Week in Review
Week 40 in Review: Technology, maritime meeting, and employee engagement top week’s news slate
“The visit by His Excellency is a clear sign that technology is a top priority for the company.”
Technology took us from Tuwaiq to Detroit this week on Aramco LIFE, in addition to headlines highlighting the Kingdom’s maritime industry, employee engagement, and a new campaign that offers bounties for the discovery of IT shortcomings.
Chairman checks out the tech at Aramco Detroit Research Center
Aramco researchers in the U.S. shared their work in innovation with HE Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan, Aramco’s Chairman of the Board, when he visited the Detroit Research Center recently. Globally, and in the U.S., the company’s research network is making significant contributions to the company’s value creation and sustainability initiatives.
“I saw some really amazing stuff at our R&D Center in Detroit. From small tweaks to existing technology that can tackle emissions in the short term, right through to a radical rethink of the internal combustion engine. This is a company that is totally focused on solutions,” said Al-Rumayyan.
“The visit by His Excellency is a clear sign that technology is a top priority for the company as it innovates for the future and addresses sustainability issues,” said Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, chief technology officer of Aramco, who hosted the tour.
Tuwaiq Drone Challenge tests UAV capabilities
The Tuwaiq Drones Challenge 2022, which began on Sept. 27, with Aramco as its strategic sponsor, will highlight how drone technology can transform a range of businesses, creating efficiencies and improving safety in the process.
The event, which runs until Oct. 10, will see teams from across Saudi Arabia compete with drones in various categories: commercial, filming, construction, recreation, and agriculture. As well as funding, Aramco is providing access to its flight simulator to boost participants’ skills in takeoff, mission planning, maneuvering, and landing. It has also entered a team of its own drone pilots in the competition.
Aramco’s participation underscores how the latest drone technology is enhancing its business operations. For example, where inspecting tanks, flare stacks and elevated structures would previously require scaffolding and multiple teams working at significant heights, the task is now carried out in less time, at lower cost, and more safely with drones.
“Deploying industry leading robotics and drone applications across Aramco’s business is driving safer, cost-effective and more efficient practices that improve our competitive advantage. We hope our sponsorship of this event will help scale-up drone adoption in Saudi Arabia and encourage the growth of a vibrant drone business ecosystem,” said Aramco’s chief engineer Khalid Y. Al-Qahtani.
Aramco sponsors two-day Saudi Maritime Congress
Aramco recently participated in the third edition of the Saudi Maritime Congress as a Strategic Sponsor, one of the largest global shipping and logistics events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two-day exhibition and conference, held on Sept. 28 and 29 at the Dhahran Expo, provided a unique platform to learn about the key opportunities in the Kingdom and a meeting place for shipping and logistics professionals, decision makers, and government entities.
The event was attended by more than 4,000, with more than 80 leading exhibitors, and more than 50 speakers.
In the keynote panel session, Fahad M. Al Abdulkareem, vice president of Industrial Services, gave an update on progress and growth opportunities in the maritime industry in the era of Saudi Vision 2030. Amer A. Amer, Aramco’s transport chief technologist, participated in a panel discussion, on the role that the shipping industry can play in the decarbonization of supply chains.
Majed A. Al Thubaiti, head of port facilities in the Aramco Marine Department, participated in a panel discussion about how to use big data and analytics to maximize asset performance. Turki Al-Shihri, director of National Maritime Academy (NMA), participated in a panel discussion about the development and training of the maritime workforce.
“Aramco’s greatest asset is you.”
With those words, Aramco senior vice president of Human Resources and Corporate Services Nabeel A. Al Jama’ launched the 2022 Employee Engagement Campaign, asking users to weigh in on a number of topics regarding their experience working for Aramco.
"Your responses are anonymous, and your feedback will drive actions designed to make working at Aramco an even better experience,” said Al Jama’. "Please join me in participating in this year's survey.”
The survey can be accessed through company workstations.
‘See something wrong? Do something right!’
The Information Protection Department, in collaboration with the Information Security Department, brings forth cybersecurity awareness with the campaign “See Something Wrong? Do Something Right!”
Aramco employees play a vital role in making Aramco safe and secure, which is why the Cybersecurity Bounty Program was launched. The program enables corporate employees to practice corporate citizenship by reporting cybersecurity weaknesses observed on any Aramco IT systems through the program website
The Cybersecurity Bounty Program team would like to thank each participant who reported a cybersecurity observation since the launch of the program. In addition, special appreciation goes to the program’s top three participants: Mohammed Al-Mohsen from the Computer Operations Department, Hamad Al-Gareeb from the Sea Water Injection Department, and Ahmad Al-Amer from Unconventional Resources.