Making a European power plant out of components from Asia.

Our client needed to be confident about the technical quality control process of its main Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor in Asia. The contractor was supplying key equipment for a new, large Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant. The lump-sum contract included power blocks, boiler parts and auxiliary equipment, presenting significant risks to the project’s success if the technical quality could not be assured.

We held an initial meeting with our client to fully understand their concerns, identify the areas to be covered by our independent auditing and define a set of acceptance criteria. Our remit was broad ranging, encompassing quality, safety, legal and regulatory compliance, delivery control, environmental impact and social accountability.

The large-scale audit was led by our experienced team in Japan. The solution included our proprietary Smart inspection vendor risk rating and assessment scheme, providing project stakeholder confidence. This approach enabled both the buyer and seller to understand the critical elements of the supply chain for equipment delivery to specification, on time and within budget.

Our client also benefited from our network of international resources. Besides the audit of the main contractor, we checked the work of various sub-suppliers and sub-contractors globally.

Major deviations were reported no later than 48 hours after discovery, but generally within 24 to 36 hours, keeping the project on track.