POSCO Future M selects 28 AI projects, plans workplace rollout by first half of 2027

POSCO Future M said on October 14 that it had held an AI Festival at POSTECH in Pohang the previous day to share employee-developed AI projects. The event reviewed the results of an AI 100-day challenge that began in June. The company selected and awarded 28 examples across two categories: applications for office and manufacturing efficiency, and videos for internal publicity, safety and education. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]

The top award went to a furnace-heater condition prediction model used in cathode-material production. The company said the system analyses heater operating information to estimate failure risks and set inspection priorities. It is intended to support inspections and replacement before equipment problems cause unexpected repair work or interruptions to production, according to reports by Asia Economy and Dong-A Ilbo. [ 1 , 4 ]

Other leading awards went to an AI materials-management and purchasing system and a programme automating scanning electron microscope data collection and analysis. The purchasing system searches information across different systems and recommends available materials and domestic substitutes. The microscopy programme automates imaging of product particles and analysis of their size and shape. Selected projects will undergo workplace testing and employee feedback before planned deployment by the first half of 2027. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]

The company aims to increase manufacturing productivity by 30% and shorten product-development time by 50% by the first half of 2028. It said it was developing a working system in which AI handles improvement planning and execution while employees make final judgments and decisions. Reports said its broader AI transformation programme covers manufacturing, research and development and marketing, following a digital strategy announced in July and a project launched in September. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]