This year, Jiangsu Pacific Precision Forging, located in Jiangyan Economic Development Zone, introduced vision-based automated gear inspection equipment. This technology enables machines to perform inspections automatically once pre-programmed, greatly improving both efficiency and quality.
"Previously, seven people were needed for inspections. Now, only one person is required, with a zero misjudgment rate and a production increase from 4,000 to 5,000 pieces per shift," said Xia Yu, assistant to the head of the Quality Control Department.
As China's leading supplier of differential gears, Pacific Precision Forging has invested over 100 million yuan ($14.07 million) in recent years to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technologies into factory construction, R&D design, and production operations.
In September, its "AI + Digital Smart Integration Intelligent Factory for New Energy Vehicle Precision Forged Bevel Gears" was selected as a national outstanding smart factory project by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, marking the first time a company in Jiangyan district to earn this recognition.
Zhao Hongjun, the company's deputy general manager, emphasized Pacific Precision Forging's key achievements: "The company has implemented 26 top-tier smart manufacturing scenarios, reached Level 4 in self-assessment for intelligent manufacturing maturity, and received a 3A rating for industrialization-informatics integration. It reduced R&D cycle time by 21.53 percent, enhanced production efficiency by 27.59 percent, and lowered defect rates by 33.33 percent and carbon emissions by 26.58 percent."
Facilities in the factory of Jiangsu Pacific Precision Forging. [Photo/WeChat account: jyrmzf]
This progress occurs as part of Jiangyan's three-year plan for smart transformation, digital shift, and network connectivity. The district has introduced targeted policies to reduce transformation costs, including subsidies for software investments and smart manufacturing maturity evaluations. It has also assembled expert teams to provide technical consulting and application guidance, helping enterprises refine their upgrade paths.
In the first three quarters of this year, Jiangyan developed 21 provincial-level advanced smart factories. Looking ahead, the district plans to establish a tiered system to support smart factory development at multiple levels.