Online integration with key freight forwarders provides accurate, real-time tracking of inbound shipment status and enhances procurement processes
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A passion for professionalism, excellence in all aspects of the business and continuous improvement has inspired yet another innovative application of information technology ("I.T.") at Dubai Aluminium ("DUBAL"), the entirely state-owned corporation that operates the world's largest single-site primary aluminium smelter using pre-baked anode technology. This time, it's an implementation of a SAP-based Inbound Logistic solution that has been integrated electronically with key freight forwarders, thus enabling the automation of inbound shipment tracking, expediting and costing at DUBAL - which in turn has enhanced transparency, control and efficiency throughout the process.
"The primary objective of the Inbound Logistics Implementation Project, which began in 2012, is to automate all the processes between placing a purchasing order to receiving the goods in the DUBAL Warehouse," advises Ahmad M Almulla (Vice President: I.T.). "The net result is access to real time status for all DUBAL's inbound shipments, enabling efficient and accurate tracking. This will help DUBAL to maintain optimal inventory levels and eventually will result in cost-savings. It will also contribute to faster turnaround times for the entire procurement and logistics cycle, leading to higher ROI; and will improve the reliability of the data and quality of reporting and analysis."
It's taken the better part of one year to design and implement the system, which uses both the SAP Logistics Execution ("LE") and SAP Traders and Schedulers Workbench ("TSW") modules. These modules have been integrated with selected freight forwarders' systems through Electronic Data Interchange ("EDI"), via an information broker to ensure a unified platform that supports current and future business needs. Almulla believes that the investment of time and resources was more than worthwhile, given the end-result. "Apart from the clear business benefits, our integrated Inbound Logistics solution is one of very few in the region that is designed to ensure data accuracy and availability in a real-time manner. This has once again confirmed DUBAL's leadership in out-of-the-box thinking, as well as our employees' resourcefulness and capabilities."
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About DUBAL
An entirely state-owned enterprise, DUBAL owns and operates a one million metric tonne per annum primary aluminium smelter at Jebel Ali, Dubai -- the world's largest single-site primary aluminium smelter using pre-bake anode technology. Since its commissioning in 1979, DUBAL has been renowned internationally for its premium purity, high quality products and services; as well as its commitment to sustainable development through conscious efforts to maximise the health and safety people, reduce the impact of its operations on the environment, and invest in the social and economic development of the community. Dedicated programmes support the Emiratization goals of the UAE, including targeted recruitment, skills development, management training and strategic career planning.
High quality products are made in three main forms: foundry alloy; extrusion billet; and high purity. More than 300 customers are served in 50-plus countries. Approximately 88 per cent of DUBAL's annual production is exported globally, the company's key markets being Asia, Europe, the Middle East North Africa ("MENA") region and the Americas.
DUBAL owns 50 per cent of Emirates Aluminium ("EMAL") in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi. The company also has investments in upstream development alumina/bauxite joint venture projects in Brazil, Cameroon and Republic of Guinea; and in a calcined petroleum coke joint venture development project in China.
Aiming for continuous improvement through innovation, DUBAL has invested substantially in developing advanced reduction cell technologies that not only improve productivity but also reduce the operations' impact on the environment through improved energy efficiency and minimized emission levels. This has culminated in proprietary DUBAL DX and DX+ Technologies -- both of which operate at high amperage levels and rank among the best reduction technologies available. DUBAL's DX Technology is operational in a 40-cell potline at DUBAL and the 756-cell EMAL Phase I. DX+ Technology has been licensed to EMAL Phase II (444 cells), currently under construction; and has been selected by Aluminium Bahrain ("Alba") for its Line 6 Bankable Feasibility study.
For more information, visit www.dubal.ae
© Press Release 2013
