Posco is working toward automating its innovation activities by quickly but smoothly pursuing 6 Sigma. In support of its efforts, Posco recently invited CEO Phong Vu of SSMI, a 6 Sigma specialist in the U.S., for a consultation, and began a series of meetings with him regarding the overall activities of 6 Sigma on Jan. 24.

Through the consulting service, Posco plans to accelerate its 6 Sigma activities according to the conclusion that “quick but smooth activities for 6 Sigma are critical” for supporting an international Posco.

The consultation comprised a variety of programs such as education and special lectures for the Posco executives by CEO Phong Vu. Mr. Vu was able to properly understand Posco because he trained the MBB, champions and all executives at Arizona State University last year and has had interviews with the major staff members by level and sector.

CEO Phong Vu arranged and announced the results of the consultation in a special lecture held after the management meeting. In the meeting, Mr. Vu presented the diagnosis results on the maturity of Posco’s 6 Sigma, advantages of 6 Sigma activities pursued by Posco and opinions for improvement.. “The 6 Sigma activities of Posco are very sound and reliable. The 6 Sigma has been advanced to a substantial degree because of the strong devotion of leaders, organizations and IT infrastructures such as POSPIA and MES,” he explained.

However, “the innovation supporting a Global Posco can’t be achieved just by the current well-established processes and operating abilities. What is required more than ever is global-minded business leadership and innovative thinking on the part of executives and employees. Simpler and more speedy and flexible activities are more critical than the application of uniformed methodology”, he pointed out.

In particular, CEO Phong Vu emphasized that the major fields for improvement were the definite recognition by executives and employees of the reality of, and a consensus on, the changes under a globally competitive environment. He also suggested the necessity of “Quick 6 Sigma”, which can be pursued in the field for realizing the management vision “Global Posco” more quickly. Moreover, he mentioned methodology that could be applied to the non-manufacturing fields.

Meanwhile, CEO Gu-Taek Lee joined Mr. Vu’s all-day training for 6 Sigma, along with the Presidents in the invested companies, which was held in the Posco center on Jan. 28. After the training, CEO Lee announced his 6 Sigma management philosophy to the Presidents in the invested companies. “The most important management issue of Posco is our global growth this year. However, the challenge is the method that we work with. For Posco to be a global company, our working method, that is, the ‘Posco Way’, shall be backed up. And the ‘Posco Way’ shall be reasonable and acceptable,” CEO Lee pointed out.

Moreover, “6 Sigma will be of great help for how to think, how to work and how to cultivate manpower. 6 SIGMA is an innovative tool that is worth doing,” emphasized CEO Lee. Through careful analysis of the consultation results, Posco will actively reflect the analysis on the 6 Sigma activities in the future