Systemization of engineering track quality plan for business development and integration : Sasol case study

Abstract

The role that quality management plays in business development cannot be overemphasized. Most of the products and services that we enjoy are results of good quality management efforts. Some of these efforts are so subtle that we take no note of them. When a product or service does not meet acceptable standards it is as a result of failure or shortcoming in the quality function. Companies that consistently deliver good product and services in a timely fashion succeeded mainly because of the efforts they commit to quality management. There is now a proliferation of high technology projects and advanced production endeavours in the world. The issue of quality must therefore follow a deliberate course of planning if any desirable result will be achieved. This research dissertation addressed the problem of managing the quality process of high technology development projects in the petrochemical industry. A systemized process was developed which led to a scientific control system. It described the methodology used, which permitted a free flow of operations and better control of concurrent activities. This facilitated the analysis of individual performances for better management control. The relative merits of performing duties concurrently were discussed. The problems associated with implementing standard operating procedures in quality management processes were addressed and where possible solutions proposed, which could be tested in a live setting. It is worth noting at this point that this research work provided a standard operating workflow through systemization for engineering track quality plan only. Other tracks do exist in the business development and integration models for high technology development projects.