Future-Proofing QA Success with a Quality Maturity Assessment

Introduction

We had the pleasure of working with one of Australia's key electricity network managers as they sought to improve their Quality Assurance (QA) practices. This company manages and operates the high-voltage electricity transmission network within Australia’s National Electricity Market. Their network connects to 20 direct-connect customers, in addition to the four major distribution businesses.

The Challenge

As the operator of the high-voltage electricity transmission network in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, our client needed a thorough review and quality maturity assessment of its enterprise QA function. They wanted to understand their QA maturity and identify any gaps before their next growth phase. To ensure readiness for future demands and to enhance their customer service, the company partnered with TTC Global to examine their processes and determine the necessary solutions.

Approach

We took a deep dive into our client's operations using our proprietary audit methodology, the Quality Maturity Assessment. Our assessment covers key areas such as strategy & governance, tools & automation, people & culture, and working with suppliers. Our objectives were clear:

• Assess the current status of test and assurance function via a series of workshops, comprehensive documentation and process reviews, and surveying key stakeholders in the technology department.
• Identify any weaknesses, risks, or issues and provide targeted solutions to address them.
• Prioritise the solutions and outline the steps required to implement them based on risk, complexity, and effort.
• Develop a strategic and actionable roadmap and timeline for implementing the solutions.

Outcomes

Our comprehensive research and analysis led to three major deliverables, including 19 key recommendations:

• Assurance Capability Assessment Report:
  • Detailed current state findings
  • Comprehensive staff survey results
  • Identified risks and issues
  • Key future state recommendations with actions, owners, priority, and complexity

• Executive Summary:
  • A concise presentation for executive use

• Improvement Roadmap:
  • Immediate, short, medium, and long-term objectives

These deliverables established a blueprint for the client's Enterprise Quality Assurance transformation. By pinpointing current risks and issues and offering tailored solutions with short, medium, and long-term objectives, our client was able to implement these recommendations, which became the cornerstone of their new QA standard. This resulted in significant benefits, including notable productivity improvements, cost savings, and other substantial advantages.