©Copyright 2018 by the Global Business and Technology Association THE IMPACT OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF CONTACTOR QUALITY PERFORMANCE AT A LOCAL POWER STATION IN SOUTH AFRICA Sambil Charles Mukwakungu, Sihle Mankazana, & Charles Mbohwa University of Johannesburg, South Africa ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of Company X QMS on the contractors’ quality performance. The study will also determine how Company X’s QMS can be utilized to improve the quality performance of its contractors. The survey conducted evidently shows that one element was utilized to enforce contractors to comply with the quality requirements, and that is the implementation of Quality Control Plan (QCP) that is approved by Company X’s Quality Department before execution of any project. Findings indicate that Company X needs to integrate quality requirements in the procurement process to ensure that contractors understand the quality expectations and requirements in its contractor management process. Keywords: Quality Management System, Contractors performance, Quality Performance, ISO 9001. INTRODUCTION Company X – MPS Background and Challenges X-MPS is a coal-fired power station based in Mpumalanga, South Africa, with approximately 718 employees (excluding students and contractors). The power plant is base-land, it works constantly, aside from amid consistent booked stoppages for reviews and upkeep on singular units. X-MPS comprises of six 600 MV units at an introduced limit of 3600 MV, the first of the monster 3600 MV coal-let go control station to be appointed in the1980's. Its normal accessibility during the most recent 3 years has been at 93,84%. MPS was at first intended for a working life expectancy of 30 years, be that as it may, it has been reached out to 60 years (Eskom, 2017). MPS has contracted various companies to execute and render complex services including amongst other maintenance and refurbishment of boilers, turbine, precipitators, ash and dust plant and generators. The services rendered by contractors to MPS are crucial to an extent that the power station experiences several challenges shouldn’t those services be effectively conducted. These challenges would include late completion of work, poor quality of the services, re-work, plants trips and contactors charging for work not executed. It is important to note that contactors fail to acknowledge the significance of quality management process; hence they experience inadequate work practices, schedule delays, budget over-runs and not adhering to scope requirements. MPS is recognized as being ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) certified. However, only few contactors are also ISO 9001 certified. ISO 9001 ensured organizations should have a compelling quality framework and accomplish greatest consumer loyalty, benefit, worker inspiration, enhancements and least improves, protests and issues (Kumar and Balakrishnan, 2011). The reception of ISO 9001 was a key choice for Company X to enhance general execution and give a sound premise to maintainable advancement activities. 446 brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by University of Johannesburg Institutional Repository