Aramco Asia Holds Workshop for Suppliers

Aramco Asia Engineering & Technical Services conducted a virtual workshop on July 8 to provide the accredited pipe manufacturers and pipefitters with a comprehensive understanding of the companies’ specific fitting standards and requirement. 

With the theme of “share the expertise and overcome the challenge,” the workshop this year also intended to strengthen the suppliers’ capability of providing Aramco with qualified products and services, enhance community awareness on integrity, quality best practices, and areas of improvement.

Mutib Al-Harbi, representative director of Aramco Asia-Korea, noted in his opening remarks, “Aramco puts the utmost efforts to sustain the equipment and material integrity that are deployed in hydrocarbon operating facilities. This is driven by the fact that integrity and quality impacts not only capital asset values but also day-to-day life and safety of our employees, and society.” 

The key presenters and topics discussed at the workshop included: 

• Eissa Al Zahrani, material engineer from Aramco Consulting Services Department (CSD), who introduced the revised corporate fitting specifications and the inspection requirements

• SunWoo Yoo, quality engineer of Aramco Asia-Korea, who focused on lessons learned and the company’s experience gained from project inspections

• TK Corporate, a Korean fittings manufacturer, briefed the audience about the quality pitfalls and critical process of fittings.

From the case studies, two smart technologies were praised:

• The “QR Codes for Self-MTC Authentication” presented by India manufacturer VIRAJ highlighted the success deployment of QR coding technology, which will play a significant role in controlling production of counterfeit materials

• The “Manufacturing Execution System Solution,” by Korea FA systems, including system establishment methodology and advantages, presented an advance digital transformation technology for smart factories. 

Yasser Al Subhi, Aramco Asia-Japan deputy managing director, noted in his closing remarks, “I know we are all aligned under the same business objectives and interests, and I believe we can strengthen our relationship and achieve our mutual goals. I will always look forward to hearing ideas and insights to identify targets and actions that will benefit quality management and address challenges.”

The 150-minute session attracted some 70 participants, including quality professionals from Aramco’s CSD Materials Group and subsidiaries in Europe and across Asia, manufacturers and technology providers in Thailand, India, Korea, and Japan. The attendees were able to learn of Aramco’s general pipe fitting principles throughout the session.