Industry Characteristics
The battery industry is currently growing at a rapid pace as a high-value-added core strategic business that will lead the future world, not only in electric vehicles and mobile communications but also in aerospace and new energy technology industries. With explosive demand expected in the segment of electric vehicles, it is necessary to achieve mass production and performance stabilization. Due to the possibility of fire accidents in various environments, creating a safe environment for battery manufacturing, use, and disposal is crucial. Moreover, an anticipated increase in the discarding of batteries at the end of their lifespan creates a need for environmentally friendly and safe recycling technologies to promote resource recycling. For advanced process management, high-quality level, and stability, you can apply specialized solutions based on the platform and collect real-time facility data and production/quality control to track and manage production processes and battery cells such as mixing, electrode, assembly, and formation to reduce defects and increase productivity.
A global market leader in the small-sized lithium-ion battery industry has embarked on MES implementation and expansion project with the trusted solution provider, Miracom, since 2009. The two implemented and expanded MES across small, medium, and big material lines, packs, and modules at all domestic and overseas factories, including China, Hungary and the States. The client has maintained the dominant market share in the small-sized lithium-ion battery segment through efforts to continuously improve quality and secure product stability by building a smart factory, interfacing machines, and automating conveyance using MES and AMR. In addition, the customer is looking to expand its diversified market share as a market leader by promoting MES advancement to battery factories for electric vehicles and ESS.
A domestic manufacturer of core materials for secondary batteries has applied Miracom's MES solution to all manufacturing plants nationwide since 2019, collecting equipment data by linking 44 machines and establishing an integrated management system by linking WMS and SAP to connect material input and shipment information. In particular, equipment-specific cycles, maintenance tasks, and tooling management functions tailored to the industry's characteristics have been incorporated, enabling lifecycle management and predictive maintenance capabilities for tooling and equipment. In addition, physical-based material location management and logistics movement minimization through WMS have improved work efficiency.
A manufacturer of elecfoil for secondary batteries built smart factory at their new overseas plant for copper foil manufacturing. The on-site infrastructure, equipment interfaces, and real-time monitoring system were deployed. In particular, the data management function for managing elecfoil weight in real time, and the elecfoil production track record management function for managing copper foil production length, improved the copper foil production uptime and productivity by accurately calculating defects. They expanded the tried-and-true process from their overseas plants to domestic ones, achieving company-wide standardization.
As a key player in the secondary battery core material industry, the client company confronted increasing complexities in manufacturing. To meet stringent demands for high-quality, short delivery products, they required systematic data collection and real-time quality analysis monitoring, ensuring competitive edge through quality assurance. Through Miracom's quality analytics solution, they put in place parameter pattern analytics and structured analytics of real-time production data. Consecutively, it enabled them to predict quality results in advancing using cause parameters, and make prompt decisions leading to effective operation management, a 20% cut in monthly defective rates, and a 31% cut in aftercare costs.
A company specializing in automotive batteries built a new factory production line, and Miracom implemented a manufacturing system that reflected the manufacturing operation infrastructure and characteristics of automotive batteries. Based on Miracom's experience in the battery industry, they prevented quality accidents by detecting process abnormalities and established machine status monitoring through machine connectivity. The establishment enabled them to increase work efficiency and improve competitiveness by securing visibility into manufacturing data.
