Hyundai Glovis’s knockdown operations enable smooth vehicle production in different parts of the world through optimization of car parts logistics. At the heart of it all is the focus and hard work of the people of the three Hyundai Glovis KD Business centers in Korea. We wanted to hear about the workings of these KD Business centers from the people who work there. Here is what three Hyundai Glovis employees, from Asan KD Business Center, Asan KD Business 2 Center, and Ulsan KD Business Center, had to say about their work and goals.
Knockdown (KD) is one of Hyundai Glovis’s logistics businesses. Simply put, KD is the shipping of a collection of car parts sourced from domestic and foreign suppliers to overseas assembly plants for the manufacture of finished cars. The key activities of KD include inventory management, packaging, and parts and packaging quality control. At present, Hyundai Glovis is operating three KD Business centers in the Korean cities of Asan, Ulsan for KD planning and KD-related sales and pricing management. As the purpose of KD is to supply parts to overseas car assembly plants in time for scheduled productions, Hyundai Glovis is reaching optimal performance in its distribution operations.
Q.It’s good to see all of you here today. Let’s start with introductions, please.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
Hello, I’m Cho Hyun-sung, senior manager at Asan KD Center 1. I joined the KD division of Hyundai Glovis in July 2010 and spent six years in Gwangju before transferring to Asan, where I’ve been for over five years now. Recently I’ve been assigned to a task force for restructuring Hyundai Glovis’s KD system, so I’m dividing time between Asan KD Center 1 and the headquarters. My philosophy is that, in a company, the individual is just a piece of the puzzle that is the organization, so I do my best to ensure that I’m a good fit as part the whole.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
Hello. Thank you for having me here today. My name is Kim Hyung-gun, and I’m a senior manager of the KD Operations Team in charge of production management. I’m currently based in the Ulsan KD Center, overseeing shipment of KD kits to the Kia plant in the state of Georgia in the US and the Hyundai plant in the Czech Republic.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
Hello, my name is Cho Hee-jae, and I’ve been with the KD Operations Team for the past five years as a production manager. When I first joined Hyundai Glovis I was assigned to the headquarters, but I made it known to the HR team that I was interested in gaining field experience, so they reassigned me to the provinces. I spent a year in the Ulsan KD Center, and am currently in Asan KD Center 2. Thank you for having me here today.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
Hello, I’m Cho Hyun-sung, senior manager at Asan KD Business Center. I joined the KD division of Hyundai Glovis in July 2010 and spent six years in Gwangju before transferring to Asan, where I’ve been for over five years now. Recently I’ve been assigned to a task force for restructuring Hyundai Glovis’s KD system, so I’m dividing time between Asan KD Business Center and the headquarters. My philosophy is that, in a company, the individual is just a piece of the puzzle that is the organization, so I do my best to ensure that I’m a good fit as part the whole.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
Hello. Thank you for having me here today. My name is Kim Hyung-gun, and I’m a senior manager of the KD Operations Team in charge of production management. I’m currently based in the Ulsan KD Business Center, overseeing shipment of KD kits to the Kia plant in the state of Georgia in the US and the Hyundai plant in the Czech Republic.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
Hello, my name is Cho Hee-jae, and I’ve been with the KD Operations Team for the past five years as a production manager. When I first joined Hyundai Glovis I was assigned to the headquarters, but I made it known to the HR team that I was interested in gaining field experience, so they reassigned me to the provinces. I spent a year in the Ulsan KD Business Center, and am currently in Asan KD Business 2 Center . Thank you for having me here today.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung,
Asan KD Business Center
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun,
Ulsan KD Business Center
Manager Cho Hee-jae,
Asan KD Business 2 Center
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
Q.KD is about sourcing car parts from suppliers in Korea and abroad and forwarding them to overseas assembly plants. What are your roles in Hyundai Glovis’s KD operations?
Q.KD is about sourcing car parts from suppliers in Korea and abroad and forwarding them to overseas assembly plants. What are your roles in Hyundai Glovis’s KD operations?
