AI cuts inspection time 67%, boosts output 38% in nuclear fuel manufacturing

Integrating AI into the nuclear fuel manufacturing process for power plants has cut inspection time by 67 percent and increased daily output by 38 percent.

KEPCO Nuclear Fuel announced Wednesday that it won the AI Innovation Award at the 2026 Public Institution AI Innovation Challenge, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The competition was established to identify outstanding cases of AI-driven public service improvement and operational innovation. A total of 316 projects were submitted by public institutions nationwide, and 30 were selected as winners through written and presentation evaluations.

KEPCO Nuclear Fuel was recognized for applying physical AI to its manufacturing operations through an AI-based spacer grid laser welding system.

Spacer grids are critical components inside nuclear fuel assemblies that hold fuel rods at fixed intervals. Previously, the laser welding and assembly inspection processes relied heavily on worker skill and manual labor.

The company introduced AI-based automatic welding position correction technology and a smart assembly monitoring system to those processes. The AI precisely adjusts welding positions and monitors assembly conditions to improve work accuracy and production efficiency.

Since the system was deployed, inspection time has fallen 67 percent compared with before, and daily output has risen 38 percent. Process automation has also reduced the risk of musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive tasks and injuries from product drops.

KEPCO Nuclear Fuel plans to showcase the technology at BIXPO 2026, an invention and technology innovation exhibition to be held in Gwangju in November.

"This award recognizes the results of combining field expertise with AI to achieve manufacturing innovation," said Jeong Chang-jin, president of KEPCO Nuclear Fuel. "We will continue to expand the application of physical AI and actively pursue digital transformation in nuclear fuel design and research and development."