Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow:

---

Stage 6 Load Shedding as Eskom Struggles to Keep Units Online

Eskom has pushed load shedding to stage 6 on Sunday as it continues to suffer breakdowns at its power stations. Stage 6 load shedding took effect from 04:16 on Sunday morning, it said, after a generation unit each at Kusile and Kriel power stations tripped. The power utility was forced to move to stage 5 load shedding on Saturday after the loss of five units. A press briefing will be held at 10:00 to update on the situation.

Earlier this week, Eskom’s chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer said that the power grid is extremely vulnerable to breakdowns and that any load shedding schedules are subject to change at short notice. The COO said that Eskom intends to ramp up maintenance in the coming summer months, which could lead to sporadic load shedding. He added that maintenance remains a big issue for the group, as it is not seeing the outcomes it expected. He said that as soon as some units are returned to operation following maintenance, they break down again soon after. He attributed the maintenance problems to a lack of appropriate skills and experience needed to address the issues.

The group recently published its load shedding outlook for the rest of the year, noting that it has to keep unplanned outages below 13,000 MW to minimize rolling blackouts. In a more load shedding-heavy scenario, if outages remain above 14,500 MW, stage 2 load shedding will be frequent for the foreseeable future. If the power utility is unable to keep outages under 16,000 MW, load shedding at higher stages becomes the standard. Stage 6 blackouts equate to at least six hours without power per day, possibly in two-hour cycles. The last time South Africans endured stage six power cuts was two years ago. The grid has been under pressure for the past week, with the power utility implementing rolling power cuts at short notice. This weekend, South Africans woke up to advanced power cuts with scheduled outages three times a day.

Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer said that stage 6 power cuts will persist, with heavy rolling blackouts expected for the week. He said that stage 6 would persist until sufficient generating units are returned to service. "Looking ahead, stage six load shedding will remain implemented until sufficient generating units are returned to service and those levels have been replenished. We have not yet been able to make a firm commitment as to when we will be able to ease the current stage of load shedding. I can assure the public of South Africa that the system is monitored closely," Oberholzer said. Eskom said that its teams were working around the clock to avoid a total system collapse by implementing stage 6 power cuts.

---

Questions:

1.1 Examine how a fishbone (cause and effect) diagram could be used to assist Jan Oberholzer in identifying potential causes of why Eskom had to resort to stage 6 power cuts. (Diagram not required) (10)

1.2 Apply the Six Sigma methodology to resolve the power crisis at Eskom.

1.1 A fishbone diagram can help Jan Oberholzer identify potential causes of Eskom's stage 6 power cuts by visually representing different categories, such as infrastructure, maintenance, and planning, and their specific contributing factors.

1.2 The six-sigma methodology can be applied to resolve the power crisis at Eskom by defining the problem, measuring current performance, analyzing data to identify root causes, implementing improvements, and controlling processes to sustain improvements.

1.1 A fishbone diagram, also known as a cause-and-effect diagram, can be used by Jan Oberholzer to identify potential causes of why Eskom had to resort to stage 6 power cuts. This diagram helps visually represent different factors that could contribute to the problem.
To create a fishbone diagram, Jan Oberholzer would start with the effect, which in this case is the stage 6 power cuts. He would then draw a horizontal line across the page to represent the timeline of events. From this line, he would draw several lines branching out like the bones of a fish. Each branch would represent a different category of potential causes.
For example, some categories that Jan Oberholzer could consider include:
- Infrastructure: This could include factors such as breakdowns in power stations or transmission lines.
- Maintenance: This could include issues related to the lack of appropriate skills and experience needed to address maintenance problems.
- Planning: This could include factors such as insufficient planning for load shedding schedules or the inability to keep outages below a certain threshold.

Within each category, Jan Oberholzer would then identify specific factors that could contribute to the stage 6 power cuts. For example, under the infrastructure category, he might identify factors such as outdated equipment or insufficient investment in infrastructure maintenance.

By using a fishbone diagram, Jan Oberholzer can systematically analyze and identify potential causes of the power cuts. This diagram can help him understand the interconnectedness of different factors and prioritize areas for improvement. It can also facilitate discussion and collaboration among team members to find solutions to the power crisis.

1.2 The six-sigma methodology can be applied to resolve the power crisis at Eskom. This methodology focuses on reducing process variation and improving quality by systematically identifying and eliminating defects or errors.

To apply the six-sigma methodology at Eskom, the following steps can be followed:

1. Define the problem: Clearly define the power crisis and its impact on Eskom and its customers. Identify the desired outcome and establish specific goals for improvement.

2. Measure the current state: Gather data and measure the current performance of Eskom's power generation and distribution processes. This includes collecting information on factors such as outage frequency, duration, and customer feedback.

3. Analyze the data: Analyze the data to identify patterns, trends, and potential root causes of the power crisis. This may involve statistical analysis and techniques such as Pareto charts to prioritize the most significant issues.

4. Improve the processes: Develop and implement solutions to address the identified root causes. This may involve initiatives such as upgrading infrastructure, improving maintenance practices, and investing in skill development for employees.

5. Control the processes: Establish control measures to sustain the improvements and prevent the recurrence of the power crisis. This includes monitoring and measuring key performance indicators, implementing preventive maintenance programs, and continuously evaluating the effectiveness of the implemented solutions.

6. Repeat the process: Continuously monitor and evaluate the performance of Eskom's power generation and distribution processes. If new issues arise or if the desired outcome is not achieved, go back to the previous steps and make further improvements.

By applying the six-sigma methodology, Eskom can systematically address the power crisis, improve the reliability of its power supply, and minimize the need for load shedding. This approach focuses on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement, ensuring sustainable and long-term solutions.

Learn more about six sigma:-

https://brainly.com/question/14400589

#SPJ11