Abstract: From the point of view of plug manufacturing process control, the co-authors discuss the causes, characteristics and mechanism of steel pick-up of the internally water-cooled bainite steel piercing plug, emphasizing that plug pointed end collapse and spot metal-losing are more serious forms of failure. Actions to effectively control the said steel pick-up problem include intensifying control of melting process and keeping the total inclusion content at the level of Class A_0.5B₁C_0.5D₁.