OREANDA-NEWS. January 30, 2015. POSCO`s unique and innovative technique QSS (Quick Six Sigma) is winning fans amongst small and medium-sized companies participating in the industry innovation 3.0 and innovative hub.

The president of Wooshin Pigment, where QSS helped bring about a change in the mindset of staff and a substantial cost reduction, Jang Sung Sook expressed the company`s gratitude. He hailed POSCO`s innovative programs for small and medium-sized companies as exemplary cases of the government`s industry innovation 3.0 on the message board on Cheongwadae website (the official website of the Korean president).

The results of small and medium-sized companies who have introduced the POSCO`s QSS are remarkable. They have succeeded in building a safe and pleasant working environment, with improved productivity, increased work engagement, and reduced staff turnover. In addition, profitability has been improved thanks to cost reduction, while sales have increased through the greater value they can bring to clients.

POSCO rolled out QSS since launching it in 2011 in earnest. The Pohang Steel Mill created the Pohang Innovative Hub in 2011 and brought QSS to 30 companies in the steel industrial complex following the good results of its initial deployment of QSS to a manufacturer of rubber-covered roll, with QSS helping to prevent work obstacles. The Gwangyang Steel Mill then created the Gwangyang Innovative Hub and spread it to small and medium-sized companies in the region, with expanded community support, including for public institutions, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, schools and restaurant industry, as well as small and medium-sized companies. Based on the success of Pohang and Gwangyang, in 2013 POSCO established the Seoul-Incheon Innovative Hub in the Seoul and Incheon area by connecting the Industry innovation 3.0 project to enable the shared growth activities of conglomerates and small and medium-sized companies. As of 2014, 450 companies in Pohang, Gwangyang and Seoul have introduced the POSCO`s QSS.

Small and medium-sized companies can apply to participate in the QSS program, with POSCO selecting the companies it will support according to its initial needs assessment. QSS consultants in POSCO work to thoroughly understand the problems in the field by implementing corporate diagnosis based on sector and product type. The consultants then support customized and innovative activities that address the corporation`s needs by listening to the VOC of executives. In particular, POSCO is trying to graft D+ (Task Discover Method), VP (Visual Planning), Fixed Amount/Genuine goods/Regular position, Neat/Tidy/Cleaning/Cleanliness/Habituation, and My Machine in order to improve basic facility functionality onto the type of business typically undertaken by small and medium-sized companies. It is trying to create a culture of innovation in which all staff can participate by inducing a change in mindset through staff training and company benchmarking to give small and medium-sized companies ownership of the gains they make in their manufacturing competitiveness. The safety diagnosis activities for the safety of staff at small and medium-sized companies and energy consulting to reduce energy wastage are also being undertaken.

POSCO plans to achieve coexistence with small and medium-sized companies by the continuous spread of QSS and by creating its unique and innovative activity brand. QSS is set to become the best example of the creative economy and lead the development of small and medium-sized companies nationwide.