LG Energy aiming to standardize battery production

LG Energy Solution was aiming to standardize its battery production to increase productivity with the ultimate aim to make the production line autonomous, TheElec has learned.

The effort is being led by LG Energy Solution vice chairman Kwon Young-soo, who has been holding top management meetings with top executives and those from key partners since June. Chief quality officer Kim Soo-ryung and chief digital officer Kyungsuk Pyun have also been attending.

Three main topics of discussion have been equipment standardization, making the company’s IP digital and operations. The main aim is to secure productivity and automation, sources said.

Up to now, LG Energy Solution had largely relied on its battery experience for production. Depending on the engineer or operator on specific lines, yield rate and productivity widely differed, sources said.

Vice chairman Kwon wants production to be level in sophistication to those for semiconductors and display panels, the sources added.

In semiconductor and display panel production, for the past couple of years, more companies are using fewer operators while new lines are efficient at quickly increasing their productivity.

LG Energy Solution which calculates its overall battery yield rate at over 90%, believes if it can boost productivity it will lead to accelerated growth.

Along with the top management meetings, the company was conducting an overall survey of its global product sites __ including those at Michigan, Ohio as well as Nanjing and Wroclaw __ which is expected to take some time.