In the surface mount technology (SMT) workshop of Jiangsu Huacheng Technology in Taixing, Jiangsu province, production lines now run almost entirely on their own. Where 20 to 30 workers once produced a few dozen finished products a day, just three people now monitor automated lines churning out more than 300 units daily.
Huacheng Technology's SMT workshop. [Photo/tznews.cn]
The transformation didn't happen overnight. For 36 years, Huacheng has made components for agricultural and forestry vehicles. Since 2024, the company has deployed AOI (automated optical inspection) imaging systems, 3D solder paste inspectors, and 5G-connected equipment across its factory floor. Every design starts as a digital file reviewed through cloud collaboration, then flows into ERP (enterprise resource planning) and MES (manufacturing execution system) systems that automatically generate production schedules.
When equipment malfunctions, the system responds in seconds — rerouting tasks without halting the entire line — resulting in a 27 percent jump in production efficiency.
Behind the machines, workers have evolved too. Technicians now read data dashboards and adjust parameters, not just fix hardware. The company rewards every patent application and gives R&D teams a share of sales revenue for five years after a product launches. It files at least five invention patents annually.
Taixing's government is backing this shift with a three-year plan for smart manufacturing and AI integration. Huacheng, named a national "little giant" firm in specialized manufacturing, shows what's possible when a traditional factory goes all-in on digital transformation.