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Smart Factory Center
By Park Min-seo Reporter, Sophomore of Chemical and Biological Engineering
The manufacturing industry is undergoing a rapid transformation. Instead of traditional machine-driven factories, “smart factories,” which integrate automation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, have become a global trend. This change is also influencing university education. Beyond learning theory in classrooms, students are now expected to gain hands-on experience in environments that closely mirror real industrial sites.
HBNU is leading this movement through its Smart Factory Center, which focuses on nurturing talent for the future of smart manufacturing. In 2018, HBNU was designated as a leading institution for innovation in the field of smart factories during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This led to the establishment of the Smart Factory Center and the Smart Factory Convergence Program, which are still active today. The Smart Factory Center serves as a comprehensive platform for education, research, and industry–academia collaboration, offering students much more than a simple laboratory.
What Is a Smart Factory?
A smart factory represents the evolution of conventional automated factories. While automated factories operate based on pre-programmed instructions, smart factories employ artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning technologies to analyze information and make autonomous decisions. Every stage of the process can be tracked in real time, enabing optimized responses to environmental changes. In essence, it is an “intelligent factory” capable of operating autonomously, with little human intervention.
Cross-Disciplinary Learning
The defining feature of the Smart Factory Center is its independent and interdisciplinary structure. Beyond being confined to a single department, the center provides education that spans design, control, big data analysis, and automated processes. This enables students to collaborate across multiple fields, much as they would in real industrial settings.
Advanced Facilities and Hands-On Training
At the center, state-of-the-art facilities such as the Smart Factory Testbed and the Smart In-Factory Logistics Lab are available. The testbed provides an integrated platform where students can explore processes ranging from simple packaging to overall process flow control. The Logistics Lab, which applies IoT-based in-factory logistics systems, enables students to simulate product transport and logistics optimization using a pallet-based transfer system. Through these facilities, students learn not only how to operate machines but also how to analyze production data and improve processes.
Expanding Through Projects and Industry Partnerships
Beyond regular coursework, the Smart Factory Center offers a range of activities, including competitions, hands-on camps, and capstone design projects to strengthen students’ practical skills.
The center also actively collaborates with local companies through the LINC 3.0 Project Group. In this program, students tackle real-world problems faced by businesses, gaining valuable field experience while companies benefit from their fresh, innovative ideas.
Industrial Applications in Practice
Smart factories are already achieving tangible results in industry. For example, Samsung SDS’s AI-based solution “Nexplant” reduced problem-solving time for manufacturing equipment from 12 hours to just 10 minutes. LG Electronics has also utilized IoT and AI to lower defect rates, improve production efficiency, and secure stable data transmission through its 5G-specialized network solution, earning domestic certification for network equipment in 2024.
These cases demonstrate how smart factories enhance industrial competitiveness, closely aligning with the education provided at HBNU’s Smart Factory Center.
A Model for Future-Oriented Education
The Smart Factory Center is more than just a training facility; it is an educational platform preparing students for future industries. Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration equips students with the adaptability required in diverse workplaces.
With the smart factory market growing by 10 percent annually, companies are actively seeking specialists in the field. In this context, practice-oriented and interdisciplinary education in smart manufacturing is emerging as an essential trend in engineering education. The Smart Factory Center at HBNU stands as a prime example, growing into a meaningful platform for students, industry, and the local community alike.