BUSAN — A framework to drive artificial intelligence transformation, or AX, across Busan's manufacturing sector is moving into full operation. The plan is to develop a large language model tailored to factory floors and link it to company-by-company AI transformation diagnostics and on-site validation. The core idea is to tie together regional hubs, technology firms and execution teams so manufacturers do not simply adopt AI tools but apply them in actual production and management settings.
The Busan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation said on the 28th that it had signed a cooperation agreement with AXMOS Alliance, a consortium for manufacturing AI transformation, and NC AI to expand Busan's manufacturing AX ecosystem.
The three organizations will first jointly develop a manufacturing-focused large language model. The model will be trained on data accumulated on factory floors, including materials management and cost forecasting based on machinery and equipment, to build an AI system suited to industrial tasks and know-how. Notably, the partners will supply both the model and the computing infrastructure so companies can use AI within their own systems without sending data outside.
The partners also divided roles for on-site deployment. AXMOS will handle AI transformation diagnostics and consulting for Busan manufacturers, along with field deployment, product development and commercialization. The Busan center will identify local companies seeking AI transformation and provide the base and operating space for joint projects. NC AI will support development and training of the manufacturing-focused AI model as well as application programming interfaces and computing infrastructure.
Workforce development will proceed in parallel. NC AI will handle curriculum design and tutor training, while AXMOS and the Busan center run the programs locally, aiming to turn factory-floor staff into AI transformation personnel. The partners plan to widen their cooperation later to projects supporting Busan manufacturers entering the U.S. market.
AXMOS is a manufacturing AI transformation consortium launched in March this year. Five companies form its execution structure, covering AI core and operating systems, education, manufacturing implementation and validation, investment and market expansion, and global strategy: Popup Studio, Codepresso, Dreamace, Translink Investment and Wilt Venture Builder. Public and hub institutions including the Busan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency and the Busan Port Authority take part, along with manufacturers and AI model developers. Since its launch, the group has accumulated more than 80 implementation cases with manufacturing, distribution and logistics companies at home and abroad and standardized about 100 work agents.
Immediately after the agreement, the three organizations plan to finalize data-cleaning standards for the manufacturing-focused language model and begin on-site diagnostics and proof-of-concept work with manufacturers identified and referred by the Busan center. "We will identify companies and provide the base so that execution teams and technology can meet Busan's manufacturers directly," said Kim Yong-woo, chief executive of the Busan center.
Park Hee-deok, chief executive of AXMOS Alliance, said, "We will carry the manufacturing AX execution model built in Busan through to investment and overseas expansion." Lee Yeon-soo, chief executive of NC AI, said, "We will support development and infrastructure so that specialized models trained on manufacturers' field knowledge can be used safely inside company systems, and we will put down roots in the region by training tutors."
