Political Outlook | China's First Evaluation of the 'Mount Everest' in the Factory World, How Did Shandong Intelligent Manufacturing 'Climb to the Top'?

China's intelligent manufacturing welcomes a landmark moment!

On November 27th, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and six other departments officially announced the first batch of pilot level intelligent factory cultivation list in China, with 15 enterprises' intelligent factories selected.

The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that this marks a crucial leap from digitization and networking to intelligent manufacturing in China.

In this highly valuable list, Shandong has performed outstandingly, with Weichai Power Co., Ltd.'s "High end Engine Intelligent Factory Based on Digital Lean Model" and Qingdao Haier Central Air Conditioning Co., Ltd.'s "Central Air Conditioning Full Process Customization Service and Intelligent Integration Intelligent Factory" on the list, becoming benchmarks in the national intelligent manufacturing field.

Only about 2% of factories worldwide can reach the leadership level

The Leading Level Intelligent Factory is the highest level explored and cultivated by six departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission in the gradient cultivation action of intelligent factories. It is located at the top of the four level cultivation system of basic level, advanced level, excellent level, and leading level.

According to McKinsey's 2024 report, only about 2% of factories worldwide can reach the leadership level. Compared with basic level, advanced level, and excellent level smart factories, the core advantages of leading level smart factories lie in their technological foresight, ecological openness, and strategic influence. They not only achieve excellent operation, but also promote the upgrading of the entire industry.

Why can Shandong become a leader?

Shandong's selection is not accidental, but the result of long-term layout of intelligent manufacturing.

In recent years, Shandong has regarded industrial economy as the "number one project", vigorously promoted new industrialization, continuously deepened the integration of digital technology and the real economy, and continued to cultivate in high-end equipment, home appliance manufacturing and other fields, creating a group of smart factory benchmarks with core competitiveness.

Weichai Power's "High end Engine Intelligent Factory Based on Digital Lean Model" is a typical example. Here, artificial intelligence and lean management are deeply integrated, and the production line achieves almost zero defect production. What's even more amazing is that the factory uses nearly a hundred digital virtual benches, 80% of the experiments can be completed in a simulation environment, the research and development cycle is shortened by 20%, and new products can be quickly pushed to the market in the best condition. This "digital twin+intelligent manufacturing" model has enabled Weichai to occupy the technological high ground in the global engine field.

Another selected project, Haier's "Central Air Conditioning Full Process Customization Service and Smart Integrated Intelligent Factory," showcases the future prospects of customized intelligent manufacturing. Traditional manufacturing often focuses on 'producing and selling whatever you want', while Haier has achieved 'making whatever users want'. Through AI intelligent selection, AI intelligent supply collaboration, AI intelligent scheduling, and AI user visibility technology applications, the factory can process over 260 orders for intelligent production changes every day, with 100% visibility of the entire process data.

How can leading factories change Chinese manufacturing?

The significance of a leading intelligent factory lies not only in the upgrading of the enterprise itself, but also in its driving effect on the entire industry. They are like the 'North Star' of manufacturing, providing replicable experiences for other businesses.

Leading level factories represent the transformation of Chinese manufacturing from "following" to "leading". In the past, Chinese factories often relied on cost advantages to win, but now, companies like Weichai and Haier are establishing technological barriers through intelligent manufacturing, achieving a leap from "manufacturing" to "smart manufacturing", and significantly enhancing the discourse power of Chinese enterprises in the global industrial chain.

Shandong's intelligent manufacturing ecosystem: more than just two leading factories

Although only two companies were selected for the pilot level list this time, Shandong's strength in the field of intelligent manufacturing is far more than that.

As of now, more than 500 excellent level intelligent factories have been built nationwide, with Shandong accounting for 49, ranking second in the country in terms of quantity.

In addition, Shandong has cultivated 5657 "Morning Star Factories" and 112 "Industrial Brains", forming a complete digital echelon from leading enterprises to small and medium-sized enterprises.

This "goose formation" development model has not only made some breakthroughs in Shandong's intelligent manufacturing, but also promoted overall collaboration.

Since the beginning of this year, Shandong has further intensified its digital transformation, launched the industry model "unveiling and leading", and promoted the deep integration of artificial intelligence and manufacturing industry. The number of core digital economy enterprises in the province has exceeded 400000, ranking third in the country.

These enterprises not only innovate in technology, but also explore new possibilities in business models. For example, some Shandong enterprises have begun to experiment with the "manufacturing as a service" model, combining hardware production with data services to provide customers with full lifecycle management. This integrated ecosystem of "technology+manufacturing+services" is an important direction for the future manufacturing industry.

Shandong is expected to make breakthroughs in three aspects in the future

The selection of leading intelligent factories is a crucial step for China's manufacturing industry to move towards high-quality development. For Shandong, this is not only a affirmation, but also a new starting point.

In the future, Shandong is expected to make further breakthroughs in three areas: firstly, strengthening the independent and controllable core technologies, especially in the fields of industrial software and high-end equipment; Secondly, deepen the synergy of the industrial chain and enable more small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate into the ecosystem of intelligent manufacturing; The third is to explore global layout and promote the internationalization of Chinese smart factory standards.

It can be foreseen that as the experience of leading factories spreads, China's manufacturing industry will usher in a new wave of upgrading. Shandong, with its solid industrial foundation and innovative industrial ecology, has become an important leader in this wave.

The story of intelligent manufacturing in Shandong has just begun, and its future may redefine the meaning of "world factory".

Information source: Popular News App