New Xiaomi Humanless, 24/7 Smart Factory Can Make 10x Phones

The digital era has fostered a wide range of advanced technologies that boost productivity, innovation and manufacturing processes.

This includes the introduction of automation, robotics and smart factories, in an era that's referred to as the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0.

These help businesses manufacture faster, better and more efficiently. Moreover, they help reduce costs and errors due to human intervention that cause loss in quality and delivery time. 

This is the idea that Xiaomi had moved forward with when they planned their latest, next-generation smart factory – one that is now officially in operation – as per latest announcements.

So, what did Xiaomi disclose about its new facility? Let’s explore!
 

What Did Xiaomi Reveal About Its Next Generation Smart Factory?

 

• Through a series of posts published by Xiaomi’s Founder and CEO, Lei Jun, on his X account, Xiaomi’s new state-of-the-art, next generation smart factory is now in operation. 

• Built at a cost of RMB 2.4 billion (Renminbi or Chinese Yuan AKA CNY) or approximately $330 million, the facility is spread across 81,000 square meters or 871,876 square feet and is located in the Changping district of China, at the outskirts of Beijing.

• In the same year, Xiaomi also built an EV factory in Yizhuang, which is where the company had also built a lab-level smart factory in 2019.

• That facility possessed a capacity of producing 1 million phones a year.

• In contrast, the new factory can manufacture 10 million flagship phones per year. Xiaomi’s MIX Flip (to be released in July) and Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 will be produced here.

• The factory comprises of 11 production lines where “100% of the key processes are automated.”

• Additionally, a “War Room”, which serves as the intelligence core of the factory, enables the company’s engineers to monitor and maintain complete control over production and scheduling.

• This intelligent control system, called Xiaomi Hyper IMP (Intelligent Manufacturing Platform), helps them monitor the entire factory and its operations. The platform, along with most of the equipment in the facility, has been designed and developed by the company.

• Furthermore, this platform can identify and solve issues, while also helping to improve the production process.

 

What Did Xiaomi’s CEO Say?

 

• Through a series of posts on X, Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s Founder and CEO, introduced the world to the company’s new facility, through his personal X account.

• The first post by Lei announcing the commencement of operations at the new facility, which was accompanied by a photo, read, “The next-generation Xiaomi Smart Factory in Changping, Beijing is now in operation.”

• [Contd.] “We've invested RMB2.4 billion into this 81,000sqm facility, capable of producing 10 million flagship phones a year. This is also where the new Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 and MIX Flip will be manufactured.”

• [Contd.] “On the same note, we opened Xiaomi EV Factory this year. I guess you can call me Factory Manager Lei now!”

• This was followed by a post containing a video of Lei outside the factory, providing details about the size and cost of the facility with a caption that read, “Let me know in the comments what you're most curious about this Xiaomi Smart Factory.”

• The third post in the series included a video tour of the facility’s interiors, along with a room that helped engineers monitor and maintain control over the entire facility.

• Its caption read, “Step into the heart of our factory, the “War Room”. Our Xiaomi Hyper IMP (Intelligent Manufacturing Platform) is the brain of the operations, proactively solving issues and optimizing production.”

• In the final post, Lei showed off the company’s machinery, equipment and parts that made the humanless mass-production of smartphones possible, which was captioned, “At Xiaomi Smart Factory, our modular equipment allows us to easily switch parts based on the task at hand.”

Do you think Xiaomi’s humanless, 24/7, smart factory capable of quickly mass-producing smartphones can help it edge out competitors? Do you think its rivals should consider making similar moves?

Let us know in the comments below!