JVs Join Meeting with Inspection Agencies
THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, November 18, 2009 -- -- Top management representatives from Europe and Asia Pacific inspection agencies met Oct. 27 with Aramco Overseas Co. (AOC), Saudi Aramco, Aramco Services Co. and joint-venture representatives during AOC’s annual Quality Forum at AOC’s new headquarters in The Hague.
It was the first time joint-venture representatives from Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Co. (SATORP), Ras Tanura Integrated Project and Yanbu‘ Export Refinery Project were represented at the forum.
“We are pleased that many joint ventures have selected AOC to provide quality management services,” said managing director Ahmed M. Alzayyat. “Their choice for our services is based on AOC’s long experience in quality management and our flexibility to adapt to the needs of our customers.”
It was also the first time all inspection agencies and AOC affiliate representatives were gathered in one meeting. “This allows our partners, the inspection agencies, to align with our common goal,” Alzayyat said, “which is the shipment of zero-defect materials to our customers at Saudi Aramco.”
SATORP execution director Mohammed A. Al-Hammad said 60 percent of SATORP’s total quality management requirements will be executed by AOC and its contracted inspection agencies.
“Our joint-venture partner Total is looking at Saudi Aramco to take the lead in quality management,” Al-Hammad said. “It is inspiring to see the open and transparent two-way dialogue AOC has created with the agencies. More importantly, AOC is demonstrating its commitment to treat the Saudi Aramco joint venture projects the same as projects fully owned by Saudi Aramco.”
“Our cooperation with SATORP will be the first of many and will be the yardstick for future collaboration with Saudi Aramco’s joint ventures,” Alzayyat said.
Yasir H. Al-Yousif, AOC Quality Management division head added: “We will not compromise on quality and will team up with the joint-venture projects to achieve our common goal. AOC has a great network of offices around the world available to provide the required service and a quality-focused, experienced staff.”
The forum was followed by a Joint Venture Exchange Meeting the next day aimed at aligning future expectations by sharing joint-venture project scopes, quality management systems and support by AOC.
“With the received input about the joint-venture expectations, we can fine tune our service portfolio and the quality management processes to meet the joint-venture quality requirements,” Alzayyat said.