EV batteries must meet a wide range of automotive industry standards such as ISO, IATF, and VDA, as well as customer-specific requirements. Quality Assurance oversees systems aligned with these standards and ensures their effective implementation in the field.
LG Energy Solution manages its quality system in accordance with global automotive standards and customer requirements, systematically ensuring product safety and regulatory compliance. In this session, we spoke with Milena Kita-Villarruel from the Quality Systems team to learn more about Quality Assurance at LG Energy Solution.
Q. Please introduce yourself and describe your role.
Hello, my name is Milena Kita-Villarruel. I have been with LG Energy Solution for about five years, and I am currently a Senior Quality Engineer in the Quality Systems team.
My role in Quality Assurance is to manage IATF (International Automotive Task Force)1 standards and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) requirements through internal procedures and audit systems, and to ensure they are effectively implemented in the field. Through this work, we maintain systems that comply with automotive industry standards and deliver a level of quality that customers can trust.
Based on VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie) requirements, I conduct internal audits of the IATF system, process audits, and special audits, while also establishing internal regulations and confirming their proper application in the field. In addition, I lead employee training on automotive-specific requirements and help build a shared understanding of quality.
Q. What does Quality Assurance mean in the battery industry?
Quality Assurance goes beyond simply meeting battery manufacturing standards—it is about building trust with customers. Automotive industry standards such as ISO (International Organization for Standardization), IATF, VDA, and AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) are ultimately designed to ensure safety.
This is particularly critical for EV batteries since they are used on actual roads. For this reason, I believe this work is not just about documenting quality standards, but about protecting people.
At LG Energy Solution, product safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance are considered the most important values. Decisions related to product safety and quality are always made with customer satisfaction as the top priority.
Q. What is the most important aspect of Quality Assurance?
The most important aspect of battery Quality Assurance is accurately understanding numerous customer requirements and consistently reflecting them. Each customer has different customer-specific requirements (CSRs), and IATF standards must also be met. It is essential to incorporate customer needs from the design stage and tailor responses to each customer in every project.
Another key aspect is recognizing that each stage of production is interconnected. The way battery manufacturing processes are carried out can affect overall quality, and when employees understand these interdependencies and work accordingly, stable quality can be ensured.
Q. How has your experience at LG Energy Solution contributed to your growth, and what has it meant to you?
I started my career as a production engineer in the electrode department. After that, I built my expertise while working on the mixing process and was also dispatched to new plants to share my experience. Being selected among many engineers for dispatch opportunities gave me confidence.
Collaborating with colleagues across various sites enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of the entire battery production process and to view the same issues from different perspectives. These experiences also proved valuable when introducing production lines directly to customers, helping me understand how to see processes from the customer’s point of view.
In addition, I feel a strong sense of achievement when I exchange ideas and learn about quality through training, workshops, and post-audit processes. This work is a continuous journey of learning and growth, where I feel both responsibility and enjoyment.
Q. What differentiates LG Energy Solution in Quality Assurance?
One of LG Energy Solution’s strengths lies in its high level of automation and technological capability that can be observed in the field. Recently, the adoption of AI-based technologies has further enhanced process precision and efficiency. Another differentiating factor is its proactive approach to change and future readiness. LG Energy Solution continuously pursues change and applies new technologies in real-world operations. It also strengthens its competitive edge by proactively considering and preparing necessary standards even before customers request them.
Through this interview, we took a look at Quality Assurance at LG Energy Solution. Guided by global automotive industry standards, the company ensures these standards are properly implemented in the field and manufactures batteries with customer value as the top priority. LG Energy Solution will continue to move forward in delivering safe and reliable batteries.
- IATF (International Automotive Task Force): An international organization composed of major automotive manufacturers and industry associations ↩︎