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
You can think of Asan KD Business Center as the big brother in our family of KD centers. Since Hyundai Glovis began its KD operations, Asan KD Business Center has been serving the role of the KD head office. At Asan KD Business Center, I’m involved in the development of new KD systems that are user-oriented and simple, because we see this as the KD product to be in demand in the near future. Within my task force, I collect ideas and data needed for restructuring our KD system, conduct detailed analysis of KD activities, and develop the different screens that comprise our KD system.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
The role that I play in production management encompasses all of the activities required for export to overseas customers, including getting all of the parts packaged to be shipped out, organizing containers for shipments to be released on time, and making sure our customers receive any items they need more urgently. Of course, the past couple of years have been tough due to the COVID pandemic. It brought a lot of uncertainty in how the overseas plants operate, which caused plenty of problems in how we get the KD kits ready on our end.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
I would say that COVID-19 impacted our entire KD operations network, Asan and Ulsan included. In my position, I’m in charge of the processes of shipment to Hyundai Glovis customers in North America. I also handle inventories across all of our packaging facilities in Asan, and work on improving the processes used in packaging facilities. The thing with shipment management is that you have to be flexible in the work you do depending on which customer you’re serving. Asan KD Business 2 Center, where I am right now, recently brought in some new smart packaging equipment. This is smart technology that can dramatically improve the way that we do things, but to get the most out of it you need to go through some standard stabilization phases, and that means we need to be extra vigilant in the packaging work that we do. Every day we’re finding new issues, and we have to resolve them quickly and effectively.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
You can think of Asan KD Business Center as the big brother in our family of KD centers. Since Hyundai Glovis began its KD operations, Asan KD Business Center has been serving the role of the KD head office. At Asan KD Business Center, I’m involved in the development of new KD systems that are user-oriented and simple, because we see this as the KD product to be in demand in the near future. Within my task force, I collect ideas and data needed for restructuring our KD system, conduct detailed analysis of KD activities, and develop the different screens that comprise our KD system.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Center
The role that I play in production management encompasses all of the activities required for export to overseas customers, including getting all of the parts packaged to be shipped out, organizing containers for shipments to be released on time, and making sure our customers receive any items they need more urgently. Of course, the past couple of years have been tough due to the COVID pandemic. It brought a lot of uncertainty in how the overseas plants operate, which caused plenty of problems in how we get the KD kits ready on our end.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Center 2
I would say that COVID-19 impacted our entire KD operations network, Asan and Ulsan included. In my position, I’m in charge of the processes of shipment to Hyundai Glovis customers in North America. I also handle inventories across all of our packaging facilities in Asan, and work on improving the processes used in packaging facilities. The thing with shipment management is that you have to be flexible in the work you do depending on which customer you’re serving. Asan KD Business 2 Center, where I am right now, recently brought in some new smart packaging equipment. This is smart technology that can dramatically improve the way that we do things, but to get the most out of it you need to go through some standard stabilization phases, and that means we need to be extra vigilant in the packaging work that we do. Every day we’re finding new issues, and we have to resolve them quickly and effectively.
Q.What was your first impression of Hyundai Glovis’s KD business?
Q.What was your first impression of Hyundai Glovis’s KD business?
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
When I first came on board, my first impression of the KD team members that were there ahead of me was that they really knew their stuff when it came to KD, and that there was this bond between them that went beyond just the usual working relations—we spend time together outside of work whenever we can, enjoying sports, getting drinks, and other activities. During my time at an outsourced packaging facility in Gwangju, I saw this work ethic and energy that I really admired in the cargo workers that did the grunt work. It’s still a source of inspiration for me in my day-to-day life at work.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
Having graduated college with a trade major, when I joined Hyundai Glovis I was excited about the export work that I could do. When they assigned me to production management, it was something unexpected and new to me, so my initial experience was one of being plunged right into all of these new things that I would have to learn. Once I got my bearings, I started to enjoy the work, which involved closely communicating with overseas plants and following up with the necessary steps.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
I found everyone in KD to be super friendly as well. They really took me under their wing, so I was able to become acquainted with my duties in no time. We do have a good time at work—we get things done and have a laugh here and there. After the welcome I got when I came on board, I’m now paying that forward to our new recruits.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
When I first came on board, my first impression of the KD team members that were there ahead of me was that they really knew their stuff when it came to KD, and that there was this bond between them that went beyond just the usual working relations—we spend time together outside of work whenever we can, enjoying sports, getting drinks, and other activities. During my time at an outsourced packaging facility in Gwangju, I saw this work ethic and energy that I really admired in the cargo workers that did the grunt work. It’s still a source of inspiration for me in my day-to-day life at work.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
Having graduated college with a trade major, when I joined Hyundai Glovis I was excited about the export work that I could do. When they assigned me to production management, it was something unexpected and new to me, so my initial experience was one of being plunged right into all of these new things that I would have to learn. Once I got my bearings, I started to enjoy the work, which involved closely communicating with overseas plants and following up with the necessary steps.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
I found everyone in KD to be super friendly as well. They really took me under their wing, so I was able to become acquainted with my duties in no time. We do have a good time at work—we get things done and have a laugh here and there. After the welcome I got when I came on board, I’m now paying that forward to our new recruits.
“Thank you, everyone at the KD centers! I couldn’t be here today without you!”
-Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
“Thank you, everyone at the KD centers! I couldn’t be here today without you!”
-Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
Q.What is the appeal of your role?
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
The KD sector is unpredictable, so where common knowledge doesn’t suffice, you have to play it by ear. When our carefully deliberated ideas are put into action, that’s the true beauty of my work for me.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
I’d say the biggest appeal of production management is how it lets you experience the whole variety of the KD business—overseas plant management, packaging facility operation, container release, everything.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
The different areas of KD work each have their own appeal. At first, I thought I would just be doing the tasks needed to have KD kits shipped out and reach customers on time, but I soon realized that my duties went beyond that. It is also my job to devise new and more efficient processes, and to acquire new equipment for greater productivity. Coming up with ideas for improving efficiency is the hardest part. But when they’re implemented and bear the fruit of making our activities more efficient, I feel like I’m right where I belong.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
The KD sector is unpredictable, so where common knowledge doesn’t suffice, you have to play it by ear. When our carefully deliberated ideas are put into action, that’s the true beauty of my work for me.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
I’d say the biggest appeal of production management is how it lets you experience the whole variety of the KD business—overseas plant management, packaging facility operation, container release, everything.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
The different areas of KD work each have their own appeal. At first, I thought I would just be doing the tasks needed to have KD kits shipped out and reach customers on time, but I soon realized that my duties went beyond that. It is also my job to devise new and more efficient processes, and to acquire new equipment for greater productivity. Coming up with ideas for improving efficiency is the hardest part. But when they’re implemented and bear the fruit of making our activities more efficient, I feel like I’m right where I belong.
Q.Which aspect of your work do you enjoy most?
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
For me, it’s the job of improving the processes that are in place at our KD center, straightening out complications and inconveniences.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
What I enjoy the most, and what I think is most important, is identifying issues in the orders to fulfill and in the running of packaging facilities, and running cross-checks to find solutions to those issues. This allows me, in my role, to make the workings of our KD center more efficient, and I really enjoy it.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
Sometimes we get a customer order for items on priority shipment, and it feels great to get all of the items packed into a kit and shipped out. It takes anywhere from two to three or sometimes four to five packaging facilities to get a kit packed up for a customer, so getting everything in order and in the right quantities takes a bit of juggling. But that’s what we do, and we always get it done right, which makes a great day at work for me.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
What I enjoy the most, and what I think is most important, is identifying issues in the orders to fulfill and in the running of packaging facilities, and running cross-checks to find solutions to those issues. This allows me, in my role, to make the workings of our KD center more efficient, and I really enjoy it.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
What I enjoy the most, and what I think is most important, is identifying issues in the orders to fulfill and in the running of packaging facilities, and running cross-checks to find solutions to those issues. This allows me, in my role, to make the workings of our KD center more efficient, and I really enjoy it.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
Sometimes we get a customer order for items on priority shipment, and it feels great to get all of the items packed into a kit and shipped out. It takes anywhere from two to three or sometimes four to five packaging facilities to get a kit packed up for a customer, so getting everything in order and in the right quantities takes a bit of juggling. But that’s what we do, and we always get it done right, which makes a great day at work for me.
“Finding the issues and putting the solutions into action! That’s how we make it all work!”
– Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
“Finding the issues and putting the solutions into action! That’s how we make it all work!”
– Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
Q.Was there a moment at work that made you particularly proud?
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
I think that anyone who has found their calling will agree that putting in the hard work that builds up to make a successful year is the most rewarding part of the job.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
It’s not uncommon to inadvertently stray from the set course of work or run into scenarios you’ve never handled before. Sometimes we stay late into the night to complete a shipment, and sometimes we have to come into work on the weekend if necessary to keep the overseas plants running on schedule. When you’re in the thick of it, it’s really taxing, but when I hear that the plants are working perfectly thanks to the work we did, that’s when I feel really proud.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
My proudest moment at work so far was when we brought new equipment into the packaging facilities and saw productivity skyrocket after it had all been set up. The last piece of equipment we got was an auto-labeler. It’s saving us a ton of work, because otherwise we would still be printing out labels, sticking them on, and making sure the labels match shipment contents, all by hand. After making the purchase decision, it took about a year to actually have the equipment set up and running on site after the complexities of selecting a supplier, reviewing funding, waiting for the turnaround, and having it brought in for a test run. We’ve installed auto-labelers in two of our packaging facilities, with four altogether, and all working wonderfully.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
I think that anyone who has found their calling will agree that putting in the hard work that builds up to make a successful year is the most rewarding part of the job.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
It’s not uncommon to inadvertently stray from the set course of work or run into scenarios you’ve never handled before. Sometimes we stay late into the night to complete a shipment, and sometimes we have to come into work on the weekend if necessary to keep the overseas plants running on schedule. When you’re in the thick of it, it’s really taxing, but when I hear that the plants are working perfectly thanks to the work we did, that’s when I feel really proud.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
My proudest moment at work so far was when we brought new equipment into the packaging facilities and saw productivity skyrocket after it had all been set up. The last piece of equipment we got was an auto-labeler. It’s saving us a ton of work, because otherwise we would still be printing out labels, sticking them on, and making sure the labels match shipment contents, all by hand. After making the purchase decision, it took about a year to actually have the equipment set up and running on site after the complexities of selecting a supplier, reviewing funding, waiting for the turnaround, and having it brought in for a test run. We’ve installed auto-labelers in two of our packaging facilities, with four altogether, and all working wonderfully.
