The Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WHDZ) -- located in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province -- has been encouraging its resident companies to make the transition to intelligent manufacturing and production to reduce raw materials losses, reduce operating costs and improve output efficiency, according to WHDZ officials.
They pointed to WHDZ-based high-tech pioneer Dongfeng Brose Automotive Systems Co, which they said has met with great success in its changeover to intelligent manufacturing.
Officials said that in 2016 the company began gradually implementing the intelligent transformation of its automated production line, traceability systems and power facilities.
With the rollout, one of the gearbox motor production lines reduced its workforce from an original team of 11 to five workers.
A company spokesman said the production line capacity at the same time increased from 190 units per person per shift to 420, bringing direct economic benefits of some 1.6 million yuan ($230,000) per year.
According to a spokesman, since its establishment the company has invested about 30-50 million yuan in intelligent manufacturing and achieved annual cost savings topping 2 million yuan.
At present, a total of five companies in the WHDZ -- including Gree Electric Appliances and Chassis Brakes International (Wuhan) Co -- have been granted the designation of a Wuhan Intelligent Renovation Demonstration Project.
An additional 12 companies, including Dongfeng Mahle Thermal System Co and Wuhan Fanzhou Chuetsu Metal Co, have received subsidies from the Wuhan Intelligent Renovation Project.
Officials said that last year, a total of 76 enterprises in WHDZ completed intelligent diagnoses and evaluations, the most undertaken by all districts and zones in the city.
