From 3D modeling and design and engineering services for complex international projects to supporting the execution of the world's first ±800 kV multi-terminal ultrahigh voltage direct current (UHVDC) project in India (North East - Agra), ABB's global engineering and operations center in Chennai, India is all set for growth. In November 2015 ABB announced plans to double the 600-strong workforce at the center.
The planned expansion is expected to support the execution of the strong order backlog in the power business, strengthen project operations and help drive profitable and sustainable growth. This move is in line with stage two of ABB's Next Level strategy, which aims to deliver enhanced customer value and enable cost and productivity improvements. It also reaffirms ABB's commitment to India as a key market and an important resource base with a large talent pool of highly skilled, qualified engineers.
The competency center, established in 2007 brings together professional engineering resources under one roof, serving ABB units across the world. The center has a high level of domain expertise across the power value chain from generation through to transmission and distribution. This includes many specialized areas like high-voltage direct current (HVDC), Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS), grid integration and automation as well as emerging areas like renewables and microgrids.
"We have successfully delivered large and complex projects for customers all over the world, with significant contribution from this center and they see the value in this model", says Claudio Facchin, President of ABB's Power Grids Division. "This Center has earned the right to grow and the recent expansion we announced will help us to be more flexible and agile. It also contributes to competitiveness and will play a key role in building technology competence and harnessing the benefits of tools and processes so we can maximize synergies across businesses, in line with our Next Level strategy."
It provides engineering support for all aspects of project management and business processes, including tendering, engineering, planning, procurement, functional system testing, installation supervision and commissioning. It also supports ABB's initiative to harmonize processes, tools and modularization, maximize synergies and help boost productivity and quality initiatives. Experts from the center are also engaged in delivering training across businesses and functional areas.
There is an ongoing quality process in place to ensure continuous improvement, building on the existing standards. The center also champions ABB's high safety standards and is also working on a safety competency to support projects. "Delivering services from virtual teams requires a strong focus on Quality", says Tommy Ekstrand, who heads the global Engineering and Operations Center in Chennai. "Our quality processes are ISO 9001 certified and we conduct an internal quality audit every six months. We've implemented a skill set matrix for resource development and use a transparent metric based approach to monitor project utilization, on time delivery, rework, productivity and customer satisfaction. On the safety front, we are compliant with OHSAS 18001 certified standards, and are building a safety competency to support projects."
