Daewoong Pharmaceutical's smart factory model addresses AI drug development needs

As the South Korean government initiates an AI drug development roadmap, industry experts emphasize that the success of AI-driven research depends on the digital transformation of manufacturing processes. To ensure the commercialization of AI-discovered drugs, research data must be seamlessly integrated with manufacturing and quality control data to maintain data integrity.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s Osong Smart Factory has emerged as a model for this integration. The facility utilizes a structural quality assurance model that connects Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS). This interconnectedness prevents data silos and human error by automating processes such as raw material inspection and weighing.

In the production of the drug Enavlo, the system uses real-time data to monitor precise measurements; if any tolerance limits are exceeded, the production process automatically halts. While these advancements offer high regulatory compliance, industry experts note that high infrastructure costs and compatibility issues remain significant barriers to widespread adoption across the pharmaceutical sector.