Lee Jae-yong calls for Samsung to stabilize component supply

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong looks around the Samsung Electro-Mechanics production line in Busan on Thursday. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong called for the need to stabilize the supply of electric components produced by Samsung Electro-Mechanics in the face of growing demand during a tour of the parts affiliate’s production line in Busan on Thursday.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is 23.69 percent owned by Samsung Electronics, the largest shareholder, and produces chip parts, printed circuit boards, camera modules and network modules.

The component in question is multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC), a type of capacitor designed to store electrical energy in various electronic components and devices.

The production facility manufactures MLCCs for use in electronic devices and automobiles.

There has been a global shortage of parts with an explosive growth in smart devices and electric vehicles.

“Lee was briefed by executives about the development state of MLCCs for the automotive sector and smart devices and network and camera modules, followed by a discussion of mid- to long-term strategy in the face of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G” Samsung Electronics said in a statement.

Lee was also quoted as saying at the site that “We should be at the forefront of spearheading innovation and not be brought down by uncertainties.”

Accompanying Lee was Samsung Electro-Mechanics CEO Kyung Kye-hyun and Kim Doo-young, vice president at the component manufacturer.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]