
L&N Scotland, an independent supplier of specialised subsea manufacturing and engineering services, has successfully achieved a 98% weld pass rate following a 12 month strategic quality review.
The Aberdeen-based company has assessed its existing engineering procedures, operations and associated documentation against current quality policies and objectives; including the business objective to achieve a sustained minimum weld pass rate of 92%, and best in class welding practices and process controls.
Utilising in-house engineers, L&N Scotland developed and qualified project specific procedures and processes for weld overlay, butt welds and orbital autogenous welds. These processes were created to ensure that the most demanding customer applications, stringent welding requirements and client specifications are achieved.
L&N Scotland has also adopted a proactive approach to quality, through weld monitoring and weld failure analysis, using results and feedback to directly influence the development of weld quality inspection processes and training given to welding personnel.
These extensive investigations coupled with a quality management system, tailored to suit welding operations, has provided L&N Scotland with a robust means of monitoring quality levels and delivery performance, in turn allowing L&N Scotland to identify and resolve weld failures and achieve a 98% weld pass rate.
In addition, L&N Scotland’s commitment to weld quality has been further demonstrated through their recent accreditation of ISO: 3834-2 (comprehensive quality standard). The unique welding accreditation, awarded this year by Lloyd’s Register, provides certification of L&N Scotland’s quality management system in relation to best practise in all welding and related activities.
Craig Finnie, L&N Scotland Managing Director, commented: “In this current climate, our clients are actively searching for higher levels of excellence and assurance to aid with, and enhance, efficient manufacturing and cost-out solutions.
“As a proactive approach to quality, and to further support our clients, we will continue to strategically develop its procedures and processes which will be pivotal in the company delivering manufacturing excellence globally.”
Meanwhile, L&N Scotland, which currently employs more than 40 people, is also celebrating its 20th anniversary since it was set up in 1996.