PSO has been meeting the country's fuel and lube needs by merging sound business sense with national obligation. In order to satisfy customer needs while ensuring the highest quality of products, PSO has established Quality Assurance Department which comprises Quality Control Laboratories at several locations as well as Mobile Quality Testing Units network.
The whole Quality Assurance and MQTU Network is ISO 9001:2000 certified in line with the industry requirements and compliance to national and international standards.
PSO has introduced total quality management system in its operational activities. Consistent conformity to prescribed standards and specifications across the whole range of activities from receipt, storage, transportation and delivery of products is the cornerstone of PSO's quality management system. In addition to quality assurance in the upkeep and maintenance of existing facilities, compliance with quality standards is also ensured in development of new facilities across the country.
The company's quality control system covers testing at PSO installations in laboratories before delivery of products as well as at retail outlets through Mobile Quality Testing Unit network. A brief description regarding activities of Quality assurance at PSO is furnished below.
LABORATORIES:
PSO laboratories are an integral part of Quality Assurance Department. Four laboratories are functioning at different locations ie. Central Lab at KTA, Lab LMT at Korangi, ZOT Lab and Lalpir Depot Lab. Laboratories are ISO-9001:2000 certified and fully equipped with sophisticated and the latest equipment such as Atomic Absorption, FTIR, SPECTROIL (Metal Analyser), CFR Engine, Sulphur Analyser, Calorific Value tester, TBN Apparatus, Density meter, etc.
Wide ranges of POL and chemicals are tested as per international quality control testing standards of the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) and British Institute of Petroleum (IP).
WHICH ARE AS UNDER:
FUELS:
High Octane Blending Component (HOBC), Kerosene Oil (SKO), High Sulfur Furnace Oil (HSFO), High Speed Diesel (HSD), Low Sulfur Furnace Oil (LSFO), Light Diesel Oil (LDO), Premier Motor Gasoline (PMG), Jet A-1 and JP - 8.
LUBRICATING OILS:
Multi-grade motor oils, CNG engine motor oils, diesel engine oils, gear oils, sugar mill oil, automatic transmission fluids, gas engine oils, motorcycle oils, marine diesel engine oils, industrial oils and turbine oils, etc.
CHEMICALS:
Toluene, Hexane, Iso Propyl Alcohol (IPA), etc PSO exercises strict control to maintain quality of POL products as per its required standard specifications. The main priority is to maintain product quality at specification levels from source to ultimate consumers; the company receives fuel products from local refineries or from abroad. All fuel products are tested after they are received in storage tanks at terminals. Before discharge of imported products from ocean tankers, samples are tested and checked for conformity of product with the relevant specifications.
Lubricating oil manufactured at PSO plants, which are certified to ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System, are thoroughly tested to ensure conformity with stringent international specification, SAE/ API. Raw materials ie. Base Oils and additives of lubricants are also analysed before the manufacturing of lubricant batch.
Several samples of used oil are received from industrial consumers from all over Pakistan and tested for condition monitoring. PSO achieves the maximum efficiency from lubricants by used oil analysis program and, accordingly, advises customers about the status of oil for further usage.
PSO's Quality Control laboratory is also adequately equipped for testing aviation products in accordance with Aviation Fuel Quality requirement for Jointly Operated Systems, which is an International based quality system. Air Total (France) monitors all activities related to aviation.
MQTU NETWORK:
Quality has become the single-most important aspect world-wide that leads to organisational success and company's growth in national and international markets. It is a strategic issue in all organisations, both public and private. It provides a business ethos, which encompasses customer satisfaction, profitability and efficiency.
It has been observed that investment in quality management systems, in respond to customer expectations, has resulted in benefits to the efficiency of the organisation, its operations and economic performance as well as to the quality of its products and services.
Being conscious of the competitive environment, Pakistan State Oil launched Mobile Quality Testing Units (MQTUs) in October 1998. Now, MQTU network has been extended to 21 units operating from 15 major cities of the country ie Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Daulatpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Jehlum, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, D.I.Khan and Peshawar.
PSO MQTU network can rightfully claim to be one of the pioneering mobile testing facilities, duly equipped with automatic, computerised, state-of-the-art petroleum testing equipment that complies with national and international standards for testing of petroleum products. The quality control isn't just confined to the laboratory; the company also tests the product on the spot.
QUALITY CONTROL ACTIVITIES OF MOBILE QUALITY TESTING UNIT NETWORK ARE:
1. On-the-spot-checking of fuels to ensure quality and quantity at PSO retail outlets, industrial consumer sites and other PSO facilities (installations and depots).
2. To provide free customer services by checking the quality of brake fluid for safety of vehicle.
3. To provide awareness to dealers' staff on dealings with customers, HSE and PSO products.
These units perform surprise visits to check quality and quantity at PSO retail outlets and to ensure quality on PSO terminals, depots and tank lorries.
Adulteration in automotive gasoline and diesel fuels with lower-priced products is common in South Asia and elsewhere in the world. This can result in sub-optimal performance of transportation fuels and environmental pollution. Financial incentives are generally the primary cause of fuel adulteration.
The quality control system is capable of sampling and testing procedures to ensure that the product is up-to-the-specification and that possible adulteration or contamination is detected before the fuel is delivered to valued customers. MQTUs have been conducting survey on MQTU services for determining feedback of customers. The units also offer free brake fluid testing services to motorists.
Mobile Quality Testing Unit network also imparts an awareness of HSE-related matters to dealers' staff through audio-video facilities at retail outlets across the country, thereby, ensuring the safety of retail outlets.
Being the largest oil marketing company in Pakistan, PSO has always struggled to assure and provide the best quality of fuels and lubricants to our valued customers. PSO's efforts for ensuring right quality and quantity through these MQTUs have shown excellent results by improving the company's image among its customers.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFICATION:
PSO firmly believes in doing business in a manner to ensure that its customers' needs are clearly understood and fulfilled. The most recognised way to achieve this objective is certification to a quality management system. Therefore, most of the technical departments in PSO are certified to internal Quality Management System ie. ISO 9001:2000.