Daedong is stepping up manufacturing automation transformation (AX) that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and robots into production sites. Daedong said on Aug. 20 it signed an agreement with the Daegu metropolitan government for reshoring and factory AX investment.

Under the "Daegu plant manufacturing AX master plan" currently being drawn up, Daedong has set four strategies: restructuring production and logistics, building new AX production lines, converting existing lines to AX and establishing a data and AI-based factory operating system. It plans to pursue them in parallel through 2029 in line with schedules for each task. The Daegu plant currently produces about 200 tractor specifications and exports to about 70 countries.

Under the agreement, Daedong will gradually apply physical AI technology in which AI and robots perform actual work in 15 key processes on new AX production lines. It will use AI to optimise production sequencing and process operations. It will also use autonomous logistics robots and robotic equipment to automate material supply, engine and transmission assembly, and the transfer and fitting of cabins and tires. It will also deploy 12 robots in the painting process to improve work efficiency and quality consistency.

It will also upgrade quality control around AI and data. Vision inspection using cameras and AI will detect quality abnormalities such as incomplete assembly and oil leaks, and the final stage of the production line will automatically check the software and system status of completed agricultural machinery. It will also establish an AI-based quality control system that links inspection results with production history data to analyse defect causes and predict the likelihood of defects.

Restructuring production and logistics and adopting AI and robots are expected to lead to higher production capacity. Regular tractor production capacity is expected to expand about 67 percent to 35,000 units a year from 21,000 units, and main unit painting capacity is expected to rise 80 percent to 63,000 units a year from 35,000 units. Work time per unit is expected to fall to 1.9 minutes from 2.3 minutes, improving painting productivity by about 17 percent.

Won Yu-hyun (원유현), vice chairman of Daedong, said, "Following agricultural AX, we will step up manufacturing AX in earnest to develop the Daegu plant into Daedong's standard model for manufacturing AX and a core production base for future agricultural machinery." He said, "We will expand the AI and robot and data-based production system to be built on the new AX production lines to existing production lines, and gradually spread it to global manufacturing bases in the future."