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한글로 보기 On May 28, an interview with Masaru Matsukawa, the newly appointed Managing Director and CEO of Yokogawa Electric Korea, was held at the company’s headquarters in Seoul. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including his impressions of his new posting, the company's "Industrial Autonomy" strategy, AI-driven plant operations, and expansion plans for the semiconductor and energy sectors.
Matsukawa took the helm of the Korean subsidiary in April this year. Having joined Yokogawa in 1993, he has spent over 30 years building expertise in sales and industrial solutions. Prior to his current role, he served as the head of the Industrial Sales Division at Yokogawa Solution Service in Japan.
"This is my very first time visiting Korea, both professionally and personally," Matsukawa said. "I am experiencing firsthand a highly dynamic, fast-paced environment powered by exceptionally talented individuals and a robust industrial structure. Korea has secured global competitiveness in the electronics and automotive industries, and its cultural sectors also hold immense global influence."
한국요꼬가와전기 본사에서 마츠카와마사루(Masaru Matsukawa) 대표이사
Expanding Beyond Oil and Gas into Semiconductors and Energy
Celebrating its 48th anniversary this year, Yokogawa Electric Korea is looking to diversify its business portfolio.
"While we have traditionally grown alongside the oil and petrochemical industries, adapting to recent shifts in the industrial structure is crucial," Matsukawa explained. "Moving forward, we plan to expand our solution offerings into diverse industry sectors, including semiconductors, energy, food, and pharmaceuticals."
At the core of this expansion is Yokogawa’s "IA2IA" (Industrial Automation to Industrial Autonomy) strategy. This concept represents a shift from traditional automation to autonomous operations driven by AI and digital technologies.
Traditional Automation: Operating equipment based on predefined rules and human inputs.
Industrial Autonomy: Systems that independently learn from data, detect environmental changes, and make optimal decisions with minimal human intervention.
Matsukawa noted that South Korea’s manufacturing sector currently faces structural challenges, namely an aging workforce of skilled engineers and tightening safety regulations.
"Industrial autonomy is not simply about replacing human labor," he emphasized. "It is about simultaneously enhancing production efficiency, profitability, and workplace safety. Our goal is to liberate field workers from repetitive tasks, enabling them to take on higher-level decision-making roles."
Proven AI Success: From Japan to Saudi Arabia
To realize this vision, Yokogawa is leveraging its FKDPP (Field Knowledge Data Processing Platform). This AI-driven platform blends real-time plant data with the insights of field experts to automatically optimize operating conditions.
Matsukawa highlighted a successful case study at an ENEOS chemical plant in Japan:
☉ The Challenge: Operators previously had to make dozens of manual adjustments every single day.
☉ The AI Solution: The FKDPP-based AI autonomously controlled the process, achieving more than 365 consecutive days of autonomous operation.
☉ The Result: Significant boosts in productivity and energy savings.
He added that the system's precision and stability in large-scale plant environments have also been verified through a major project with Saudi Aramco.
Bridging OT and IT for the Green Transition
The CEO also addressed the rapidly growing hydrogen, battery, and eco-friendly process industries.
"Customer demands are shifting from individual equipment efficiency toward total system optimization, encompassing energy, raw materials, and emissions," Matsukawa observed. "We are seeing a rapid surge in demand for carbon reduction, ESG compliance, data visibility, and real-time operational optimization."
He emphasized that the true strength of Yokogawa lies in its ability to merge OT (Operational Technology) with IT, seamlessly connecting field data with high-level systems to achieve ultimate plant optimization.
마츠카와마사루(Masaru Matsukawa) 대표이사가 설명하고 있다
Strategic Focus on the Korean Semiconductor Market
Regarding the semiconductor industry, Yokogawa aims to transition from a hardware supplier to a comprehensive solution provider.
"Currently, our semiconductor business in Korea largely revolves around supplying sensors and measuring instruments. However, we plan to expand into solution-based businesses," Matsukawa said. "In Japan, we have already established track records of delivering high-level data management layer (L3/L4) operational solutions to electronics and manufacturing clients in the automotive, pharmaceutical, and food sectors."
Expressing high interest in Korea’s tech landscape, he added, "While Korea's semiconductor industry is growing rapidly, the pursuit by Chinese competitors is fierce. Maintaining technological competitiveness and strengthening supply chain cooperation have become vital for both Korea and Japan."
Addressing Shared Challenges with a Long-Term Vision
Reflecting on the industrial shifts in both nations, Matsukawa noted that Japan previously held dominant positions in electronics, semiconductors, and LCDs before much of that manufacturing migrated overseas. Today, global competition in the EV and battery sectors is intensifying.
"Both Korea and Japan share the demographic challenges of low birth rates and aging populations, making the retention of skilled labor a critical issue for manufacturing sites," Matsukawa concluded. "AI and autonomous technologies are no longer just about efficiency—they are directly tied to industrial sustainability. Yokogawa Electric Korea has grown alongside Korean industry for 48 years, and we will continue to strengthen our product competitiveness and solution capabilities to remain a trusted, long-term partner."
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