Gwangyang Steelworks Hosts Predictive Maintenance Technology Competition for 'Changing Work Methods'

Sharing Cases of 'Changed Working Methods of Maintenance Staff'... Cho Dae-in, Rolling Equipment Department Manager, Wins Top Award

Significantly Enhancing Safety by Minimizing On-site Inspections and Emergency Repairs through Early Detection of Equipment Abnormalities

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Kim Ji-yong) announced on the 18th that it held the 2021 Predictive Maintenance (PIMS) Technology Competition on the 15th.

Predictive maintenance technology utilizes big data collected from equipment sensors or process control to monitor equipment status, predict failures, and induce preemptive maintenance to prevent equipment accidents.

The equipment division of Gwangyang Steelworks held the competition for the first time in POSCO history to share cases of equipment management using predictive maintenance technology that prioritizes safety and to promote its activation.

In particular, the equipment staff explained the use of the predictive maintenance system in real-time through remote connection and held discussions on future development directions, differentiating it from conventional presentation-style competitions and attracting attention. Participants said it was even more meaningful as they created a ‘change in the way of working’ themselves and shared it with their colleagues.

At the 1st Predictive Maintenance Technology Competition, six projects vividly presenting cases where maintenance staff implemented unmanned inspections and economical equipment management through predictive maintenance technology were entered. Judges comprehensively evaluated △creativity △effectiveness △scalability and selected one grand prize and one excellence prize.

The grand prize was awarded to Jae-daein Cho, an instrument engineer from the Rolling Equipment Department, who presented the ‘Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance System Construction for Coated Steel Sheet Production Plant Equipment.’ The excellence prize went to Jeong-seop Sim, a manager from the Wire Rod Equipment Department.

Jae-daein Cho greatly improved the efficiency of the existing equipment inspection method with a remote equipment monitoring system using ‘data visualization’ technology. He incorporated on-site equipment inspection know-how into predictive maintenance technology such as real-time alerts for equipment monitoring and anomaly detection, eliminating safety risks and significantly reducing daily inspection items to enhance efficiency.

Notably, he achieved a major accomplishment by developing an algorithm to analyze equipment status and predict the timing for parts replacement.

Jae-daein Cho said, “I am happy that the predictive maintenance system construction has increased safety during equipment inspections for me and my colleagues,” and added, “I will continue to strive to create a safe steelworks through ongoing technology development.”

Jung Beom-su, Deputy Director of the Equipment Department, commented, “It is very important to establish safe and efficient equipment management across all steelmaking processes by building specialized predictive maintenance technologies tailored to each division, as presented today.” He urged, “I hope POSCO achieves a virtuous cycle of equipment management through continuous development of predictive maintenance technology suited to POSCO’s present and future situations and creates a good working environment.”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang Steelworks is rapidly expanding the predictive maintenance system by establishing a pilot plant applying AI model-based failure prediction technology and developing a real-time equipment monitoring system for all plants using POSCO’s proprietary technology. Through this, it not only prevents major failures and minimizes safety risks, on-site inspections, and emergency repairs to protect employees’ safety and happiness but also leads a practical change in the way of working through technology development and application involving all employees.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr