Johansen: Assessors' performance is key to Qatalum's success and profitability
November is World Quality Month, a "worldwide celebration of quality - a time to showcase the advancements and valuable quality contributions in businesses, communities and institutions". And in the spirit of this celebration, on 17 November Qatalum, the state-of-the-art aluminium smelter constructed in line with Qatar's long-term economic diversification strategy, proudly recognised its qualified team of ISO/TS 16949 system assessors.
Quality, in the broadest sense, is a degree of excellence that applies to every system, process and practice which aims to meet or exceeds customer satisfaction. In the narrower sense, it is about delivering efficient and effective systems that result in increasing profits. Qatalum is committed to achieving and maintaining quality in all these areas. And in line with this commitment, it recognises ISO/TS 16949 assessment as a team function. Drawn from various operations and support units, the assessors are tasked with ensuring that the smelter's integrated management system complies with the Qatalum Way, the prescribed operating model, and the international standards of ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO/TS 16949.
CEO Tom Petter Johansen summarised the importance of quality assessors, saying, "Being management system assessors is challenging yet at the same time rewarding. While patiently - and enthusiastically - helping colleagues to get to grips with QPS improvement tools, their performance in reviewing proactive indicators of critical processes, ensuring that customer/ supplier relationships are managed and that problem solving is completed to an improved level, is key to Qatalum's success and profitability."
Speaking at the ceremony introducing the assessors, DCEO Khalid Mohamed Laram reiterated the important role assessors play in Qatalum's overall strategy and operations, "Your role as Management System Assessors makes us aware of opportunities to improve, see how to reduce risk in the business and note how QPS tools are being used, leading to solving problems in a structured manner. Your role also demands that you carry out independent assessments and review of work processes and check whether we meet product quality according to customer requirements."
ISO/TS16949 is a technical specification aimed at developing a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasising defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. It is based on the ISO 9001 standard - a certification that Qatalum has already achieved.
QPS Manager Jan Peterlic explains its importance: "At Qatalum our quality journey is through the Qatalum Production System - the one championing our journey to excellence. Our System focuses on eliminating waste from every step of critical processes: the need for fast, flexible processes that give customers what they want, when they want it, at the highest quality and affordability. One principle is "Optimizing flow", resulting in shorter lead times, a focus on keeping production lines flexible to get higher quality, better customer responsiveness, improved productivity, and better utilisation of equipment and space. It is the passion, ownership and professionalism of the people that drives any improvement on our way to achieve excellence in our operations and processes. People make the difference between good and great."
HR Manager Waleed Obaidly emphasised the importance of people within the Qatalum organisation: "All that is required is to be 'creative' in order to make our process more efficient. As people are one of the pillars of this organisation, all must contribute to the culture of continuous improvement, which in the end; drive us to achieve our mission towards operational excellence".
Qatalum is a state-of-the-art aluminium smelter with a production capacity of 585,000 metric tonnes per year that will enable Qatar to contribute a significant portion towards GCC aluminium production. The smelter aims to become a sustainable economic catalyst at the heart of turning Qatar's gas energy into a valuable commodity - solid aluminium, and hopes to create a strong, knowledge-based industry not only in Qatar, but throughout the region.
-Ends-
About Qatalum:
Qatalum is an equal joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Hydro Aluminium of Norway, with the ability to produce 585,000 tons of high-quality primary aluminium products per annum from twin 1.2 kilometre potlines. Qatalum's complex facilities include a carbon plant, port and storage facilities, as well as a captive power plant. The state-of-the-art cast house produces value-added products such as extrusion ingots and foundry alloys that meet the stringent quality standards of Qatalum's global customer base. Used in a variety of industries including the automotive, construction, engineering and in the manufacturing of consumer goods, by the end of its journey, Qatalum's aluminium reaches the entire global community.
Qatalum has a dynamic and diversified work force, representing over 34 nationalities and is perusing industrial diversity for Qatar and its people by actively creating a future of environmental sustainability and economic opportunities.
For further information, please contact:
Khalifa.Al-Khuzaei
Public Relations Associate
Qatalum
Tel: 0097444031342
Fahad Ahmad
SAHARA Communications
Tel: 0097143298996
Mobile: 00971505646894
fahad@saharagcc.com
www.saharagcc.com
© Press Release 2011
