Washington: HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering Co. (HD KSOE) announced it has signed an agreement with a Siemens business unit to implement an artificial intelligence (AI) platform for shipbuilding.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this agreement signifies a significant advancement in HD KSOE's mission to create an AI-driven shipyard and expedite the digital evolution of the shipbuilding sector. The innovative marine platform, co-developed by HD KSOE and Siemens Digital Industries Software, aims to establish an autonomous manufacturing system that digitally links the shipbuilding process from design and production to supply chain management and maintenance.
HD KSOE President and CEO Kim Hyung-kwan commented, "By integrating AI, digital twin and automation technologies into a connected digital shipyard environment, we aim to establish a future-ready model for the shipbuilding industry." This platform allows shipyards to communicate design changes and real-time production updates directly to the shop floor and across the supply chain, facilitating quicker and more informed decision-making to avoid schedule delays and quality problems.
Siemens President and CEO Tony Hemmelgarn stated, "By combining Siemens' digital capabilities with HD Hyundai's operational excellence, we can help shipbuilders improve throughput, quality and workforce productivity while strengthening the global competitiveness of the shipbuilding industry." HD KSOE, a key entity within the South Korean shipbuilding group HD Hyundai Co., includes affiliates such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co.
The signing took place in Washington during the opening ceremony of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC). This platform was established to advance the "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" (MASGA) initiative, which aims to rejuvenate the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Under the MASGA initiative, Seoul has committed to investing US$150 billion as part of a larger $350 billion investment plan to revive the U.S. shipbuilding industry.