Technical- Business write-up

As a Trichy Engineer Trainee, I was well aware of DSS/ DESS and PGMA concepts for Bill of Material.  After joining Power Projects division, I was exposed to the package system followed by Hardwar unit for Steam Turbines and Generators. For monitoring the projects we used depend on the Shipping lists provided by Manufacturing units and then check material receipts against Packing list and arrive at pending list. In addition to the main supply, there are additional items, commissioning spares and replacements against Insurance claims. Based on these we would prepare pending list. However a friend in Baroda told that pending list for Hardwar supply cannot be complete without deletion list. It was quite intriguing statement. He explained that Russians/ Germans had standardized number of packages and their contents for TG set. A package was to leave Works only when all items were there. To get the outturn, the unit devised a system of completing a package by deleting the items not ready...

Safety and Quality The discussion on Drum Lifting brought Safety and Quality  related issues to mind. BHEL management has always been giving lip service to these areas. In plant, we were issued safety shoes. Most of the employees didn't use the same. In sites, there is a reimbursement scheme for safety shoes. Most of the people buy something with a bill for safety shoes. I have once purchased jeans in lieu of safety shoes. Hardly somebody uses safety shoes. Even helmet use is considered to be a requirement only in boiler area. In TG hall nobody wears helmet. As far as Safety is concerned, putting Safety posters and celebrating Safety week describes the efforts in this area. As far as management and executives are concerned, Quality and Safety is contractor's responsibility.  The contract also spends many pages on describing requirements and how contractor has to take care. Most of the sites, Safety and Quality are attached to some person as additional responsibility. In SLPP M...

Period of Transition Bhopal unit was established in 1956 and Hardwar, Hyderabad and Trichy units were set up in 1963-64.  Both Hyderabad and Trichy had collaboration with Skoda of Czechoslovakia. Material identification schemes were similar in both units with Drawing Sequence Schedule (DSS) and Despatch and Erection Sequence Schedule (DESS) system. The same system is used now also in Hyderabad unit. In 1973-74 all units of HEIL and BHEL were merged to form the current BHEL company.  With the merger, efforts to unify various systems in existence and development of common systems commenced. Integrated Project Management System (IPMS) was developed and implemented. Designations also were revised. Earlier there used to be Assistant Engineer (AE), Assistant Superintendent (AS), Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent designations. These changed to Engineer, Senior Engineer etc. However in shop floors workers and supervisors used to refer their bosses with old designations. We had to ...

Khaperkheda Stage I BHEL received a turnkey contract from MSEB with Zero date of 1st August 1985 for 2x210 MW Greenfield project. At that time BHEL received 4 turnkey contracts; Rajghat, Tenughat, Kolaghat and Khaperkheda. BHEL's earlier experience with turnkey contracts of Parli, Libya  Trpoli  , NALCO and Muzaffarpur was not good. BHEL had lost heavily and didn't want turnkey contract on usual terms. Hence these contracts were taken on Cost plus basis for non BHEL works. BTG supply and erection was on PVC basis. At the same time MSEB awarded contract for 2x500MW BTG supply & PMG services to BHEL. Initially MSEB wanted to award the work to BBC without inviting BHEL to quote. Government of India had to intervene. Mr ML Shishu of MSEB had prepared the tender documents in such a way that BHEL products were not meeting the specifications. While the tender documents were getting finalized, Mr Shishu had to leave MSEB. He later joined NTPC. BHEL didn't want to lose the order...

Cultural shock In 1983, Pradip Nair, R Rajamani and myself joined PPD WR Baroda office with Vijay Parikh as our boss. BNS Moorthy and SR Utturkar were already there in Boiler erection group. All of us were sitting in the hall. In the lunch time people used to play carrom in the same hall.  Coming from Trichy plant, it was a totally different environment for me. In Trichy, were sitting in separate rooms , we had privacy.  Whatever we required, we had to tell the Office Superintendent (OS) of the department and it was taken care of. Even for going on tour, the OS would take care of ticket booking, informing ROD for onward tickets etc. OS would arrange for getting the tour advance from cashier also by sending an attendant who would bring the voucher for signing. In Baroda all these were to be done by individuals. Ticket booking was through P&A, who would contact Tradewings.  In those days Baroda was a costly city and most of the entitlements of BHEL were very low. House ...