In the framework of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation "KAHRAMAA" performance development and upgrading plans, Electricity Network Affairs represented in Electricity Transmission Department has attained ISO 9001 : 2000 by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. LRQA who applies UKAS accreditation, comes amongst the top three reputable certifying entities in the world.
ENA Applies International Quality Management System
The Quality Management System of Electricity Transmission Department at KAHRAMAA Electricity Network Affairs has attained ISO 900:2000 certificate in Control & Load Dispatch of Electricity Transmission from generation facilities to customers besides Operation and Maintenance of the components of ET Network including overhead lines and underground cables and substations. This is in addition to Provision of 24/7 operation of the National Control Center and the Energy Management System. Quality is also applied in protection equipment and devices, auxiliary equipment, telecom and telecontrol equipment in the transmission system. Also, provision of response repair and preventive maintenance are quality controlled.
KAHRAMAA Meets the Increasing Demand on Power
ENA Director, Eng. Essa Halal Al-Kuwari stated that the directorate has committed to apply high quality standards to cope with the increasing growth the State witnesses. The department operates 140 substations transmitting 4300 MW to customers at all State areas (maximum demand was recorded during last June at 3835 MW). The department successfully managed to meet the unprecedented demand through its outstanding operation management. On its part, Preventive maintenance programs efficiently help in reducing interruption rates.
Quality and Administrative Documentation
ENA obtained this accreditation due to its commitment to the international quality standards in all its actions. It was eligible to obtain ISO 9001 certificate within the project executed under the supervision of the Internal Audit Department for the application of the administrative systems and measures and technical staff training. In fact, work was efficiently carried out and needed only the right documentation conducted through Lloyds Register.
Immediate Monitoring System
"The Higher Administration is well aware of the significance of executing ISO 9001 system due to its long term impact on cost decrease as well as development and growth increase." said Electricity Transmission Department, Eng. Ali Jassim Al-Njar
"This project copes with KAHRAMAA strategy of continuously developing and improving work performance at ENA to cope with the modern advancement" said Head of Operation and Maintenance at ET Department, Eng Nahar Al-Mutawah. "Immediate Monitoring System is the most advanced technique of network equipment maintenance. The adoption of this system should forecast faults and as thus reduces current interruption rate" he added.
ISO and Customer Satisfaction
It is worth mentioning that ISO 9001 system is a series of specifications aiming at assisting services corporations and industrial companies in administrative quality system documentation and development. The ultimate end is satisfying customers according to the contractual items and meeting their requirements. This shall be achieved through an internal administrative system to secure the stability of the quality of goods provided to customers (be they products or services such as water and electricity). The ISO 9001 system is considered one of the standard international systems adopted by the International Organization for Standardization ISO.
The application of ISO quality management proves the efficiency and reliability of Electricity Distribution Networks to meet the expectations of all customers.
KAHRAMAA Internal Audit and Quality Assurance Department
Under the directive of H.E. KAHRAMAA Chairman, the Corporation embarked on implementing a Total Quality Management System with the creation of the Quality Assurance Department in 2004.
KAHRAMAA decided to adopt the ISO 9000 Management System as the quality standard to follow because of its focus on customers and continual improvements. Since then, IAQA has worked closely with all departments in KAHRAMAA to develop business process documentation that meets ISO requirements.
Tangible improvements are already evidenced from the results shown in our regular performance monitoring and reporting.
QM System: a Step Towards Global Level
IAQA Department Manager Mr. Eddie Lim said, "The ISO 9001:2000 certification from Lloyd’s Register for KAHRAMAA is an additional independent confirmation that our quality management system is working and there is full commitment from ground operators upward. It also comes at a time when Electricity Transmission is working full steam to operate a network that is expanding at an unprecedented pace".
KAHRAMAA is not resting at ISO 9001:2000 certification. The corporation is continually seeking international benchmarks and other excellence standards to measure our performance in terms of quality.
Hence, the required facilities are provided to all departments for QM system application.