Cost reduction and efficiency improvements are transforming the face of Chinese manufacturing through automation and intelligence. The rapid construction of smart manufacturing projects is accelerating, with intelligent factories and unmanned workshops emerging across the industry.

A recent investigation by the Economic Reference Daily reveals that manufacturing enterprises are actively adopting cutting-edge technologies like 5G, digital twins, and industrial robots to drive internal transformation and boost development.

"Cost Reduction and Efficiency Boost"

In Weiwang Youlian Technology's (Chengdu) 12,000 square meter 5G smart factory, automated SMT machines, optical detectors, and robotic arms operate 24/7, producing 60,000 network communication devices daily. As of June 16, the factory’s 5G-powered production line started trial operations, increasing production efficiency by 40%, with a product inspection accuracy exceeding 99.5%. This has also cut wiring costs by over 1 million yuan.

Chunsheng Huang, General Manager of the company's manufacturing center, notes that the higher efficiency from automation enhances market competitiveness. The company is investing 50 million yuan with China Mobile to build a fully connected 5G factory, expected to be fully operational by September. Once complete, the production of network communication devices will be reduced to just 15 minutes from start to finish.

Nationwide Transformation Efforts

Across the country, manufacturing enterprises are upgrading their digital infrastructures to stay competitive. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China now has over 2,100 high-level digital workshops and intelligent factories, with 209 serving as industry benchmarks. These factories have reduced product development cycles by 20.7%, improved production efficiency by 34.8%, and decreased defect rates by 27.4%, while cutting carbon emissions by 21.2%.

Minghao Zhu, Executive Director of Beijing Jiaotong University's High-end Manufacturing Research Center, states that investment in intelligent manufacturing not only boosts efficiency but also fosters new technologies, creating emerging industries.

Expanding Digitization Across the Production Chain

Digitization is extending to all aspects of the production chain. At Shanghai Noyak Electric Co., Ltd.’s high-end electrical intelligent factory, unmanned production lines now handle everything from raw materials to finished products, enhancing production capacity by 67% and achieving a 100% qualification rate for all output.

The Songjiang Economic Development Zone is advancing infrastructure for industrial internet and 5G networks, leading to the establishment of digital innovation parks that support the entire supply chain.

Xiaohui Yu, President of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, highlights that industrial internet applications are now widely integrated into production processes, focusing on areas such as visual quality inspection, intelligent scheduling, and process optimization.

Supporting Industry through Innovation

The growth of automation in China's industrial sector is reflected in its leadership in key markets. China remains the world’s largest industrial robot market, accounting for 51.9% of global market share, and industrial software revenues grew by 13.1% year-on-year from January to May 2022.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) plans to further drive the digital transformation of manufacturing through policy initiatives supporting equipment innovation and 5G deployment. By 2025, 70% of designated manufacturing enterprises are expected to achieve digital networking, with over 500 intelligent manufacturing demonstration factories leading the sector.

As part of a broader effort, MIIT will focus on key industries, building world-class intelligent factories and smart supply chains. For small and medium-sized enterprises, large-scale adoption of solutions like process optimization and lean management will further reshape the industry, enhancing both the manufacturing model and enterprise structure.