Excellence ‘an operating imperative’ in UAE aluminium industry

Emirates Global Aluminium - the jointly-owned, UAE-based aluminium conglomerate to be formed by Mubadala Development Corporation and Investment Corporation of Dubai through the integration of Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) and Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL) is in prime position to extend the record of the aluminium industry in the UAE for quality and excellence. The end of 2013 saw the award to both companies of further certifications according to the management system standards from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), which highlights the increasing success of the UAE in the highly competitive global aluminium industry. 

In December 2013, EMAL was awarded ISO 10002 Certificate, the international benchmark for Complaints Handling. This followed a year when the number of complaints was reduced and all were resolved within 30 days while 91 per cent customer satisfaction was achieved with regard to problem-solving. ISO 10002 is part of EMAL’s Continual Improvement Programme, an element of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System to which EMAL is already certified. In 2013, DUBAL’s Customer Complaints Management team closed 100 per cent of complaints within target, while the time taken to close substantiated complaints reduced by a dramatic 67 per cent in comparison to 2012. 

Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei (President & CEO: EMAL) said: “As a leading player in the global aluminium market, delivering excellence in all that we do is an imperative. Our reputation as a supplier of high quality products to customers around the world can only be maintained if such quality is matched across the board. We aspire to the highest international standards and the accreditations we have received reflect the culture of excellence that exists across the entire workforce, as well as the commitment and dedication of our employers to deliver a world-class service.” 

In November 2013, DUBAL’s Learning Centre (DLC) was successfully verified for ISO 29990:2010 Learning services for non-formal education and training (LRQA).  As a result DLC established a new benchmark in its field: it is one the very few industrial learning centres verified to the ISO 29990:2010 standard; and is the first learning centre in the Middle East manufacturing sector to achieve it from LRQA. DUBAL also holds numerous other international standards, notably certification to ISO 9001:2008, ISO/TS 16949:2009, ISO 14001:2004, ISO/IEC 27001:2005, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005, OSHAS 18001:2007 and ISO 50001:2011 for its Energy Management system: a first in the region; and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:1998.