LG Smart Park Leads Next-Generation Appliance Innovation with AI

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the home appliance industry well beyond the products consumers use in their homes. Involving predictive manufacturing systems and autonomous logistics, the technology is changing how products are produced and experienced.

Leading this transformation is LG Electronics’ (LG) Smart Park in Changwon, South Korea, an advanced manufacturing facility where artificial intelligence, digital twin technology, machine learning and autonomous robots are integrated into production processes.

Recognised as a Lighthouse Factory by the World Economic Forum in 2022, LG Smart Park illustrates how intelligent manufacturing is helping the company improve operational efficiency, strengthen quality assurance and build greater flexibility into its production systems.

Manufacturing intelligence

A defining feature of LG Smart Park is its use of digital twin technology to monitor and simulate production processes in real time. The system analyses manufacturing data every 30 seconds, identifying potential disruptions and alerting workers to issues that could emerge within the next 10 minutes.

This predictive approach allows production teams to intervene before problems affect manufacturing operations. LG reports that the adoption of digital twin technology reduced defective-product returns by 70 per cent between 2020 and 2021.

The facility also uses an automated three-dimensional logistics system to manage the movement and storage of materials. The technology has reduced warehouse space requirements by 30 per cent and shortened hourly materials transportation time by 25 per cent.

Together, these systems demonstrate the growing role of AI and automation in industrial competitiveness. The combination of data analysis, predictive capabilities and robotics helps manufacturers respond more effectively to changing production requirements.

From intelligent factories to intelligent homes

The same focus on connectivity and intelligence is shaping the products LG develops for consumers.
At LG ThinQ Real in Seoul the company’s AI Home vision connects appliances, smart devices and contextual intelligence to create living environments that adapt to household routines and preferences.

Powered by ThinQ ON, LG’s AI Home hub, the ecosystem connects and coordinates LG appliances with compatible third-party Internet of Things devices. This allows different products to work together rather than requiring users to manage each appliance independently.

For instance, a request for a recipe can trigger step-by-step cooking guidance while coordinating kitchen ventilation. Away Mode can switch off lights, place appliances in energy-saving settings and activate a robot vacuum cleaner when occupants leave home.

The concept advances LG’s Zero Labor Home vision, which seeks to reduce the time and effort spent managing household activities through intelligent automation. It reflects an industry-wide shift from standalone appliances towards connected systems capable of coordinating multiple functions around users’ needs.

Engineering built on experience

LG’s approach to innovation also draws on decades of engineering experience. At the LG Heritage Lounge in Changwon, the company showcases its technological evolution since its establishment as Goldstar in 1958, highlighting developments in washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioning systems.

Among the technologies featured are the Inverter Direct Drive motor, Inverter Linear Compressor and Dual Inverter Compressor, which have contributed to improvements in appliance performance, reliability and energy efficiency.

LG is now incorporating AI into the control systems of its appliances, allowing them to make more adaptive adjustments based on operating conditions and usage patterns. This convergence of established engineering technologies and intelligent software is helping shape the next generation of home appliances.

Innovation across the value chain

The company’s innovation strategy also extends to premium residential solutions. At SKS Seoul, its ultra-premium built-in appliance showroom, LG demonstrates integrated kitchen technologies that combine advanced appliances with luxury furnishings and professional design consultations.

Meanwhile, the LG Flagship D5 in Gangnam showcases how the company is rethinking the retail experience through immersive product demonstrations, digital art, lifestyle settings and interactive displays.

These developments reflect a broader transformation in the home appliance industry, where innovation increasingly depends on the integration of manufacturing capabilities, hardware, software, artificial intelligence and connected services.

“For LG, investment in intelligent manufacturing provides a foundation for developing products that are more efficient, responsive and aligned with changing consumer expectations. The connection between the factory and the home is becoming increasingly important, as advances in industrial automation inform the development of smarter consumer technologies” said Donghun Lee, President, LG Electronics East Africa.