Transforming Working Methods by Combining Manufacturing Data
SeAH Group Chairman Lee Soon-hyung presented the group''s direction in his 2026 New Year address amid global protectionism strengthening and steel industry structural low-growth. "In an environment where uncertainty has become normalized, to achieve survival and growth simultaneously, we must build a decisive gap in fundamental competitiveness that others cannot follow." Environmental framing: "Fortress Economy" era where self-first principles and security logic dominate economics — trade barrier expansion, carbon regulation strengthening, steel supply glut and low-growth converging; but this is not risk to avoid, rather an opportunity to prove SeAH''s competitiveness. "The greatest strategy is not to avoid change but to use change." Three core priorities: (1) Decisive gap in fundamental competitiveness — rather than chasing new businesses indiscriminately, elevate what SeAH does best one more level to achieve competitiveness in eco-friendly, high-value products that the market must choose; (2) AI + manufacturing data combination for work method transformation — "AI is no longer an optional tool but an essential weapon for survival"; combine and internalize SeAH''s long-accumulated manufacturing data and process know-how with AI to dramatically improve productivity, quality, and manufacturing competitiveness; this is structural transformation changing the decision-making methods of the manufacturing floor itself; (3) Overseas affiliates as strategic bases — develop overseas operations from simple production sites to strategic bases that preemptively detect local market changes and create new value; in protectionism strengthening, overseas affiliates must become advance bases expanding group synergy. Prerequisites: unified labor-management culture, pioneer spirit not settling for the status quo, and collective intelligence-based execution. SeAH''s differentiation thesis: decades of manufacturing data accumulated in steel processing provides a proprietary AI training foundation that no startup or tech company can replicate — the combination of manufacturing domain expertise and AI creates defensible competitive advantages in a commodity industry typically vulnerable to cost competition.
