Praveen Velappan

A Chartered Quality Professional and Lead QMS Auditor specialized in Strategic Quality Planning, Quality Management System, Quality Assurance & Control, QA/QC Audits, QHSE Inspections, Lean Six Sigma, Process Transformation, Operational Excellence and Continual Improvement areas. 

Industrial expert having backgrounds from Power, Energy, Infrastructure, Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas, EPCI Projects (Greenfield & Brownfield), Renewables (Wind & Solar), Fabrications, Manufacturing and Start-ups industries across PAN India and Middle East Countries. 

Highly skilled and has over 13 years of Demonstrated and Proven Leadership abilities in Supervising and Managing all functions of Quality Operations from Corporate to Site Levels. 

Fostering efficiency in establishing Quality Framework, all kinds of QA/QC set-ups aligned with international standards adhering to Statutory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Interaction with Customers, Vendors, Suppliers, Subcontractors, 3rd Party Certification & Accreditation Inspection Bodies and all other stakeholders for solving day-to-day problems.

Corporate Quality Governance, Strategic Planning/SOP, Quality Management System (QMS), Quality Audit, Quality Assurance & Control (QA/QC), Project Quality Management, Continuous Improvement, Process Transformation, Process Re-Engineering, Statutory Requirements, Regulatory Compliance, Lean/Six Sigma, IMS Compliance, Supplier Quality Evaluations, Vendor Development, Site Inspections, Team Building & Leadership, Quality Trainings, Customer Engagements, Site Quality Functions, Root Cause Analysis/CAPA, Problem-Solving, Bottom-Line Improvement, Change Management, Global Cross-functional Coordination, Performance Monitoring (KPIs), Risk Assessment & Mitigation, HSE Management, Quality Improvement Tools, Cost Control, Q.A. Reporting/ MIS Dashboards.

• Custodian of being Head of Quality & Management Representative (MR); headed internal quality & improvement initiatives by implementing Quality Management Systems QMS ISO 9001:2015, Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001:2015, and Safety Management OH&S ISO 45001:2018.
• Stellar role in Management and Supervision of:
  • Project QA/QC teams (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical & Instrumentation, Coating, HVAC, Plumping) for Large Scale LSTK/LSPB Engineering Procurement Construction (EPCI) and Testing of Power Transmission Distribution Projects (Saudi ARAMCO, PDO, OETC, SABIC, SEC). 
  • Vendor Quality - Supplier QA/QC teams for Engineering Procurement Construction (EPCI) Projects (ARAMCO) witnessed during FAT on various manufacturing facilities across EMEA regions and played pivot role in vendor development.
  • Operation and Maintenance (O&M)/Facility Management/Service teams for Multi Storage Building Maintenance, EHV /HV Substations, Transmission Lines, Wind Turbine Generators, HV/LV Switchgears, Alternators, Protection and Control Systems, SCADA/PLC, and Drives right from design and engineering with selection and procurement of various equipment erections/ commissioning.
  • QA/QC Inspections and Quality Audit activities for Power, Energy, Infrastructure, Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas but not limited to; Installation, Testing & Commissioning of EHV/HV Substations, OHTL, UG Cables, Unit Substations, E2E Wind Turbine Generators, and Solar P.V. Modules.
  • Head of Internal Quality Laboratory (Set up From Scratch to NABL Accreditation) and Establishment of inhouse QC Testing Facilities.
  • Led in all phases of project quality development (pre-FEED, FEED, FID, Detailed Engineering, Construction and Commissioning).
  • Led end-to-end Quality activities and build a Robust Continual Improvements in Start-up’s for large scale Supply Chain Operations.
  • Led Six Sigma Projects on Process Transformation & Operational Excellence by giving statistical and analytical supports to Business Leaders.
• Merit of being awarded Project Quality/Excellence Award held in L&T PT&D Asia & M.E. Business Unit.
• Implemented the best high-class stringent QA/QC procedures, methods, systems & practices in "Safaniya, "the Largest Offshore Oil Field in the World, and "Ghawar," the World's Biggest Conventional Onshore Oil Field operated & owned by Aramco.
• Significantly contributed towards operational excellence using five core tools Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Propelled in conducting Gap Analysis, Training & Implementation, Internal Audit, Management Review, 1st Party, 2nd Party & 3rd Party Audits.
• Successfully launched:
  • Failure Mode and Effects Management in Design/Engineering, Procurement, Construction & Commissioning Phases.
  • Continuous Quality Improvement Methods for Process and Products with Risk Management & Supplier Evaluations.
• Pivotal role in ensuring operational excellence, which led to:
  • Reduction in customer complaints from 37% to 3% within 120 days and increased 8% Quality Index from existing numbers.
  • Minimizing the rework costs from 28% to 4% by adopting QA/QC strategies and improving overall quality performance.
  • Reduction of customer PPMs (parts per million), Warranty, Cost of Quality, and in-house scrap by introducing War on Waste (WOW)
• Benchmarked operational & process excellence by achieving:
  • NIL Non-Conformance during Project Quality Management while executing L&T's first Substation to Aramco Project.
  • Over 95% value of Project Quality Index (PQI) throughout LSTK and LSPB projects executed for Saudi Aramco.
  • Driving 30 Process Improvements within Suppliers and Global Manufacturers in EPCI Power Projects.

• Bachelor's Engineering (B.E.) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Anna University Chennai – India.
• Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt (CSSMBB) – International Six Sigma Institute, Switzerland.
• Chartered Quality Professional (CQP); the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI│IRCA), Royal Charter England – London.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) Electrical – The Institution of Engineers (India) IEI.
• CQI/IRCA Approved Lead Auditor; Quality Management Systems (QMS) ISO 9001:2015 – DNV.GL India.
• Integrated Management System Internal Auditor; ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:205, ISO 45001:2018 – TUV.SUD South Asia.
• Certified and Trained Project Management Professional (PMP) – Oman National Training Institute (ONTI) – Muscat.
• Certified in Project Management Essentials (PMEC) - Management & Strategy Institute (MSI) – USA.
• Saudi Aramco Approved PQCS & QCS – Onshore/Offshore Special EPC Projects Division, Saudi Aramco Oil Company – Saudi Arabia.
• Member of American Society of Quality (ASQ) – United States.
• Member of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI)/ (IRCA) – United Kingdom.