Designing a technical change management system at Palabora Mining Company Limited

Abstract

The author started working as Electrical Services Manager with Palabora Mining Company Limited (Palabora) in March 1997. Experience was gained at Sasol Synthetic Fuels with implementing a Management of Change (MOC) system. A need was identified to establish a system at Palabora to conform to the legal requirements regarding hazardous area and the related explosion protected equipment. The system was implemented, but problems were soon experienced with unauthorised changes taking place in these areas. Problems were also experienced with electrical personnel on the property implementing equipment that does not conform to the technical requirements of the environment. This was either done because the personnel were inexperienced or ignorant. The author identified a need at Palabora to manage technical change to: - Ensure that a uniform, systematic approach is followed with all changes. - Optimise the utilisation of scarce resources on site. - Enable the tracking of technical changes across the various systems. The author would like to thank the following people for their inputs during the study period and in designing this technical change management system. a) My fellow students for their inputs during various interventions. b) My family for the time they set aside to allow me to concentrate on my studies and the dissertation. c) All the Palabora employees, Sasol employees and consultants who have contributed to this dissertation. d) All the lecturers for the quality of their inputs that contributed to me attaining a MBA.