RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

A6
Management, quality and competence
A6.1 Organization and management system
Current situation
SKB’s organization currently includes more than 220 employees at three locations: Stockholm
(head office) approximately 130, Oskarshamn (Clab, Äspö HRL, Canister Laboratory, site
investigation) approximately 80, and Östhammar (SFR, site investigation) approximately 15.
Counting the contributions of outside agents as well (institutions, consultants, contractors),
the nuclear waste programme encompasses around 500 full-time jobs.
The main features of the present-day line organization are shown in Figure 14. Responsibility
for the RD&D work, including Äspö HRL and the Canister Laboratory, has been gathered in a
technology department. A special department has been established for the site investigations.
A third department is responsible for operation of the existing facilities. A fourth department
handles administrative duties, and a fifth is in charge of EIA and communications.
Many of the activities are pursued in project form. This includes the planned facilities in the
nuclear fuel programme, where two major projects have been organized for the purpose of
gathering all the material needed for the permit applications for the encapsulation plant and
the deep disposal.
Over many years, SKB has devised and implemented an integrated management system that
meets the requirements of ISO. As of 2001 the system is certified to ISO 9001:2000 and
ISO 14001:1996. The regulatory authorities have reviewed and commented on the management
system on different occasions. The changes in working methods required by the certification
process are now well established in the organization.
Future needs
SKB’s work force, organization and mode of working are now adapted to the needs of the
current phase of the nuclear waste programme. No major changes are planned during the
coming years. In the longer term, however, radical changes will take place. After permits are
granted for the encapsulation plant and the deep repository, most of the nuclear fuel programme
will enter an intensive implementation phase, after having long been dominated by development
and planning. The facilities will then be built, to a great extent simultaneously. The activities
will thereby both change character and expand greatly. The deep repository in particular is a
huge industrial project which is expected to require a work force of around 300 persons during
the most intensive part of the construction phase. The construction of an encapsulation plant is a
project of smaller scope than the deep repository, but contains unique elements. At later stages,
an assembly factory for canisters will be built and certain modifications will be made in the
transportation system.
President
Business Support
EIA and
Public Information
Site
Investigations
Technology
Operations
Figure 14. SKB’s line organization.
404 RD&D-Programme 2004