Project Quality Management & Engineering Inspection

Established in 1989 and now celebrating 30 years in business, Inspection and Quality Services (IQS International) is perfectly positioned to meet the growing demand for its Project Quality Management, Engineering Inspection Services and multidisciplinary training products to African industry.

IQS International recognises that the lack of pertinent skills in organisations could be that big difference between failure and success in unlocking an asset’s real value. And so, the company is raising awareness about its capabilities in providing relevant internationally recognised and accredited training in a wide range of disciplines that meet industry’s pertinent needs, as well as a wide range of core industry-specific services.

Briefing African Mining Brief about the scope and relevance of its training, the company’s managing director, Alan Stothard, underlines his organization’s commitment to filling the African skills gap. “We, with our international skills development partners, TWI (The Welding Institute) have the capability to equip industry in Africa with the right skillset to handle the evolving needs within an operational environment and unlock the real value of their respective assets,” he pronounces.

Multidisciplinary training  

Stothard explains that IQS provides multidisciplinary training specifically tailored for organisations in Mining, Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, Petrochemical, Power and Engineering sectors. The training covers Welder training, Welding Inspection, Non-Destructive Testing, Painting Inspection and advanced courses leading to qualification as International Welding Engineer and Plant Inspector.

SHEQ training is also available in accordance with international Standards such as ISO 9001; ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 (18001).

• Engineering Inspection and Training, includes: 

• CSWIP, PCN, ASNT NDT – Ultrasonic Testing(UT), Magnetic Particle Inspection, Radiography, Dye Penetrant, Phased Array UT and Time of Flight Diffraction (ToFD)
• Site Coatings –Application and Inspection
• Plant Inspection and Asset Integrity Management
• Practical Welder Training and Testing
• Visual Inspection, Weld Inspector and Senior Weld Inspector 

Stothard stresses that in all of the courses, IQS endeavours to deliver the best possible training to its clients. “Our in-house, on-line elearning training courses and examinations are aligned to international best practice. The courses we offer are accredited by reputable international bodies such as CSWIP. Moreover, our personnel are qualified and experienced to provide training, advice and guidance in the development, implementation and accreditation of applicable SHERQ management systems.”

Essentially, Stothard points out, IQS’ training courses are provided to encourage resource development and learning which in doing so improves the professional capability of both the individual and company alike.

Industry-specific core services

Over and above training, IQS offers a wide range of core services to clients. Mainly, these are in the following areas:

• Project quality management, expediting & inspection
• Non-Destructive Testing services
• Paint inspectors, paint thickness and corrosion protection advisory services.
• Asset integrity management and software
• Development and approval of Weld procedures and welder qualification
• Pressure vessel & pressurised system inspection, recertification and design reviews
• Metallurgical consulting, stress analysis, failure investigations.
• ISO 9001, 1400 & 45001 (SHEQ) management system development, training and certification.
• Supplier evaluations and technical capability assessments

Perfectly positioned

As a result of continuous resource development and market research, IQS is perfectly positioned to offer the right solutions to industry, Stothard assures. “We understand customers’ needs, expectations, requirements and the fact that the ultimate deliverable i.e. the clients objective, is central to the services provided and the placement of IQS personnel,” he says.

He adds, “Moving forward, IQS is gearing its capability to meet the growing international demand for its services, in doing so IQS is confident that it will continue to satisfy the expectations of all stakeholders.”

Furthermore, Stothard says, IQS has expanded into other markets. “Traditionally, our clients have been in the mining, petrochemical, and engineering sectors. However, we have expanded our client base to cover sectors such as infrastructure development, power generation, oil and gas.”

IQS is headquartered in Johannesburg, with branches in Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa, and Namibia. The company along with its international partners is taking its services to other African countries. IQS has also recently opened offices in the UK, from which it will manage its European based clients.