ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih continues the implementation of the WCM (World Class Manufacturing) system, within the framework of which the repair and replacement of the marking machine units of the continuous casting machine of the converter shop of the plant was carried out.
The priority of the WCM system is the “Directed Improvement” strategy, which in the process of implementation became for the steelmakers of ONRS under the leadership of the head of the converter shop Vladimir Vlasov not just a process of improvement, but a real motto.
And not in vain, because this direction covers a very wide range of actions. "Directed improvement" focuses on improving the working conditions of employees, reducing the risks associated with labor protection, improving equipment, reducing the loss of time for performing technological operations, etc. And the most striking example of the effective implementation of this direction in ONRS is the successful repair of marking machine No. 2.
The marking machines No. 1 and No. 2 installed on the continuous casting machine are designed to apply information on the melt, the number of the cast strand and the account number of the billet to the billet. This information is very important for the further processing or sale of the blanks. The personnel of the CCM faced the fact that the marking machine No. 2 did not knock out all the necessary information on the workpiece. Attempts to solve this problem by the specialists of the converter shop repair services were unsuccessful, since each of the services separately could not determine the cause of the malfunction.
As part of the implementation of the direction of the WCM-system "Directed improvement" it was proposed to use one of the tools - "QUICK KAIZEN" ("Rapid improvement"). On the initiative of the technological personnel and with the active support of the repair services, a team of ONRS specialists was formed to solve this problem. It consisted of electricians Dmitry Sholudyai, Mikhail Teslenko and Andrey Leskiv, engineer of the automation service Vladimir Kolyazin, senior foreman of ONRS Sergey Sukhorukov, foreman of electrical service Alexander Vasiliev, locksmith Mikhail Kirichenko, foreman of energy service Alexei Fimushkin and foreman of mechanical service Nikolay Efimenko.
The created team approached the development of "QUICK KAIZEN" in a structured way and meeting all the requirements of the methodology. Step by step, we went through the entire path necessary to solve the problem: describing the existing problem, conducting a "brainstorming" to identify possible causes of the occurrence, determining the true causes and drawing up an action plan.
After such a massive attack on the problem, the latter gave up - previously invisible malfunctions became visible, and therefore amenable to "treatment". So, it was necessary to dismantle the pneumatic cylinder of the marking machine, the piston of which did not return to its original position by 3 mm, and replace it with a reserve one. To perform welding it was decided to buy acetylene and welding wire. A new bushing was also installed on the striker. In addition, there were errors in the wiring diagram for connecting the sensors attached to the equipment, so adjustments were made to it in accordance with the correct connection of the wires. One of the sensors, on which the contact was lost, was replaced with a backup one.
As a result of fruitful cooperation in early September, after the release of the ONRS from the 8-day scheduled preventive maintenance, the marking machine was put into operation and is still in operation. Thus, with the help of "Rapid improvement" it was possible to determine and eliminate the causes of malfunction of the marking machine No. 2 of the continuous casting machine. But the main guarantee of a positive result was the well-coordinated, professional and purposeful work of a team of specialists, where everyone showed himself as a high-level professional who is not afraid of changes for the better. This once again proves the readiness of the employees of our enterprise for transformations, one of which is the implementation of the WCM system.
The article was prepared based on the materials of the corporate newspaper ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih "Metallurg".
