The Shanghai Power Co.’s use of quality chain management theory allowed it to keep the electrical grid up and running in the bustling Chinese city all summer last year.

The organization recently released a report on the process it used to avoid power failures, which have been common in Shanghai. The Shanghai Association for Quality organization joined with the power company in a public campaign to increase power awareness and reduce power usage, resulting in both decreased power use and more efficient power delivery. Shanghai Power Co. used a quality chain management theory developed by the Shanghai Academy of Quality Management to improve its power-delivery processes. The theory requires the involvement of all business units in an organization to form and realize a single process. It takes quality, information and value flow as critical chain modes to realize effective quality management throughout the organization.

A survey of Shanghai residents shows that they’re increasingly aware of their individual needs to decrease energy usage. The survey, performed by the Shanghai Economic Commission in partnership with the SAQ, found that 96.8 percent of respondents reported that energy saving should start with the individual. More than 79 percent of respondents reported that they’re willing to pay more for energy-efficient appliances and 70.9 percent think that saving energy saves not only money, but also improves the quality of life.

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