The savings potential of the ideas implemented from the staff suggestion scheme at Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) in 2010 amounted to Dh19.55 million ($5.32 million), said its president and CEO.

Dubal employees at non-supervisory level submitted 23,572 ideas to the scheme during 2010, of which 19,493 were implemented and awarded, added Abdulla J M Kalban, which raised the total savings achieved by the suggestion scheme over the last 30 years to more than Dh117 million.

The aluminum giant will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its employee suggestion scheme next month (May).

The total number of implemented and awarded ideas has reached 116,139 since the suggestion scheme’s inception, Kalban said.

“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,” he added.

“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.”

Dubal recently held the annual suggestion scheme awards ceremony in Dubai.

Ahmed Al Tayer, vice chairman, Dubal, addressed the audience at the ceremony held at Madinat Jumeirah, and encouraged all employees to continue supporting the programme as it contributes substantially to Dubal’s success.

The categories for the awards included energy saving, environmental, health & safety, innovation & technology, plant operational safety category and best suggestion.

“At Dubal, we know that our organization’s continued success is dependent on our employees being involved and engaged in the business,” said 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,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service