The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 150



Only Krnovel

Episode 150 rebound (4)

There is no place where labor costs are as high as the commercial market.

We had to receive goods from sellers, store them in a warehouse, and then transport them back to the customer’s house.

The entire process had to be done by hand, so a huge number of people were needed.

Jeffrey didn’t spend hours talking about labor costs for no reason.

This was due to the large proportion of labor costs in the commercial market.

That’s why Jeffrey invested most of Amazon’s sales to save on labor costs, and now the results are starting to show little by little.

“If we join hands with Taewoo Group, is there a way to save on labor costs?”

“Would you like to build a robot with us? Robots are essential to complete the factory automation concept.”

“I heard that robot arms were being used in automobile factories, and there were plans to introduce them to Amazon distribution centers as well. However, I had not considered making the robot myself.”

I have encountered robotic arms several times.

Even at the Taewoo Motors factory, dozens of robot arms were helping with assembly work.

I am literally helping.

What I wanted was not just a robot arm to help with assembly, but a robot that could complete assembly without a human.

“The robot arms used in automobile factories are still not enough. “Wouldn’t we be able to drastically reduce labor costs if all processes were carried out only by robots, without people?”

“It would be great if that were possible, but is it possible? Logistics center work may seem simple, but it is more complicated than you think.”

“That’s why Taewo Group and Amazon must join forces.”

It was difficult for the Taewo Group to enter the robot business alone.

In order to reduce risk as much as possible, we needed another partner, and there was no better partner than Amazon.

In the case of other companies, there were many cases where the customer base overlapped to make it difficult to do business together.

Among the groups that do not compete with Taewo Group, Amazon could be seen as almost the only company that needed robot development.

“I also see the need to invest in factory automation. “But I’m a little afraid that what the CEO wants is more than that.”

“You can step out at any time. But once you start seeing results, you’ll never be able to stop. “You will become addicted to the practicality of robots.”

“Are you that sure?”

“sure. Together, Amazon and Taewo can significantly reduce development time. “Now that we have turned a profit, it is the right time to invest in robots.”

“The CEO asked me to join him, so how could I refuse? However, I did not know that Taewo Group also had a labor cost problem. “I understand that labor costs are less than half of those in the United States.”

The labor cost issue was needed not just now, but for the future.

In fact, if the factory was built in China or Southeast Asia instead of Korea, labor costs could be significantly saved.

However, it was not possible to save labor costs with such shortcuts forever.

Even in China, labor costs were bound to rise at some point.

There was no way the political world would just sit by and watch if new factories continued to be built overseas.

And the biggest problem was the population decline.

Although the birth rate issue has not yet emerged, the population will decline significantly in just a few years.

So, in order for Taewoo Group to continue to survive as a Korean company.

We had to quickly introduce a smart factory that goes beyond factory automation and combines robots and the Internet of Things.

“No matter what the labor cost is, if it can be replaced by a robot, it is unconditionally beneficial. Because robots don’t need a salary, monthly leave, or rest. “Can labor costs be cheaper than robots that can work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year?”

“I completely agree. Even if we cannot develop the robot that the CEO envisions, we can save a lot of labor costs by developing a robot that can only organize logistics.”

No further persuasion was needed.

Since Jeffrey was already imagining a logistics center with various robots moving around, we were able to quickly sign the contract.

“We have already acquired several Japanese robot companies. We also acquired robot companies in the U.S. and Europe and began development in earnest.”

“I will make a detailed plan!”

“Taewoo Group will also send experts to the United States, so let’s discuss together and come up with a plan.”

Artificial intelligence and robots.

It was also a preparation process for a smart factory.

Because it could be applied to various products of Taewo Group, development had to begin as soon as possible.

And if Geoffrey conducts it!

The results could have come out much faster than I expected.

***

Jeffrey muttered to himself and returned to the Amazon.

Just like when he first founded Amazon, he was enjoying various fantasies in his head.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Jeffrey like that. After all, bosses are excellent at getting things done. Even homeless people will start working if they get caught by the boss.”

“David seems to have a lot of free time these days. How can I give you some work?”

“I’m always welcome.”

It was David who came to America.

While I was in California, he had a meeting with American politicians.

“Did you properly convey your thanks to the White House? “I would like to greet you in person, but if I do that, problems may arise, so I have no choice.”

“Very well delivered. He also said that if there is anything I can help with, please ask at any time.”

I received great help from the White House.

It was the White House that even brought out the Super Section 301 bill for me, and I also planned to repay them.

“I have one more favor to ask you. “I’m thinking about bringing together SAVE Investment Company and the various companies we’ve invested in, but I need help from the White House to get a decent building.”

“Do I even need the White House’s help to buy a building? “Is the building owned by a government agency?”

“We are planning to lease a building owned by the Port Authority of New York for a long period of time.”

