Quality Improvement Strategy in the Electricity Supply Industry

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel strategy of total quality management (TQM) in the electricity supply industry (ESI) in order to achieve quality improvement. Statistical process control tools, such as control charts, cumulative sum charts, correlation coefficients, and scatter diagrams are introduced to analyze the stability and capability of attributes and variables data affecting the quality of real power and reactive power supply. Also Taguchi's technique is applied for quality improvement of the ESI process. The designed TQM technique demonstrates the quality state of power process in the Hellenic ESI. More specifically, the quality condition, relationship, and capability of frequency and voltage are examined, before and after the installation of flexible AC transmission systems devices in the northeastern Hellenic system.

Keywords:

• Power industry
• Total quality management
• Statistical process control
• Taguchi technique

Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges the PVD of the Hellenic ESI given by the Power Public Corporation of Greece and the valuable comments given by Dr. John G. Vlachogiannis, assistant professor of the Technological Educational Institution of Lamia.