[Edaily Reporter Park Jung-Soo ] DHAUTOWARE(025440), a company specializing in automotive electronics, has been selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ “Rapid Commercialization of AI in Manufacturing” project and will begin developing related technologies.

DHAUTOWARE announced on the 6th that it plans to develop an AI-based production operations platform (Smart EMS Package 1.0) to enhance the efficiency of manufacturing plant operations over the next two years, with a total project budget of approximately 3.7 billion won.
This project was designed to target mid-sized manufacturing companies that face difficulties in adopting new technologies. Going beyond the simple establishment of smart factories, the project aims to integrate a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), inspection, manufacturing AI, monitoring systems, and global manufacturing data standards (AAS·OPC-UA) into a single operational framework for mass production lines using Surface Mount Technology (SMT) in the automotive electronics sector. In other words, this project seeks to develop and validate a manufacturing operations model tailored for mid-sized companies with the goal of global market adoption.
Currently, many mid-sized manufacturing companies operate with production, quality, inspection, and equipment data that are often isolated and not interconnected. In particular, the configuration of key process conditions still largely relies on the experience of skilled workers.
To address these process limitations, DHAUTOWARE plans to establish a “Digital Thread”—a system that connects all production data, from production planning to work orders, performance records, component and PCB tracking, quality inspections, and shipping data—into a single, integrated whole. Through this, the company intends to pursue preventive quality management by introducing a “closed-loop” operational model in which AI analyzes and makes improvements before problems arise.
This project will initially be implemented on one mass-production SMT line at DHAUTOWARE’s Gwangju plant. Based on the results obtained from the pilot phase, the company has set a goal to develop a cloud-based platform (SaaS) that can be expanded—within the scope identified by the company—to overseas production hubs such as Mexico, as well as to domestic and international manufacturing service customers.
Rather than building a one-off system for a specific plant, the company plans to package the results validated at the Gwangju plant into a commercial product designed for easy installation, training, operation, and maintenance. Key components include a production process execution module, an intelligent inspection module, a process optimization AI engine, and a visualization system.
In particular, the company plans to collaborate with global automotive electronics manufacturers such as Siemens and Panasonic to apply global manufacturing data standards. It intends to ensure seamless data compatibility between equipment from different manufacturers, thereby establishing a framework that allows for the rapid deployment of the system to new production lines or overseas plants in the future.
The core of this initiative is the application of “Physical AI”—technology that enables AI to autonomously analyze the production floor and assist in operations. This approach involves AI integrating and analyzing component inspection data with production and equipment data to detect early signs of process anomalies and suggest optimal conditions for key processes in real time.
In addition, managers will be able to make data-driven decisions by comprehensively monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), alerts, and approval processes through a dashboard based on a Digital Twin system, which allows them to view the factory in real time on a screen. This is expected to enhance the manufacturing site’s autonomous operational capabilities and drive overall competitiveness.
After verifying performance on the pilot line at the Gwangju plant, DHAUTOWARE is considering expanding the same operational model to its production hub in Mexico. Furthermore, the company plans to evolve into a new business model that supplies a standardized platform to various electronics manufacturers beyond the automotive electronics sector.
While drawing inspiration from the operational systems of leading global manufacturing service providers, the company aims to develop a platform that lowers the barrier to entry for mid-sized companies by differentiating itself from high-cost systems typically geared toward large corporations.
DHAUTOWARE officials stated, “This project involves the development and demonstration of a platform where AI analyzes manufacturing sites and assists with optimization,” adding, “Starting with validation at the Gwangju plant, we plan to expand to overseas production hubs such as Mexico to secure competitiveness in the global market.”
The representative added, “In the long term, we will strive to use this platform to enhance the operational efficiency of mid-sized manufacturing companies both domestically and internationally, and to contribute to the establishment of a digital transformation ecosystem in the manufacturing sector.”