African nations learn standardization from LG

LG Electronics, the flagship unit of LG Group, is passing down its know-how for standardizing technology to African nations to help bolster growth in the region, the Seoul-based company said.

The African Organization for Standardization and the chiefs of technology standardization at eight other African countries gathered at the standardization test lab in LG Electronics’ research and development campus in Gasan-dong on Tuesday to take a page from the South Korean electronics maker’s standardization procedures.

“We hope to make it part of our mission to help Africa take a lead in the global markets,” said Han Ju-u, senior vice president of LG Electronics’ quality control department.

African industries, particularly in the IT sector, currently operate based on different technology standards and certification procedures per country.

This practice is seen to be undermining technological development in the region, according to African industrial leaders, industry watchers say.

Korean firms, on the other hand, are known for its speed and exactness with which it seeks to standardize technology, particularly in the case of industry leaders such as LG and Samsung.

Samsung and LG are currently the world’s second- and third-largest handset makers, and also are at the top of the global television manufacturing industry.

Africa, in efforts to address the yawning gap on its home turf, has established the African Organization for Standardization.

The group is focused mainly on tapping into the standardization processes and quality control efforts at more advanced nations, LG Electronics said.

“(From LG’s example), we have clearly seen that standardized technology is a driving force behind world-class quality,” said Dr. Kioko Mange’li, chairman of African Organization for Standardization.

About 20 officials from the group and the individual standardization institutes of eight African countries including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia visited the LG facilities on Tuesday.

LG Electronics showcased its standardization and certification procedures, along with how the processes help improve product quality.

The company also pledged to step up bilateral cooperation with Africa to offer a leg-up to the region’s IT industries.

The visit from the African group came after LG Electronics was chosen as a model example of technology standardization at the Korea-African standardization forum being jointly hosted by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldcorp.com)