By Wouter Koen, QA/QC Manager at TDS Projects Group
Proficiency, efficiency, quality, and accountability are at the core of reliable engineering practices in the mining construction industry. Specialised engineering firms that can deliver on all four ensure that quality always surpasses cost, providing clients with value beyond what was expected.
How and to what degree companies achieve this varies, which is why clients in the mining industry often primarily rely on an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm’s track record of delivering quality projects to gauge competency and capability. But while this provides a broad indication of a firm’s potential, it’s important to delve deeper to understand how their engineering teams guarantee consistent, high-quality control.
Here are the three approaches to quality control every engineering firm should have as standard practice:
- Phase-by-phase quality control
A strong quality control division, empowered to effect change at any stage of a project’s lifecycle, will drive the company’s performance objectives and ensure that deliverables consistently exceed client expectations.
For example, at TDS Projects Group, we employ a tailored phase-by-phase quality control protocol, adaptable to each project's unique requirements. This process begins with a comprehensive workshop to define project scope, which is followed by the collaborative development of method statements, integrating insights from the engineering, construction, quality, and safety teams.
Detailed risk analyses are drafted to support these statements, identifying optimal construction sequencing, and clarifying which quality control interventions should be used for each discipline.
Structured quality checks are systematically conducted, including interdisciplinary handovers, continuous surveillance inspections, and both scheduled and random audits. All of these are guided by an expansive quality control plan aligned with the central project strategy.
- Flexible project specification protocols
Over time, quality control in mining construction has evolved to meet increasingly complex demands, with EPC firms continually setting new benchmarks for precision and safety in project delivery.
One example is the systematic protocols established within TDS Projects Group’s quality division, which now serve as a model for construction and commissioning specifications across the sector, while doubling as an effective training tool for team development.
Central to our approach is what’s called the ‘Big Five’ assessment framework, designed to mitigate risks and ensure adherence to stringent quality standards. The process begins with outlining quality controls (‘Tell me’), verifying their presence (‘Show me’), ensuring consistent application throughout the project (‘Did you do it?’), demonstrating conformity (‘Prove it’), and driving continuous improvement (‘Improve it’).
This phase-driven, measurable method of quality management with a flexible approach to protocol implementation has become a cornerstone of efficient project completion, streamlining asset handovers, enhancing safety systems, and reinforcing engineering excellence. By minimising risks and emphasising measurable outcomes, this approach further embodies our guiding principle: "You cannot manage what you can't measure."
- Hiring for specialisation
Specialisation allows engineers to refine their expertise in focused areas, avoiding the inefficiencies that come with juggling multiple responsibilities. Beyond establishing impactful protocols, quality assurance hinges on hiring practices that emphasise placing fit-for-purpose staff into specialised roles where they can thrive and innovate.
In drawing talent from diverse sectors, such as petrochemical, energy, nuclear, mining, and fabrication, quality departments can assemble teams that consistently meet demanding project challenges with precision while implementing industry-specific best practices.
Professionals with mining backgrounds, for example, excel at evaluating structural stability in complex underground environments, while experts from the fabrication sector offer deep knowledge of precision welding and material integrity. Specialists in non-destructive testing bring essential capabilities to detect material flaws and ensure structural integrity without compromising key components.
Ultimately, excellence in mining construction goes beyond protocols and specialised expertise, requiring a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration. It’s up to the executive level to create an environment where department heads and team leaders can enhance project delivery and innovation. The end result is a quality product that surpasses client expectations.
