Customer feedback from the field provides insights that extend beyond product quality — offering clues to the entire production process. Even the smallest inconveniences reflect concerns about operational stability and quality. Accurately identifying these issues and working together to resolve them leads not only to satisfaction, but to genuine trust.

LG Chem has continued to strengthen its field-focused support activities by closely reviewing partners’ processes, diagnosing issues and enhancing quality and safety standards. Through this effort, the PVC business has accumulated numerous improvement cases driven by close collaboration with our customers, with mutual trust deepening along the way. Today, we are pleased to share several PVC customer success stories.

Finding the Starting Point for Improvement Together

Customers who use PVC must manage both product quality and facility stability throughout their production processes. Contaminants and moisture generated at each stage can significantly affect product quality, and even minor issues in aging equipment or electrical systems may lead to unexpected defects or safety risks. To accurately identify these risks, LG Chem conducted an environmental and safety assessment along with a comprehensive inspection of electrical facilities. Our quality, production, instrumentation, and maintenance teams worked together to review potential vulnerabilities in each process. Customers noted that this diagnostic approach greatly contributed to improving production stability.

On-Site Customer-Tailored Improvement Cases

On-site inspections are more than just equipment checks. They allow us to identify the root causes of recurring issues in production environments. Because each customer using PVC operates with different product characteristics and operation methods, the types of challenges they face also vary widely. With this in mind, LG Chem examined key production stages according to the unique characteristics of each process, thoroughly reviewing factors that affect quality and safety. By analyzing process flow, working conditions, and equipment maintenance status, the direction for improvement became clear.

Company N, the market leader in commercial luxury vinyl tile (LVT), operates manufacturing facilities across multiple regions and needed to standardize safety management levels at each plant. Following a recent safety incident at its North American production site, the company faced increasing demand to strengthen safety practices across the organization. To benchmark the environmental and safety systems of a large corporation, Company N requested consulting from LG Chem. LG Chem introduced its environmental and safety framework built on Project Magnolia, sharing its global regulatory database, checklist management practices, and standards for controlling high-risk operations. LG Chem then conducted an on-site assessment at the customer’s plant, jointly reviewing equipment maintenance conditions, contamination control, working environments, electrical systems, and other risk factors across the production line. Company N commented that LG Chem’s support “provided practical guidance to strengthen the environmental and safety management systems,” adding that the partnership will continue to deepen through future plant visits and on-site assessments.

LG Chem and Customer Representatives Discussing in a Meeting Room

Company V, a manufacturer of sewer pipes and manholes in the eco-friendly water industry, operated in an environment highly sensitive to contaminants and moisture due to the nature of PVC pipes. LG Chem conducted a detailed inspection of the entire production process—from silo feeding and blending to conveying and packaging—closely examining points where foreign materials were most likely to enter. LG Chem also presented recurring defect types such as pipe surface flaws, color variations, and thickness irregularities, illustrating each issue with real examples and providing a structured explanation of defect mechanisms for each production line. In addition, the teams reviewed the facility and electrical conditions, identifying risk factors such as vibration, electrical load, the MCC, and panel overheating. Company V commented, “It was a meaningful opportunity not only to review product quality but also to assess the overall condition of our equipment with the support of production and maintenance experts. Through this process, we developed even greater trust in LG Chem.”

Company H, a manufacturer of plastic films, sheets, and boards, had been struggling with recurring issues of contaminants and carbonized residues in its deco sheet production process. To address this, it was necessary to identify root causes across the entire process flow. LG Chem conducted a thorough review of the full deco sheet manufacturing process, closely examining points with a high likelihood of foreign-material intrusion or carbonization. Using actual defect cases, LG Chem explained vulnerability factors in each process step and checked the equipment and electrical conditions, establishing a set of standards that Company H could use for ongoing maintenance. The partner company noted, “We were able to clearly understand where contaminants occurred and how the defects were structured. With the regular check sheet provided, it was a meaningful opportunity to build even greater trust with LG Chem and to assess the overall equipment condition as well.”

Company W, operator of Korea’s largest window-frame production line, had been struggling with recurring quality issues such as foreign materials, surface defects, and color inconsistencies during the sash molding process. Because even minor defects can directly affect the final product quality, thorough root-cause analysis was essential. LG Chem conducted a joint inspection involving quality, production, engineering, and instrumentation teams. By following the entire process—from raw material feeding and molding to assembly and packaging—the team identified defect occurrence points and contaminant inflow paths. They also analyzed molding defects and color variation mechanisms for each production line. Aging equipment and electrical panels were checked through thermal imaging to assess heat generation, while rotating machinery and piping were examined through vibration and frequency measurements to detect early signs of defects. Company W noted that the training on contaminant sources and defect cases helped them clearly understand sash defect types and management items, adding that the information provided gave them practical help.

Company K, a producer of PVC and PET films recognized for its technological capabilities in the food and pharmaceutical packaging markets, detected early signs of abnormality in its electrical systems and required a detailed inspection. LG Chem conducted thermal imaging and corona discharge tests focusing on the transformers and distribution panels, identifying potential issues such as overheating and partial discharge. The team also examined items requiring early intervention, including moisture intrusion inside the panels and the need for silica gel replacement. According to the partner company, the inspection enabled them to identify equipment risks in advance and strengthen operational stability.

Environmental and safety evaluation is not just about equipment checks—it is a critical process to reduce recurring risk factors. LG Chem has been enhancing the inspection framework based on its unique environmental and safety roadmap, establishing a prevention-centered system that surpasses basic regulatory compliance. The company conducts process hazard assessments while verifying alignment with safety standards. Partners have noted that this approach strengthens both production stability and workplace safety. Inspections grounded in a robust environmental and safety system provide the foundation for reducing risks and improving process efficiency.

Production Reliability Built on Safety Standards

Partner companies that use PVC each operate under different production environments and process conditions. LG Chem has maintained ongoing communication with them by identifying site-specific issues. Process inspections, quality support, and environmental and safety assessments were not one-off activities, but part of our continuous management efforts to reduce customer inconvenience and enhance operational stability. These efforts have resulted in various improvement cases observed directly on-site, and partner companies have noted that the support provided meaningful, practical help in understanding their processes and ensuring quality stability. Going forward, LG Chem will continue strengthening collaboration with its partners, building a safe and stable production environment, and further enhancing competitiveness in the PVC sector.