OpEx MENA to highlight the continuing importance of operational excellence and safety

With these challenges in mind, key players are meeting in Bahrain at two of the region’s leading events, OpEx MENA and the Gulf Safety Forum, organised under the Patronage of H.E. Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Oil, co-hosted by the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) and with Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) as principal sponsor.

On 26 and 27 March, participants will discuss best practices for creating competitive advantage and maximising profitability of their assets. This is the fifth edition of the OpEx MENA conference and includes presentations by leading operators Bapco, Petro Rabigh, S-Chem, Saudi Aramco, Sipchem, Satorp and Tasnee, as well as cutting-edge consultants and service providers such as DuPont Sustainable Solutions, Honeywell, Solomon Associates, Dekra, Schneider Electric and Wood.

Solomon Associates, who are holding a workshop at OpEx MENA, believe that as the world becomes a global marketplace, market forces will lead to an unprecedented focus on controllable costs and this will require a change in philosophy. “Successful companies will be prepared for change management and the remainder will try to react. Investment in maximisation of value through effective use of management systems and reliability agendas will grow substantially” says Kevin McQuillan, Senior Consultant at Solomon Associates. Alan Izzard, Managing Partner of the Procyon Group, adds that there are many facets to operational excellence and some companies focus only on what they view as their key areas. “In reality, a business is an integrated system and all parts need to work at the highest level of performance if operational excellence is to be achieved. Operational excellence is not a short-term project, it is a journey that requires clarity of direction and a permanent culture change to be successful” said Izzard.

On 28 and 29 March, representatives from diverse industry sectors including oil, gas, petrochemicals, construction and manufacturing will gather at the Gulf Safety Forum to discuss strategies for continuous improvement of safety procedures as well as share successful case studies and roadmaps towards achieving the goal of zero accidents. Phillip Townsend Associates will be participating in the forum once again and present on a topic that they believe is of the utmost importance - the Process Safety Benchmark programme, developed jointly with the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) technology alliance of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Mark Eggleston, PTAI Director of Middle East and Europe, stresses that the Process Safety Benchmark helps companies understand how well they are implementing industry guidelines on process safety. Results can help participants target and prioritise areas of needed improvement. The forum will also cover regulatory environment and safety standards, workforce competence and behavioral safety amongst other important subjects.

The events will provide opportunities for one-to-one discussion with leading experts, thus providing a platform for gaining and sharing knowledge related to improving operational efficiency and safety, both at leadership level and in manufacturing operations.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/05032018/opex-mena-to-highlight-the-continuing-importance-of-operational-excellence-and-safety/