"Making Activities for Enhancing Productivity Part of Daily life'

The 35th National Productivity Rally takes place at COEX

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy (KME) held the 35th National Productivity Rally at the COEX Auditorium in Seoul on Sept. 6 to renew the people's pledge to enhance productivity with approximately 1,300 in attendance.
A total of 17 people, including Won Seok-dong, senior vice president of Halla Climate Control Corp., were presented with diverse prizes in recognition of their contribution to enhancing productivity. Won, honored with the coveted Order of Industrial Service, Gold Tower, was praised for having played leading roles in the localization of core components and the development of innovative manufacturing technologies while spearheading technology innovation and green management during his 35 years in the air conditioning field. He has been credited for his contribution to improving automobile air conditioner production technology and bringing about an import substitution effect of a combined 3.45 trillion won.
The Order of Industrial Service, Silver Tower went to Kwon Huk-seok, president of MK Chem & Tech. Lee Sang-geun, a group leader of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Chang Nam-chul, chief of the Planning Division at Korea South East Power Co., and Kim Tae-hoon, executive director of Lee Young Industrial Machinery Co., each were honored with the Industrial Service Medal.
A total of 37 organizations were awarded with national productivity prizes in recognition of their contribution to enhancing productivity.
The presidential award, the National Productivity Grand Prize, was presented to four companies ― Volvo Group Korea, Hynix Semiconductor, Sidiz and Korea Appraisal Board. Volvo Group Korea was praised for building a world-class R&D capability, spreading advanced technology to its business partners, creating 18,000 jobs and boosting exports by 500 percent over the decade.
Twelve innovation teams, including Hynix Semiconductor's innovation team, were presented with awards in the national productivity championship in which 187 teams participated.
A productivity field volunteer group was inaugurated to enhance awareness toward the improvement of productivity and spread excellent practices on Sept. 7, and regional sessions took place from Sept. 20 to Sept. 29 to present excellent productivity practices. The productivity field volunteer group consists of 100 productivity management system (PMS) experts. The group plans to offer one-on-one assistance in assessing and evaluating corporate productivity to 100 companies by the end of this year after receiving applications online at their website (prodoctor@kpc.or.kr). The program is designed to offer a helping hand to SMEs, which are suffering from a lack of innovative knowhow and specialized manpower despite their keen concern for the improvement of productivity. PMS experts will conduct field checkups and offer assistance to help SMEs find ways to improve productivity.
Every Wednesday is designated as a day for translating productivity improvement activities into action so that innovative knowhow can be proliferated and spread in the field. nw

Minister of Knowledge Economy Choi Joong-kyung speaks at the 35th National Productivity Rally at COEX on Sept. 6.

Photo on Courtesy of MKE