▲ Chung Woo A.T.S / CEO Wanggyu Kim

South Korea has long been known as a manufacturing powerhouse in the world. The industry usually took 30% of GDP with strong global presence in IT, cars, steel, shipbuilding, heavy industry and petrochemical. However, the rapid catch up of China is creating a crisis debate among industry specialists and the government also rolled up sleeve to keep its root industry. 

Located in Michuhol District, Incheon Metropolitan City, Chung Woo A.T.S is famous for heavy equipment parts. The company has capability of making around 6,000 kinds of heavy equipment parts with around 3,500 kinds as its core products. These numbers are but a surprise for a SME to digest alone. 

“This was possible because I always put quality above anything else. In other words, our clients have no doubt in the quality of the parts we make. Even in the time of economic slowdown, I kept pouring good amount of profits into facility improvement to role the quality as it has always been” said Wanggyu Kim, CEO of Chung Woo A.T.S.

As a result, Chung Woo secured the first grade partner status of Doosan Infracore in 2007 followed by being chosen for the best partner of the Doosan Infracore Leading Supplier in 2015. 

Not complacent, CEO Kim pushed forward strengthening quality, productivity, unit price competitiveness and fast supply while at the same time introducing POP-System to all manufacturing process for real time control and monitoring. This was resulted, for example, in shortened due date. 

“Last year, we achieved 17ppm. It means 17 out of 1 million products have error. This year, we are targeting 0ppm. We know it is really hard to achieve but we are determined to make it happen.”

And this does not seem to wholly impossible considering its all in one manufacturing process that covers from warehousing and cutting to processing, bending, welding and releasing (except painting). Changing the existing press process with cutting edge laser process also makes it plausible. 

In fact, Chung Woo introduced smart factory system with a fully support of Doosan Infracore in 2015. The smart factory system significantly reduced error rate and made one PC per one person. 

“It is important to hire young brains that have professional knowledge in latest machines and IT. For this reason, among about 50 employees, 20s and 30s take the highest number. I see they are quick to catch and to understand and use of the latest machines and it accelerates the growth of our business.”

Chung Woo A.T.S received a future management citation from the Korea Productivity Center, and chosen for a promising enterprise, a job creative enterprise, and a youth-friendly enterprise by Incheon Metropolitan City in 2016. In 2019, the company also received a Prime Minister’s citation at the Korea SME Convention. 

“This year marks 20th birthday of the company. I and my profession teams are in one mine to grow Chung Woo A.T.S as one of the top performers in heavy equipment parts and infrastructure. And we are ambitious to achieve the title.”