CSE’s Clean Energy Insights #7: A Quality Specialist Perspective in Cleantech

Delivering the highest quality solar project to a client requires the oversight of expert Quality Specialists. Richard Winters, Quality Specialist at CS Energy, is one such resident expert. He manages the complex and vitally important job of quality audits across all scopes, including civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

In this newsletter, Richard shares a day-in-the-life view of his role, his passion for the industry, and details on how he manages rigorous quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) processes to ensure that all components and systems meet the highest standards.

Richard began his solar career installing racking. He quickly earned a reputation for delivering quality work, and moved up to become a foreman managing crews. This hands-on background provides him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and requirements of project construction and installation.?

In his current role, he performs audits to ensure quality in every detail. As part of these inspections, he verifies that installations meet all drawing specifications, manufacturer requirements, and all local, state, and national codes. He plans to stay in solar for the remainder of his career, and is passionate about the industry’s growth and the benefits it provides to communities and the environment.?

“My role at CS Energy gives me the opportunity to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and make a positive impact on the planet.” – Richard Winters, Quality Specialist?

As a Quality Specialist, Richard is responsible for ensuring that everyone involved in a project is properly trained and follows all quality standards. This is no small task with the variety and number of people that can be involved in a project across the different stages of production and installation. CS Energy has streamlined processes in place to mitigate this challenge. A series of meetings and touchpoints are standard practice, including pre-construction meetings, task prep meetings before every scope, and weekly meetings with each team to go over detailed construction steps and their associated products. This framework gives Richard the ability to manage teams to produce the highest quality work at each stage and scope.?

In a typical project lifecycle, Richard begins his Quality Specialist work at pre-mobilization and concludes it at mechanical completion. During the pre-mobilization phase, he and his CS Energy colleagues meticulously review all drawings, dissect notes and specifications, and pre-plan any necessary training for the site teams. They develop site-specific quality plans to set expectations on everything from material receipt to inspection procedures.

Next, throughout the construction phases, Richard partners with the site teams to conduct thorough inspections on all equipment installations. He documents and tracks any deficiencies, and develops work plans and verification methods to ensure all issues are resolved before mechanical completion and the close of the project.?

Richard points out that control and quality assurance protocols are critical. He conducts regular inspections, performs frequent testing, and validates all materials and equipment. These steps entail comprehensive documentation, which ensures traceability and accountability, and is crucial for identifying and addressing any deficiencies.?

His proactive approach is another key to success. He is focused on uncovering potential quality risks early in the project and developing mitigation strategies. His forward-thinking mindset and careful methodology help prevent small issues from becoming bigger problems.?

When asked how he balances project speed with quality and safety requirements, he shared these pearls of wisdom:?

• Clear Communication: Richards stresses the importance of open lines of communication with all stakeholders, including project managers, site teams, and suppliers. Clear communication helps align expectations and provides a forum to address any project issues that come up.?
• Prioritization: He prioritizes critical quality and safety tasks that must be completed to keep the project on track, and focuses on these high-impact areas to comply with quality standards without causing delays.
• Efficient Processes: He focuses on streamlining quality and safety processes to eliminate unnecessary steps and reduce bottlenecks, and utilizes efficient inspection and documentation procedures to save time.
• Project Planning: He includes quality in the project plan so it’s accounted for at the outset.

“I develop comprehensive project plans that integrate quality and safety requirements with the rest of the project schedule, so we deliver the highest quality results within the project’s timeline.” – Richard Winters

Latest updates from CS Energy | October 2024

NJBIZ Best Places to Work in NJ Ceremony

The CS Energy team was honored to attend the NJBIZ Best Places to Work in NJ ceremony, celebrating our fifth year in a row of being recognized as one of the best workplaces in New Jersey. We couldn't be more proud of our amazing team, who made this achievement possible. Our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community remains stronger than ever.

SOLV Energy and CS Energy Join Forces

We're thrilled to announce that SOLV Energy is joining forces with CS Energy to create a Renewable Energy Technology Company! This powerful collaboration will elevate our project operations, enhance business development, and expand our geographic reach.

Read more about how this partnership will expand access to clean energy in our press release: https://buff.ly/4ezS9mV

Janani Ramkumar Received the NJBIZ Leading Women in Business Award

We are proud to share that Janani Ramkumar, our Vice President of Operations at CS Energy, has received the NJBIZ Leading Women in Business Award! This award celebrates Janani's significant impact in founding and leading innovative company departments and programs at CS Energy and in New Jersey communities.

Read more about this achievement here: https://buff.ly/4eJQMSJ