Technology & Steel Application - News

Posted on 18 Nov 2010

2010 SEAISI Training Programme in Korea

The 2010 SEAISI Training Programme with the theme "6-Sigma application in developing quality steel products by POSCO" was held in Korea from 18^th to 22^nd October 2010. There were 17 training participants from the SEAISI regular member countries.

The Training Programme was fully supported by POSCO, Korea Iron and Steel Association (KOSA), TaeguTec, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co,Ltd and Hyundai Motor Company.

The first two days of training were conducted at Pohang Works, POSCO. It was an enriching experience for the participants. They visited the POSCO museum with the futuristic building set among the green, yellow and red leaves of the trees in the autumn season. The participants were given a guided tour of the museum with a narration on the history of the iron and steel industry in Korea and the development of POSCO.

The narration covered "Iron in human history in Korea", the dream of prosperity, the drive to create an integrated steelworks, construction of Pohang Works and first blast furnace. POSCO has established itself as a world-class steelmaker while also becoming one of Korea's most loved companies and a partner in the nation's economic growth (1992-2003). From 2003 onwards, POSCO strives to earn the trust and respect of the world. This aim is the driving force behind POSCO's current effort to create "another success story" 

The museum tour was followed by a company briefing at POSCO's Public Relation Center. The participants then proceeded to tour the main plant in Pohang Works covering blast furnace, steel making and rolling mill. They were greatly impressed by POSCO's effort to make the steel plant really green and clean.

In the afternoon on the first day, there was a presentation on POSCO's innovation activities covering Introduction to POSCO, History of Management Innovation, Innovation of "Way of Working" and Key Success Factor. The participants then visited the "Endless Rolling Mill" in the Hot Strip Mill as an example of the best practice of innovation activities. The first day training programme at Pohang Works ended with a presentation by the Korea Iron and Steel Association

The second day of training was on Quick Six Sigma (QSS). The lecturer described how POSCO succeeded in changing the mind of its employees to bring the company to be one of the best steel producers in the world. He also explained how POSCO strived to create the best environment for all employees where they could enjoy their work and at the same time continue to make innovations and improvements without producing waste. The participants were shown the best practice of QSS in the Blending Area of Sinter Plant, Maintenance Department and Cold Rolling Mill.

On the third day, participants were taken on plant tour to TaeguTec, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Motor Company. TaeguTec's history began in April 1916 in Gangwon Do, after the Sang Dong mine was discovered. Since the mine's discovery, TaeguTec has surfaced as a leading manufacturing company supplying cutting tools and industrial products such as tungsten carbide rolls and tungsten powder to the global manufacturing industry. TaeguTec also leverage on advance technology from abroad for the development and production of a broad range of cutting tools to enable TaeguTec to serve the global metal cutting market.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) built the world's largest shipyard in 1972. With creative wisdom and pioneering spirit, HHI rose to the position of the world's top shipbuilder and turned Korea into the world's leading shipbuilding country. Since then, HHI has utilized its accumulated technology in shipbuilding to diversify its business activities into other industrial plant & engineering, electro-electric system and construction equipment.

Founded in 1967, Hyundai Motor launched Korea's first automobile, Pony, in 1976. In 1996 Hyundai Motor exceeded 10 million units in total production. By enhancing Hyundai's brand image through high quality and unique marketing initiative, Hyundai Motor is steadily climbing the ranks since it first entered the Top 100 Global Brand in 2005. Last year, Hyundai succeeded in attaining the position of the 8^th Top World Ranking car producer.

Besides serious training, the participants were also given a chance to know the original ancient culture of the Korean people when they were taken on a tour to the ancient city of  Gyeongju. The participants visited the Bulguksa and Seokguram temple which are in the UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list and also visited Cheonmachong, the tomb of King from Shilla Kingdom.  

On the last day, the participants were taken on a tour of Gwangyang Works, POSCO. Unlike the Pohang works with the U shape plant arrangement, Gwangyang Works is arranged in a straight line and was built on reclaimed land. First commissioned in 1987, Gwangyang is designed to be a 21^st century cutting-edge steelworks and boasts of the state of the art process automation. With a crude steel production around 18 million tons per year, Gwangyang Works produces high value added products such as automotive steel, high strength structural steel and high grade API steel. The site tour ended with a visit to the Safety Simulation Center. This was followed by a farewell dinner at Baekwoon Plaza in the vicinity of Gwangyang works.

The five day training programme in Korea was really useful, interesting and provided the participants a new horizon and view of the success story of the Korean people in building their industries, particularly the steel industry. It also provided the opportunity for the cultivation of friendship among the training participants from the SEAISI regular member countries.

SEAISI would like to convey its deepest appreciation to POSCO, KOSA, TaeguTec Ltd, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.,Ltd and Hyundai Motor Corporation for their excellent arrangement and hospitality. We would also like to thank all the training participants for your support and cooperation.

SEAISI, November 2010

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