Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), an internationally acclaimed Indian technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing company, has worked on some of the iconic projects across the world and has been expanding its reach internationally.
The company has a strong presence in Oman and is currently working on major road and infrastructure projects.
As a speaker for the Oman Land Transport Infrastructure Summit 2013, IQPC Middle East, the event organisers, spoke to John Alan Lewis, the head of quality, international infrastructure at L&T, Oman.
He discusses the top projects they are working on in Oman and gives his expert advice on how to ensure the quality for these projects.
Giving a brief overview of Larsen & Toubro’s presence in the GCC region, Lewis said: “Larsen & Toubro is globalising its operations, with increasing focus on international business opportunities.
“Over the years, L&T has outgrown its national barriers and extended its activities into the outstretched arms of the Indian Ocean Rim countries.
“L&T’s international presence is increasing, with worksites in 20 countries that encompass South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Russia, CIS countries including African countries. Within the Middle East L&T has constructed projects in UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.”
Asked about the latest projects L&T is working on in the Sultanate of Oman, he highlighted construction of Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Recreation, Salalah; Al Muttawar Residential Development, Al Ghubra St, Muscat; construction of Salalah International Airport and the construction of transmission pipelines, tanks and booster stations for Salalah.
Other projects include design and construction of flyovers and underpasses along Darsait–Adikabir Road, Muscat; 45km road works, four bridges and cross drainage works along Mahlah– Hubbat Al Tam–Ismaiyah; two 50 MVA transformers with 132kV underground cable lines at Sohar 132 kV Grid Station for Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company; three 33kV sub-stations and associated cabling works for Muscat Electricity Distribution Company; replacing existing 220 and 132kV OHL with underground cables for Muscat Electricity Distribution Company, and upgrading Jahloot Grid Station to 220KV and upgrade of associated transmission lines to 220kV.
Asked what steps he and his team take to ensure quality in these international mega projects, Lewis said: “The most important decisions regarding the quality of a completed project are made during the design and planning stages rather than during construction.
“It is during these preliminary stages that component configurations, material specifications and functional performance are decided. Quality control during construction consists largely of insuring conformance to the original design and planning decisions.
“L&T has its own in-house design and planning teams, based in India, and thus has the assurance of competent teams, well versed in the many challenges of construction projects, from design through to final construction.”
He said that when outside design consultancies are used, these too are strictly scrutinised.
“Quality control in construction typically involves ensuring compliance with contract standards for material and workmanship in order to insure the performance of the facility according to the design.
“L&T follows a simple four-point strategy for managing quality control in construction. To achieve a quality job there are four golden rules. Each individual team member must ensure they have the right information and understand it; have the right materials and tools; have seen the benchmark/mock-up and know-how to undertake the works, and know what is required to finish and protect their work.
“While following such rules may seem simple, if followed correctly, they are the key to a successful project. Quality is not an accident: it represents the intelligent choice of numerous alternatives.”
He said that one of the main challenges that he faces in the region while executing these projects is cost-efficiency considerations.
“Obtaining a project for the right price is the first and biggest challenge that any project faces. Cost overruns in construction can be common and L&T ensures that from the tendering of a project through to final completion, costs are closely managed.
“While cost escalation resulting from such considerations as price increase and government action are hard to predict at L&T we have a process where risk is managed and if a risk becomes an issue, the issue is then also managed.
“L&T has a vast experience of the risks in construction, and managing these risks effectively on each project is a big step to ensuring the successful outcome of the project.”
The company has a strong presence in Oman and is currently working on major road and infrastructure projects.
As a speaker for the Oman Land Transport Infrastructure Summit 2013, IQPC Middle East, the event organisers, spoke to John Alan Lewis, the head of quality, international infrastructure at L&T, Oman.
He discusses the top projects they are working on in Oman and gives his expert advice on how to ensure the quality for these projects.
Giving a brief overview of Larsen & Toubro’s presence in the GCC region, Lewis said: “Larsen & Toubro is globalising its operations, with increasing focus on international business opportunities.
“Over the years, L&T has outgrown its national barriers and extended its activities into the outstretched arms of the Indian Ocean Rim countries.
“L&T’s international presence is increasing, with worksites in 20 countries that encompass South Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Russia, CIS countries including African countries. Within the Middle East L&T has constructed projects in UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.”
Asked about the latest projects L&T is working on in the Sultanate of Oman, he highlighted construction of Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Recreation, Salalah; Al Muttawar Residential Development, Al Ghubra St, Muscat; construction of Salalah International Airport and the construction of transmission pipelines, tanks and booster stations for Salalah.
Other projects include design and construction of flyovers and underpasses along Darsait–Adikabir Road, Muscat; 45km road works, four bridges and cross drainage works along Mahlah– Hubbat Al Tam–Ismaiyah; two 50 MVA transformers with 132kV underground cable lines at Sohar 132 kV Grid Station for Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company; three 33kV sub-stations and associated cabling works for Muscat Electricity Distribution Company; replacing existing 220 and 132kV OHL with underground cables for Muscat Electricity Distribution Company, and upgrading Jahloot Grid Station to 220KV and upgrade of associated transmission lines to 220kV.
Asked what steps he and his team take to ensure quality in these international mega projects, Lewis said: “The most important decisions regarding the quality of a completed project are made during the design and planning stages rather than during construction.
“It is during these preliminary stages that component configurations, material specifications and functional performance are decided. Quality control during construction consists largely of insuring conformance to the original design and planning decisions.
“L&T has its own in-house design and planning teams, based in India, and thus has the assurance of competent teams, well versed in the many challenges of construction projects, from design through to final construction.”
He said that when outside design consultancies are used, these too are strictly scrutinised.
“Quality control in construction typically involves ensuring compliance with contract standards for material and workmanship in order to insure the performance of the facility according to the design.
“L&T follows a simple four-point strategy for managing quality control in construction. To achieve a quality job there are four golden rules. Each individual team member must ensure they have the right information and understand it; have the right materials and tools; have seen the benchmark/mock-up and know-how to undertake the works, and know what is required to finish and protect their work.
“While following such rules may seem simple, if followed correctly, they are the key to a successful project. Quality is not an accident: it represents the intelligent choice of numerous alternatives.”
He said that one of the main challenges that he faces in the region while executing these projects is cost-efficiency considerations.
“Obtaining a project for the right price is the first and biggest challenge that any project faces. Cost overruns in construction can be common and L&T ensures that from the tendering of a project through to final completion, costs are closely managed.
“While cost escalation resulting from such considerations as price increase and government action are hard to predict at L&T we have a process where risk is managed and if a risk becomes an issue, the issue is then also managed.
“L&T has a vast experience of the risks in construction, and managing these risks effectively on each project is a big step to ensuring the successful outcome of the project.”
In cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation & Communications, Sultanate of Oman, the Oman Land Transport Infrastructure Summit 2013 is being held from 8–11 September, 2013 at the Grand Hyatt in Muscat, Oman.
It brings together the project owners, contractors, consultants, equipment suppliers and technology providers to share knowledge and network.
The summit will support Oman to develop its infrastructure projects by implementing state-of-the-art technologies and products, gaining on the success of the last two events.
Further details:
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