Xiaomi’s New Human-Less And Self-Improving Robot Factory To Make 10+MN Phones Yearly

Xiaomi has unveiled its fully automated smart production lines capable of operating around the clock without human intervention.

In a recent video, Lei Jun, CEO and founder of Xiaomi, shows how their intelligent system diagnoses and resolves issues. The company’s Hyper IMP (Intelligent Manufacturing Platform) acts as the operational brain, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the production lines.

“There are 11 production lines. 100% of the key processes are automated. We developed our entire production and manufacturing software to achieve this,” said Jun.

The tour showcases Xiaomi’s new facility in Changping, Beijing, which will soon open its next-generation smartphone production plant. The automation system features machines working in harmony to complete tasks and a micron-level dust collection device to maintain cleanliness. The intelligent machines also handle quality control, enabling the factory to produce one smartphone every second.

Spanning 81,000 square meters and backed by a $330 million (2.4 billion yuan) investment, this facility is designed to produce 10 million flagship smartphones annually. This includes models like the MIX Fold 4 and MIX Flip, which will be manufactured at a rate of roughly one every three seconds around the clock.

Since early 2019, Xiaomi has integrated automation into its production processes. The company’s smart factory in Yizhuang, Beijing, was fully operational and played an important role in manufacturing Xiaomi’s first book-style foldable smartphone, the Xiaomi Mix Fold.

Xiaomi’s commitment to advancing technological efficiency is evident in its fully indigenously developed core, the “Xiaomi Pengpai Intelligent Manufacturing Platform.” This advanced platform provides the factory with self-awareness, autonomous decision-making, and self-execution capabilities. It independently diagnoses equipment issues, optimizes processes, and manages the entire digital workflow from raw material procurement to delivery. The facility boasts 96.8 percent self-developed packaging equipment and 100 percent self-developed software, holding over 500 patents.

In the first quarter of 2024, TrendForce reported that the top six global smartphone manufacturers by production market share were Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, OPPO, Transsion, and Vivo, collectively capturing nearly 80 percent of the market.

Xiaomi, including its sub-brands Redmi and Poco, overcame last year’s high inventory challenges, producing 41.1 million units and securing the third spot in global market share.