Industrial transformation spurs innovation and growth in Shandong

By emphasizing the acceleration of manufacturing transformation and upgrading to enhance core competitiveness, the rapid establishment of a modern industrial system is driving the development of new industrialization in Changyi, a county-level city in Weifang, Shandong province.

Inside the digitized production workshop of Shandong Kaitai Microfiber Co Ltd, real-time production data is displayed on a big screen.

"The company has transitioned from traditional manual data collection to automated processes such as mobile scanning. Particularly in time-consuming tasks like fabric inspection, data entry and storage, we have achieved full automation through digitalization," said Zhang Shuxin, general manager of the company, adding that the firm's digital transformation has resulted in a 15-percent increase in production efficiency.

By providing tailored technology upgrade routes, software and hardware development, and operational maintenance — part of customized digitization plans — Changyi has helped a number of traditional enterprises be free from technological challenges.

"Key equipment upgrades, cloud integration of machinery, production line optimization and automation have made traditional industries in Changyi smarter and more environmentally friendly," said Liu Huaize, director of Changyi's industrial development promotion center.

As Changyi boasts a slew of cutting-edge enterprises, which a focus on specific segments of the industrial chain, the companies' long-term research and development efforts will elevate critical performance indicators to international levels, injecting continuous and robust momentum into local emerging industries, said the local government.

Currently, the city has nurtured eight intelligent factories at or above the municipal level, with over 200 companies adopting cloud-based solutions.

From January to October, Changyi's industrial added value for enterprises above designated size saw a year-on-year increase of 10.6 percent, while the total industrial output value and operating income of industries above designated size rose by 7.4 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively.