Paper 11: The Control of Quality in Power Plant: (A Large User's Campaign against Manufacturing Defects)

Abstract

As an extensive user and purchaser of engineering products, the C.E.G.B. has a national responsibility for ensuring a continuous improvement in the quality and reliability of power plant. There has always been close collaboration between the C.E.G.B. and its suppliers in research and design; this collaboration has become closer in recent years as technology has rapidly advanced in the power station field. To permit timely and trouble-free commissioning of large boiler/turbo-generator units with satisfactory reliability in service, the C.E.G.B. and its suppliers are now appreciating the need for an equally close relationship throughout the manufacturing and erection stages. To assist in this, a Quality Control Unit was set up at C.E.G.B. Headquarters to encourage plant suppliers to accept the principles of quality control, and so bring about improvements in their organization and product. An account is given of the work of the C.E.G.B., which collaborates with contractors on quality assurance matters and certain manufacturing problems at works and on sites. There is also co-operation on specifications, standards of acceptance and non-destructive testing, and the assessment of sub-contractors. In addition, the Quality Control Unit acts on feedback data from the field, and details are given of some recent operational failures resulting from manufacturing defects, and their cost to the Board.