Dubal triumphs in US-based international employee involvement competition

This is evidenced by the award-winning Dubal Suggestion Scheme, which once again triumphed at the 2008 USA Employee Involvement Association (EIA) Competition when a single entry won both the Idea of the Year Trophy and the Overall Idea of the Year Trophy.

The accolades were presented during the annual Employee Involvement Association Conference and Competition, held on 17 and 18 September 2008 in Orlando, Florida, USA. Dubal was represented at the event by Saleh Janeeh, Manager Quality Assurance, and Ali Bin Rahal, General Superintendent Area Maintenance.

The company submitted 14 entries to the competition, of which ten were short-listed as finalists. No mean feat, given the other major competitors in the contest, notably Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, USA; General Motors, USA; Satyam Computers; Dubai World, UAE; Dubai Municipality, UAE; and others. DUBAL's double award-winning entry - "Redirect culvert outfall away from the water intake" - was submitted by Altaf Hussain from Desalination Operations.

Dubal also won the following awards in the 2008 USA-EIA competition:

- The Best Program Administrator Award went to Ali Bin Rahal (General Superintendent: Area Maintenance), who represents the Potroom Maintenance area and has been involved with the Dual Suggestion Scheme for the past nine years. His contributions have enhanced the Scheme tremendously in recent years.

- 2007 Performance Excellence Award.

- 2007 SEER Award (Saving per Employee Eligible Ratio.

Abdulla Kalban, Chief Executive Officer, Dubal, says:

"I feel proud when our suggestions win international competitions, as it proves that the immense potential of our people and DUBAL's capacity to grow further. The Dubal Suggestion Scheme was introduced in 1981 with the main objective of empowering employees to put forward their ideas for improving the business. It embodies our corporate belief that innovation should be part of Dubal's daily activities and that our employees should be involved in the idea generation process."

Mr Kalban adds that the continuing success of the Dubal Suggestion Scheme, both locally and internationally, reflects the important role played by talented Area Representatives such as Ms Afra Al Shehhi (Staff Engineer: Desalination Operations), who has been an active member of the Suggestion Scheme Review Team (which manages the award-winning programme) since January 2008. Ms Shehhi joined Dubal in January 2003 after obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from United Arab Emirates University. Her involvement and dedication has resulted in many innovative changes that have benefited the Scheme during the past nine months.

Ibrahim Nassir, Director-Human Resources & Organisation Effectiveness, adds:

"The most important aim of the Dubal Suggestion Scheme is to promote and encourage employees to become creative and constructive thinkers so that the company can reap the benefits of their initiative, ability and resourcefulness, "A successful Suggestion Scheme is not a cost but an investment."

In 2006 and 2007, the Dubal Suggestion Scheme achieved 100% employee participation with the average number of awarded suggestions per employee reaching 4.2. Over 10,000 suggestions were implemented and awarded in 2007 alone, representing a total cost-savings to the company of Dhs19m.

No stranger to the winner's podium at the USA-EIA Awards, Dubal has already won numerous accolades at the same forum between 2002 and 2007, as follows:

2002 - Best Environmental Award
2003 - Best Environmental Award
2004 - Best Environmental Award
2005 - Best Environmental Award
- Best Safety Award
2006 - Overall Idea of the Year Award
2007 - 2006 Performance Excellence Award
- 2006 Industry Group SEER Award.