Productivity Soars with AI Technology... POSCO Pohang Steelworks Introduces Coil Car Material Snag Detection System

Real-Time Monitoring and Alarm System
Enhancing Work Efficiency and Safety

POSCO Pohang Steelworks has dramatically improved safety and productivity in the workplace by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

POSCO Pohang Steelworks, real-time workplace monitoring using AI-based Coil Car material snag detection system.

The 'AI-based Coil Car Material Snag Detection System' introduced at Pohang Steelworks was developed to address the material snagging issues of Coil Cars, special vehicles used to transport wire rod coils in the wire rod mill. Previously, workers visually inspected the Coil Cars for abnormalities, but with the AI system, real-time monitoring and automatic alert functions have become possible.

This system combines object recognition algorithms with CCTV footage and adds an alarm function to the monitor inside the driver's cabin, helping workers quickly identify and respond to problem situations.

Led by the Pohang Steelworks wire rod mill and developed in collaboration with the Smart Help Center and the EIC Technology Department, this system was trained on over 3,000 data samples to tune the model and establish the alert system.

As a result, it has been able to detect abnormal Coil Car situations, which previously occurred about three times per month, in advance and respond swiftly, thereby reducing line downtime.

In the past, improper loading of coils onto the Coil Cars required significant time and manpower for recovery work, but after the AI system was introduced, these issues were resolved, greatly saving time and costs.

A POSCO official stated, "This system will advance beyond simple monitoring to be linked with automatic control," adding, "We will make this a case that accelerates the digital transformation of industrial sites and strengthens corporate competitiveness."

POSCO Pohang Steelworks plans to create a safer working environment by introducing safety systems utilizing AI technology and to develop a smarter and safer steelworks through continuous technological development.