Gwangyang Steelworks Develops 'Quality Risk Monitoring System'

A System That Automatically Detects and Shares Product Quality Issues

Systematic Management of Anomaly History Enables Preemptive Action Before Mass Defects Occur

[Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Kim Jiyong) announced on the 14th that it has developed a ‘Quality Risk Monitoring System’ and has embarked on ‘Zero Defects’.

Gwangyang Steelworks mainly produces automotive steel sheets, so the quality design standards are stringent, and it manufactures high-end products that are sensitive to work methods and equipment conditions.

The Quality Technology Department of Gwangyang Steelworks must verify whether the products are designed according to customer requirements to ensure product quality and continuously monitor the manufacturing process for any abnormalities. In addition, in case of abnormalities, organic collaboration is required not only between the Quality Technology Department but also between the customer order management department and the on-site operation department for prompt action.

However, it took considerable time to query data to extract and select defective materials and to locate the remaining materials produced on the same line when abnormalities were detected. Also, since data was managed differently by each department, there were limitations in sharing this information among related departments.

To solve this, the Quality Technology Department of Gwangyang Steelworks established a quality abnormality response process by department and standardized the criteria for judging abnormalities. Then, they automated the data extraction method and newly built a ‘Quality Risk Monitoring System’ that allows related departments to view the same list of defective materials and automatically share it immediately upon detection of abnormalities.

In particular, it is more meaningful in that information on materials judged to be defective is shared in real-time with the person in charge of response, and the history of abnormalities is systematically managed, enabling proactive quality risk response. This makes it possible to inspect, check, and take action on equipment before mass defects occur on production lines that chronically cause repeated defects.

Gwangyang Steelworks plans to further develop the system by applying AI models to the accumulated data in the future.

A representative from the Quality System Section of the Quality Technology Department at Gwangyang Steelworks said, “The existing work method had many difficulties, such as the reduced value of quality information,” and added, “The new Quality Risk Monitoring System is significant in that it prevents human error and can proactively eliminate quality risks.”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang Steelworks plans to continue growing as a respected 100-year company by actively supporting technology sharing and capacity building among employees, such as holding smart technology competitions that share achievements developed by applying various smart technologies to field know-how, and engineer technology conferences where engineers from each steelworks department share achievements and know-how in solving various technical problems and technology development.

Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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