“New systems, new procedures, new equipment!
Change takes time and work to bear fruit, but in the end, it’s all worth it!”
– Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
“New systems, new procedures, new equipment!
Change takes time and work to bear fruit, but in the end, it’s all worth it!”
– Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
Q.Are there any future plans or goals you’d like to share?
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
My goal for this year is to complete the restructuring of our KD system to a standard that improves work efficiency and convenience for everyone across our KD operations. Down the road, when years have passed, I want to be someone who can make my family and friends proud for having lived a life of purpose.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
What a great aspiration. Lately, my responsibility at work has been weighing on me. I find myself wondering what I could pass on to my team, as well as what new skills I could pick up. I want to be a source of motivation for my colleagues at work, and am doing my best to achieve this.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
I want to keep improving work efficiency in all the different areas of the KD business. I have plans to take up study of the systems we use in KD so that I can implement changes that directly translate into improved work efficiency. The end goal of this will be to create a more convenient work environment for everyone at work.
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
My goal for this year is to complete the restructuring of our KD system to a standard that improves work efficiency and convenience for everyone across our KD operations. Down the road, when years have passed, I want to be someone who can make my family and friends proud for having lived a life of purpose.
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
What a great aspiration. Lately, my responsibility at work has been weighing on me. I find myself wondering what I could pass on to my team, as well as what new skills I could pick up. I want to be a source of motivation for my colleagues at work, and am doing my best to achieve this.
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
I want to keep improving work efficiency in all the different areas of the KD business. I have plans to take up study of the systems we use in KD so that I can implement changes that directly translate into improved work efficiency. The end goal of this will be to create a more convenient work environment for everyone at work.
I’m sure all of your goals will be achieved.
Do you have any closing words for the rest of the team
at the KD centers?
I’m sure all of your goals will be achieved.
Do you have any closing words for the rest of the team
at the KD centers?
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
Spring is in full bloom, as are the cherry blossoms at the Ulsan KD Business Center. I feel that we’re really blessed to be stationed in the part of Korea where we are. I’m looking forward to the next gathering for coffee or a drink! Take care, everyone, and all the best to your loved ones!
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
I want to send a big thank you to everyone involved in Hyundai Glovis’s KD business, because you’re the ones who make it all possible. I love the atmosphere where we work. We’re like one big family. Stay safe from COVID-19!
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
With the workforce shuffles we’ve had, I feel like every one of us has taken on larger workloads. But let’s hang in there! Once we get over this hump, all of the hard work we’ve contributed will pay off, I’m sure of it! Let’s keep at it, everyone!
Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung, Asan KD Business Center
Spring is in full bloom, as are the cherry blossoms at the Ulsan KD Business Center. I feel that we’re really blessed to be stationed in the part of Korea where we are. I’m looking forward to the next gathering for coffee or a drink! Take care, everyone, and all the best to your loved ones!
Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun, Ulsan KD Business Center
I want to send a big thank you to everyone involved in Hyundai Glovis’s KD business, because you’re the ones who make it all possible. I love the atmosphere where we work. We’re like one big family. Stay safe from COVID-19!
Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
With the workforce shuffles we’ve had, I feel like every one of us has taken on larger workloads. But let’s hang in there! Once we get over this hump, all of the hard work we’ve contributed will pay off, I’m sure of it! Let’s keep at it, everyone!
Our colleagues spread across our KD operations are hard at work as we speak, driving the growth of Hyundai Glovis’s KD business. Their positions and roles vary, but they are unified in the shared vision of the future of Hyundai Glovis’s KD business. With support for each other, let’s take that next step forward to greatness.
Writer Editorial Department / Resouces Senior Manager Cho Hyun-sung,
Asan KD Business Center, Senior Manager Kim Hyung-gun,
Ulsan KD Business Center, Manager Cho Hee-jae, Asan KD Business 2 Center
2022.03.24