GC Biopharma (006280.KS) is teaming up with LG CNS to build artificial intelligence-based smart factories, aiming to automate core production lines for its main products and shift them to autonomous operations by 2030.
The company said on Oct. 14 that it had signed a strategic partnership with LG CNS to begin implementing its "SMART Operations Driven 2030" roadmap for AI-based automated and autonomous smart factories.
The roadmap centers on process innovation tailored to each production site, along with automation and digitalization spanning logistics and quality operations. At the Ochang plant, the company will build an automated production line for subcutaneous immunoglobulin (20% SCIG), a new plasma-derived product now under development. The Hwasun plant will pursue automated production of its messenger RNA (mRNA) platform and core vaccines including influenza and chickenpox vaccines. At the Eumseong plant, GC Biopharma plans to introduce a continuous manufacturing line for solid-dose drugs to shorten process times while improving quality consistency.
Beyond production lines, GC Biopharma plans to extend automation to indirect processes such as raw material loading, packaging and transfer to logistics warehouses, strengthening links across the entire operation. The company will also connect production, logistics, quality and equipment data to manage the full manufacturing chain, from raw material receipt to product shipment, on an integrated basis. It will build a data-driven intelligent operating system in phases, using AI to optimize process operations, predict quality problems early and detect equipment faults in advance. In addition, the company will automate document preparation and review in quality assurance (QA) while automating quality control (QC) testing and building a data analysis framework, aiming to prevent quality errors across the manufacturing process.
"Process intelligence based on data and AI is a core competitive strength for the future pharmaceutical and biotech industry," said Shin Woong, head of operations at GC Biopharma. "By applying LG CNS's advanced digital transformation technology across the entire manufacturing cycle, we will achieve operational excellence and supply high-quality, innovative drugs quickly and reliably."
Jang Min-yong, head of LG CNS's chemical and battery business division, said the company would bring together the AI and smart factory capabilities it has built up to actively support GC Biopharma's global manufacturing innovation.