The Cold Rolling Mill 1 at Dangjin Integrated Steelworks was certified as a tandem cold mill in an official ceremony on July 20.
Now known officially as Tandem Cold Mill 1, the newly certified facility acquired initial official recognition for its upgrades in December 2020, and afterwards underwent further dramatic upgrades from January 2021 to July 2022, which included work environment improvements and removal of safety hazards with the goal of achieving the new certification.
Notable improvements included a 71% reduction in the TCM processes tied exclusively to outer panel material production and a 10% reduction in overall breakdowns.
Dangjin Steelworks believes that it was the change in its perception of potential defects that allowed it to obtain the tandem cold mill certification.
Heightened awareness of potential defects and what they could cause was instilled in all of the staff at the Dangjin plant. They were trained to form higher perceptiveness and understanding so as to move away from the perception that “oil leaks in rolling mills are normal” and instead hold a mindset that “rolling mills should have no leaks.”
The facility improvements that ultimately led to the certification were driven by penetrating ideas formed in the work environment and the will to solve problems. Immediate, effective, and specific actions followed, which allowed for fortification in equipment.
“The credit for this outstanding achievement goes to the efforts of everyone in the field,” said Vice President Park Jong-sung, the head of the Blast Furnace Business Division, who congratulated everyone involved in making the certification possible.
Additionally, Dangjin’s Production Division 1 is currently in the process of upgrading its Pickling Line 1 with the goal of obtaining the “World Best Line” certification.