DUBAL celebrates record employee participation during 30th anniversary year

More records have tumbled at Dubai Aluminium Company Limited “DUBAL”, this time with regard to the DUBAL Suggestion Scheme, which celebrates its 30^th anniversary in May 2011. According to Abdulla J M Kalban, President & CEO, DUBAL employees at non-supervisory level submitted 23,572 ideas to the scheme during 2010, of which 19,493 were implemented and awarded. 

“This has brought the total number of implemented and awarded ideas to 116,139 since the Suggestion Scheme’s inception,” Kalban says. “Moreover, the audited savings potential of the ideas implemented in 2010 amounted to AED 19.55 million, which raised the total savings achieved by the Suggestion Scheme over the last 30 years to more than AED 117 million. Also, the overall employee participation rate reached the 100 per cent mark for the fifth consecutive year, which means that at least one suggestion was implemented and awarded per eligible employee during 2010. These figures are extremely gratifying, especially as they again highlight the continued success of our Suggestion Scheme and the fact that it currently numbers among very few such schemes to have endured for as many years.” 

HE Ahmed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman: DUBAL addressed the audience at the annual Suggestion Scheme Awards ceremony, held at Madinat Jumeirah on Wednesday 6 April 2011, and encouraged all employees to continue supporting the programme as it contributes substantially to DUBAL’s success. Several honorary guests from Dubai government departments and local industry who have harnessed DUBAL’s experience in the suggestion scheme field also attended the event. 

As in prior years, all DUBAL employees were invited to attend the Suggestion Scheme Awards ceremony, along with executive management. Several honorary guests from Dubai government departments and local industry also attended. Given that this year’s event coincided with the 30^th anniversary of the Suggestion Scheme’s inception, the ceremony took on a gala format. An interactive audio-visual presentation paid tribute to the milestones achieved over the three decades, with specific emphasis on the value added by the Suggestion Scheme to DUBAL’s business. 

Naturally, the primary aim of the event was to honour those employees whose suggestions won the six different Suggestion Scheme Award categories. The top honours were awarded as follows:

Energy Saving category

Gold, “Redesign of ST#14 Deareator control system”

Silver,  “To reduce cross-over exhaust fans”

Bronze, “To correct high riser voltage drop in Potlines 5 and 6”

Environmental category

Gold, “Template for graphite preheat in D20 pots”

Silver,  “Reduce anode effect frequency during anode setting”

Bronze,  “Tool for ore transfer to protect environment pollution”

Health & Safety category

Gold,  “Anti-loose locking facility for Alutec cutter head bolts”

Silver, “Safety mechanical stopper for loading/unloading station”

Bronze, “Safe access to IC3 stacker grab and avoid incidents”

Innovation & Technology

Gold, “Modification of ingot detection system in HDCs”

Silver, “To stop under pressure fluctuation in Kilns 1 and 3”

Bronze,  “Improved cast ID reliability and reduce workload” 

Plant Operational Safety category

Gold, “Pilot gas supply for main gas skid ESDV actuator”

Silver, “Extended cramyer guide to prevent shuttle stuck-up”

Bronze, “Modification of casting wheel flanges in Properzi” 

Best Suggestion category

Gold, “Provision of side guide plates”

Silver, “Modified transfer rolls at kick-out device”

Bronze, “Metal crucibles trunion support plate doubler” 

The Suggestion Scheme Awards ceremony also served as a platform to present the CEO’s Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement, which went to 11 individuals for their efforts in 2010. A further 11 people received CEO’s Appreciation Award Certificates, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to the quality management system audits. 

Attesting to the calibre of the suggestions submitted by DUBAL employees, one of the winning ideas announced during the annual Suggestion Scheme Awards ceremony in 2010 also won several other awards last year, namely: the International Trophy in the Ideas.UK 2010 competition; the Technology Award in the Ideas.Arabia 2010 Competition; and the Team Idea of the Year Award in the Ideas.America 2010 competition (formerly known as USA Employee Involvement Association). At corporate level, DUBAL received the Campaign Award (1^st & 2^nd place) and the Benchmarking Survey Award at Ideas.UK 2010; and the Saving per Eligible Employee Ratio Award, Gold at Ideas.America 2010. 

“At DUBAL, we know that our organization’s continued success is dependent on our employees being involved and engaged in the business,” says Kalban. “We have demonstrated that people who are empowered enjoy an enriched work experience and consistently give of their best,  which in turn leads to improvements in quality, safety, cost, environment, through-put and customer service. Indeed, the DUBAL Suggestion Scheme plays a key role in positioning our company as a leader in every aspect of our operations and helps us maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.”