Midea Launches International Expansion Solution for Agentic Factories, Paving the Way for Chinese Companies
On June 9, 2026, Midea Group unveiled a groundbreaking initiative called the "International Agentic Factory Expansion Solution". This launch is not merely a step forward for Midea but signifies a crucial advancement in the globalization strategy of Chinese firms. The foundation of this program is rooted in the transformation of Midea's washing machine manufacturing facility in Jingzhou, which became the world's first WRCA-certified Agentic Factory in August 2025. The new solution includes a modular, standardized, and field-validated approach to overcoming common challenges faced by Chinese companies on the global stage.
Among the key components of Midea's international expansion strategy is a comprehensive intercultural training program for employees, which ensures the effective management of cross-border supply chains. This new model breaks down into 12 replicable modules designed for deployment across manufacturing sites globally.
Research from Deloitte indicates that 55% of Chinese enterprises are actively seeking growth through international expansion. Midea has identified and addressed three persistent challenges that hinder such efforts: long-distance cross-border supply chains, inconsistent quality standards across various export markets, and the complexities of managing a multinational workforce, given the linguistic, cultural, and legal differences involved.
The solution has been successfully tested at Midea's refrigeration facility in Thailand, showcasing impressive results: the implementation of 72 AI applications and 13 main agents across 25 different scenarios resulted in a 43% reduction in the end-to-end order processing time, a 32% decrease in customer complaints, and a remarkable 62% shortening of employee training and certification cycles. This proves the scalability of China’s smart manufacturing capabilities to a global level.
To enhance employee training, Midea has developed a multilingual training system that melds generative AI with virtual reality, cutting down the training period for new hires from eight days down to just three. As part of its quality control measures, Midea employs a seven-step approach to address issues from reporting to resolution, utilizing a database containing over 12 million quality-related cases. This system allows for rapid identification of production lines and root causes of customer complaints within seconds.
Furthermore, to bolster supply chain resilience, Midea has created a dedicated AI agent that monitors 35 critical nodes in real time, significantly reducing incident resolution times from 48 hours to less than 12 hours and maintaining a timely delivery rate of raw materials above 96%. Utilizing Annto’s integrated KD logistics solution, the material preparation rate rises above 99%, and the defect rate for finished products at the Thai plant has been halved.
Midea Cloud, in collaboration with KUKA, Annto, Hiconics, CLOU Electronics, and Midea Building Technologies, also plays a pivotal role in minimizing costs and enhancing efficiency through automated production processes, reusable packaging, and integrated energy-saving solutions.
In addition to this, Midea launched the "Midea Go-Global Partnership Program". As Simon Zhang, Midea's vice president and digital director, stated, this initiative doesn't merely focus on providing standardized equipment; rather, it aims to translate Midea's valuable experience into practical advice and implementation support for partners.
The co-development model has already proven successful. With Midea’s backing, Wuhan Honghai Technology completed its capacity expansion project in Thailand within five months—from infrastructure development to production—resulting in a 1.6 times revenue increase in Thailand by 2025. Furthermore, after 18 years of partnership with Midea, Xiamen Hexing Packaging transformed from a national supplier to a global partner by establishing manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia and North America, and was recognized as a global strategic partner of Midea in 2025.
This innovative approach underscores Midea's commitment to not only advancing its own manufacturing capabilities but also empowering other Chinese companies to effectively navigate the complexities of global markets and achieve sustainable growth.
Among the key components of Midea's international expansion strategy is a comprehensive intercultural training program for employees, which ensures the effective management of cross-border supply chains. This new model breaks down into 12 replicable modules designed for deployment across manufacturing sites globally.
Research from Deloitte indicates that 55% of Chinese enterprises are actively seeking growth through international expansion. Midea has identified and addressed three persistent challenges that hinder such efforts: long-distance cross-border supply chains, inconsistent quality standards across various export markets, and the complexities of managing a multinational workforce, given the linguistic, cultural, and legal differences involved.
The solution has been successfully tested at Midea's refrigeration facility in Thailand, showcasing impressive results: the implementation of 72 AI applications and 13 main agents across 25 different scenarios resulted in a 43% reduction in the end-to-end order processing time, a 32% decrease in customer complaints, and a remarkable 62% shortening of employee training and certification cycles. This proves the scalability of China’s smart manufacturing capabilities to a global level.
To enhance employee training, Midea has developed a multilingual training system that melds generative AI with virtual reality, cutting down the training period for new hires from eight days down to just three. As part of its quality control measures, Midea employs a seven-step approach to address issues from reporting to resolution, utilizing a database containing over 12 million quality-related cases. This system allows for rapid identification of production lines and root causes of customer complaints within seconds.
Furthermore, to bolster supply chain resilience, Midea has created a dedicated AI agent that monitors 35 critical nodes in real time, significantly reducing incident resolution times from 48 hours to less than 12 hours and maintaining a timely delivery rate of raw materials above 96%. Utilizing Annto’s integrated KD logistics solution, the material preparation rate rises above 99%, and the defect rate for finished products at the Thai plant has been halved.
Midea Cloud, in collaboration with KUKA, Annto, Hiconics, CLOU Electronics, and Midea Building Technologies, also plays a pivotal role in minimizing costs and enhancing efficiency through automated production processes, reusable packaging, and integrated energy-saving solutions.
In addition to this, Midea launched the "Midea Go-Global Partnership Program". As Simon Zhang, Midea's vice president and digital director, stated, this initiative doesn't merely focus on providing standardized equipment; rather, it aims to translate Midea's valuable experience into practical advice and implementation support for partners.
The co-development model has already proven successful. With Midea’s backing, Wuhan Honghai Technology completed its capacity expansion project in Thailand within five months—from infrastructure development to production—resulting in a 1.6 times revenue increase in Thailand by 2025. Furthermore, after 18 years of partnership with Midea, Xiamen Hexing Packaging transformed from a national supplier to a global partner by establishing manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia and North America, and was recognized as a global strategic partner of Midea in 2025.
This innovative approach underscores Midea's commitment to not only advancing its own manufacturing capabilities but also empowering other Chinese companies to effectively navigate the complexities of global markets and achieve sustainable growth.
Topics Business Technology）
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