Posted:
12.03.2024 15:02:57
Powerful forward movement
Safety, eco-friendliness, innovation, design aesthetics — what other aspects BELAZ focuses on
The road in the automotive industry of this technologically advanced and powerful auto giant, which can be compared to the symbol of Belarus — the bison, was not always so smooth. The company experienced ups and downs. Still, even in the difficult 1990s, thanks to the President’s support and talent of the plant’s leadership, BELAZ not only did not sink into oblivion, but even entered a new stage.
It became possible due to the continuous development, improvement, and responsible attitude to work. This work is ongoing now — in the year that passes under the quality mark. We have learnt about what aspects the company puts emphasis on, how they work on an import-independent product at the plant, and much more in the course of our conversation with Vitaly Bylitsky, Deputy Director General for Quality System Management at BELAZ JSC.
Sergei Rymkevich, Mechanical assembler at BELAZ The key to successful competition
— This year was declared the Year of Quality in Belarus. What kind of work is being carried out at BELAZ in this direction?— The quality of products is the key to successful competition of any enterprise. It is especially true if we are talking about BELAZ, a global manufacturer of mining equipment, whose quality is checked every day in dozens of countries around the world. In order to remain competitive, our enterprise has built a quality management system for the development, production and maintenance of dump trucks, special vehicles, automotive and road construction machinery based on the risk-oriented design and process approach using management techniques and tools in accordance with the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001:2015 and an identical national standard
STB ISO 9001–2015, quality management methods in accordance with the requirements of STB 16949–2018/ IATF 16949:2016. The analysis of the causes and consequences of design and process failures has been implemented and
is actively applied at BELAZ. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) has been implemented, and a procedure
for analysing and solving product quality problems using the 8D problem-solving method is being introduced.
We also pay attention to the improvement of the professional level of our employees. This allows us to use the latest information systems in product design, industrial management, sales, warranty and post-warranty service. This year, our enterprise, like the whole country, places special emphasis on quality. Therefore, BELAZ JSC has developed and is implementing a Quality Programme for 2024, which provides for a number of measures in 11 sections. According to this document, this year we are particularly monitoring the effectiveness of the implemented measures in the process of product operation.
— At a meeting on the main directions of work on quality improvement and the Quality Mark on January 5th, 2024, the President of Belarus noted that such flagships of the machine-building industry as MAZ, MTZ, BELAZ and others cannot but have a Quality Mark on their goods. Their products must be unique, competitive in international markets, and impeccable. How do you rate BELAZ’s current products? And how do you see the work on compliance with the Quality Mark?
— Being one of the world’s leading manufacturers of dump trucks, BELAZ cannot but take part in the Republican competition for the Quality Mark award. In addition, if we recall the history, it was specifically our vehicle — BELAZ–540 — back in 1967 that became the first holder of the USSR State Quality Mark.
Today, we plan to participate in the competition with a BELAZ–7513 series mining dump truck, with payload capacity of 130–136 tonnes, which has been produced since 1996. In our opinion, it is a worthy successor to innovative traditions and the result of the selfless work of many thousands of employees — it is competitive, reliable, easy to operate and, most importantly, effective.
In total, from 1996 to the present, over 5,200 units of the BELAZ–7513 series dump trucks have been manufactured in 12 modifications and more than 140 versions with a share of almost 70 percent of the global market in this class of payload capacity.
Unique approaches and solutions
— All enterprises of the country, including those in heavy engineering, face the task of import substitution, as well as the intensification of co-operation within the framework of the Union State.— The objectively emerging external factors serve as a good test of our ability to adjust to difficult circumstances. Striving for technological sovereignty allows BELAZ to maintain the integrity of the established production system and the technologies used.
The Russian Federation has always been and will remain to be a key strategic partner for BELAZ. The share of Russian components and materials, on average, accounts for two thirds of the production cost of our company’s goods.
The main task of BELAZ JSC today is to provide the mining industry of our key market — the Russian Federation — with an import-independent product. Within a short time, our technical specialists have developed and assembled an almost completely import-independent 220–tonne dump truck, which is more than 90 percent made up of components manufactured by the Union State enterprises.
Another equally significant product of joint work with Russian colleagues is a 130–tonne BELAZ–7513M, which stands out not only for its high level of import independence, but also for a fundamentally different operation scheme —
a hybrid one, which uses a low-power diesel engine in combination with accumulator batteries.
BELAZ–7555A with payload capacity of 55–60 tonnes is worthy of special mention. The model is equipped with
a Russian engine and has a high degree of import independence of foreign components.
The eco line is expanding
— What whole new vehicles is BELAZ working on this year?— We continue to consistently expand the range of vehicles belonging to the eco–BELAZ line. The efforts of the best engineering potential of our company are currently focused on this direction. Last year, we already introduced a 130–tonne mining dump truck with a hybrid operation scheme, which uses hydrogen fuel cells instead of diesel.
In 2023, we also showcased a 90–tonne BELAZ–7558H dump truck powered by liquefied natural gas. This 90–tonne truck with a gas piston engine demonstrated fuel savings of up to 35 percent compared to the classic version of the dump truck. BELAZ–7558E with payload capacity of 90 tonnes on accumulator batteries with a recovery system deserves a separate mention.
— BELAZ is actively re-equipping its machine-tool fleet as part of the investment programme. What will change in this regard, and will this become another step towards product quality improvement?
— In 2024, the enterprise continues to implement the investment project ‘Modernisation of BELAZ JSC Production for 2020–2025’. This is our most significant investment project — its total cost is estimated to be 527.3 million BYN. As part of its implementation, measures are being taken to upgrade and technically re-equip almost all technological areas at BELAZ and at its branch in Mogilev. A number of facilities are under construction at these sites; 173 units of equipment are to be purchased and 43 units — to be upgraded. One of the main priorities includes the modernisation of the assembly shop, testing of cars and truck tractors, where a wide range of work will be done — from the launch of a new automated and robotic painting complex to the replacement of all lifting cranes, the conveyor belt upgrade and much more.
BELAZ factory By Vera Arteaga