“If you are the Port Authority, are you considering the World Trade Center?”

“Shouldn’t we at least use New York’s landmarks to clearly show Wall Street how much power we have? That way, no more annoying things will happen. “You wouldn’t say it’s impossible, right?”

I scratched David slightly.

David raised one corner of his mouth.

“It is entirely possible without help from the White House. “I understand that the Port Authority of New York is already planning to lease the Trade Center to a private company long-term.”

“Is it possible before August?”

“It’s absolutely possible! “The boss is getting ready to move.”

World Trade Center.

It is one of New York’s landmarks.

It was also the building where the catastrophe of the 9/11 terrorist attacks would occur sooner or later.

I was planning to rent that building for a long period of time.

It was a long-term lease, and in terms of price, it cost more than money to buy a normal building.

It was too expensive for a gift to Bush.

Of course, I had already planned a way to get all that money back.

***

After finishing my business trip to the United States, I boarded a plane to Korea.

I always used Seoul Airport, but this time I finally entered Korea through the completed Incheon Airport.

“It was definitely well made. “It’s much larger and cleaner than Seoul Airport.”

“I am amazed every time I come. “I never imagined that there would be an international airport like this in Korea.”

I looked around Incheon Airport with the planning manager who came to meet me.

I had used Incheon Airport several times before returning, but seeing it after such a long time felt even more new.

When I was looking around the airport like that.

A mumbling voice was heard from somewhere.

“It looks like even celebrities are entering the country.”

“It seems so. “How about you return to work now?”

“Let’s do that.”

That moment.

In a crowd of over a hundred people, someone recognized me and shouted.

“uh?! “I am the crown prince of Taewoo Group!”

“Oooooh!”

“Vice President Kim Min-jae! “I’m a fan!”

Is it because you’re an idol fan?

They were people who slyly offered to shake hands.

Only after we took pictures together and signed autographs was we able to get out of the crowd and get into the car.

“This is my first time doing something like this.”

“We will increase the number of escorts in the future. Now the general public is starting to recognize the vice president.”

“It’s only natural that you recognize me, but I didn’t expect you to shake my hand and ask for my autograph.”

“The vice president’s popularity is growing hot these days. “Since the launch of the iPhone, the media has been pouring out articles praising the vice president.”

Taewoo Group’s stock price wasn’t the only one that was rebounding.

My image, which had fallen into ruin, recovered a lot, and the media no longer published articles criticizing me.

“When they took over Taewoo Semiconductor, they were anxious because they couldn’t catch me.”

“Did you know they were reporters? “I didn’t expect Taewoong Semiconductor to stabilize so quickly.”

I also saw an article saying that Taewo Group would go out of business due to the acquisition of Current Semiconductor.

The article also included information that the main culprit was me.

However, as it began supplying large quantities of semiconductors to the iPhone, Taewo Semiconductor’s deficit decreased significantly, and as semiconductor prices began to rise, such articles disappeared.

“Well, public opinion changes at any time. Even though they are praising me now, they will start criticizing me again if the stock price of Taewoo Group falls even a little.”

“The planning office will do our best to prevent such a thing from happening. “Isn’t that what the secretary and planning offices do?”

“You don’t have to do that. “I’m not the type to care about public opinion.”

I returned to the company with the planning manager.

In the vice president’s office, the presidents of Taewo Motors and Kai Motors were already waiting for me.

“Long time no see. “I recruited you to Korea, but I’m sorry for not being able to say hello to you often.”

“no. Rather, thanks to their indifference, I was able to reform Kai Motors as I wanted.”

“When did you learn Korean so much? “I would believe it if they said they were local.”

President Carlos showed off his proficiency in Korean.

As expected, CEO Carlos had excellent language skills, and with added effort, he quickly learned Korean.

“Aren’t you focusing too much on Kai’s car? “I am here too.”

“Of course I wanted to say hello. “I keep hearing that Taewoo Motors is gaining sensational popularity in the U.S. market.”

The competition between Kai Motors and Taewoo Motors was really fierce.

Carlos succeeded in normalizing Kai Motors, and Taewoo Motors was showing high sales not only in domestic market share but also in the US and Europe.

They were two companies that competed fiercely.

Thanks to this, Taewo-Kai Motors’ market share has come to occupy nearly half of the domestic market.

“The reason I invited you two here is because I wanted to talk about factory automation equipment.”

“When you say factory automation, do you mean robotic arms? “Starting with the Changwon factory, several factories are already carrying out tasks such as assembly and welding using robot arms.”

Is there any place that utilizes robots better than the automobile industry?

It has been an automobile factory that has used robot arms since the 70s.

The Changwon factory was using more than a dozen robot arms, each costing tens of millions of won.

But that wasn’t enough.

In order to introduce the smart factory I wanted, I desperately needed the help of the two presidents.