be challenging for small and medium-sized enterprises. Companies often struggle with basic questions: Where should we begin? How should we collect data? How can we verify whether the investment is actually delivering results?When companies facing similar challenges identify problems together and jointly validate technologies, they can reduce both trial and error and unnecessary costs. The Association will serve as a focal point for this kind of collaborative implementation. We will first identify the technologies, products, equipment capabilities, and purchasing needs of our member companies and connect them with one another. We will establish regular technology and procurement consultations so that companies do not miss potential partnerships simply because they are unaware of each other’s capabilities. We will then work to develop these connections into actual transactions, joint development projects, and joint business opportunities. Our approach to AX will begin with projects where the impact can be clearly demonstrated on the manufacturing floor.We will identify common needs in areas such as quality inspection, production management, and equipment management, connect member companies with suitable technology providers, and conduct small-scale proof-of-concept and demonstration projects. By measuring changes in defect rates, working hours, and equipment utilization, we will identify models that deliver proven results and expand them to other member companies. Talent development and overseas market expansion will also be pursued in parallel.We will connect regional universities with real corporate projects so that students can gain practical manufacturing experience that can ultimately lead to employment. Existing employees will be provided with practical, job-oriented AI education.In overseas markets, companies with complementary technologies and products will work together as “Team Changwon” to identify customers and explore new market opportunities. We also propose closer cooperation with the Changwon City Government and the Changwon Industry Promotion Agency.A growth support framework is needed that connects joint R&D among companies, AX demonstration projects, and exports. If technology development, commercialization, and overseas expansion are managed as part of a three- to five-year growth pathway, the effectiveness of public support policies can be significantly enhanced. The Association will collect the needs of companies in the field, translate them into policy proposals, and participate responsibly in their implementation.We will measure our performance through tangible results: new transactions among member companies, joint development projects, measurable improvements resulting from AX implementation, exports, and job creation. We will continuously review these outcomes and share them with our members. When the experience and technologies of Changwon’s 137 Strong SMEs are connected, we can overcome the limitations faced by individual companies.The 6th Changwon Association of Strong SMEs will develop technologies together, open new markets together, and advance into the global marketplace together. We will prove our commitment through real changes in the field, ensuring that the growth of our member companies contributes directly to the growth of Changwon. Ki Soo ShinChairman, Changwon Association of Strong SMEsCEO, Daegun Tech Co., Ltd.

2026-11-02