A successful foray into the offshore market at the end of last year and the adoption of world-class management practices is helping transform Al Masaood Bergum (AMB) into an industry leader.

AMB has been a leading supplier of pre-fabricated steel and timber frame buildings in the Middle East for the last 27 years with two production facilities in Dubai, a production facility in Abu Dhabi, a production facility in Doha and a workforce of over 1,000. It is part of the Al Masaood Group based in Abu Dhabi, one of the largest and oldest trading and commercial organisations in the UAE.
Over the years, AMB has built a strong clientele based on mutually beneficial relationships. More than 70 per cent of AMB's contracts are repeat business. It undertakes projects across many industry segments throughout the Middle East, North Africa and beyond for customers such as the US Armed Forces, Fluor, Siemens, NDC, Gasco, Adnoc and Etisalat.
The type of work undertaken by AMB includes onshore drilling camps, specialist equipment shelters, temporary site offices, mobile offices, labour camps and fast track steel frame buildings.
'What makes AMB stand out from its competitors is its speed, quality and ability to undertake projects on a turnkey basis, examples of which include a 262-room steel frame hotel constructed in Baku, Azerbaijan in 120 days and a 6,000m2 temporary terminal facility at Dubai airport constructed to full CAA standards also in the same time frame,' says a company spokesman.
AMB has now ventured into the offshore accommodation market in a partnership with Dutch offshore specialist CKT Projects based in Rotterdam. At the end of 2004, the partnership was awarded its first substantial contract for building accommodation units for two production vessels being fabricated in the UAE.
For AMB, the deal was another vindication of its world-class business capabilities. In October 2004, it became the first company in the industry to have an Integrated Management System (IMS) certified in accordance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSHAS 18001. The IMS certification (By BVQI) is a tough test to pass, as it assesses a company on aspects related to quality, health, safety and environment.
'Our success over the years can be attributed to its approach to business. In the case of the offshore project, a first-time experience for the company, AMB and its partner CKT intend to execute this project in half the time normally required thanks to the company's' innovative, modular approach.
'Instead of fabricating accommodation units on the vessel, which can be done only when fabrication reaches a certain stage, AMB and CKT have initiated the work at AMB's facility in Jebel Ali.
'This means the configuration and erection of units is being done while the vessels are being built at Jebel Ali and Sharjah.
'For such a modular approach to work, where all the parts of a project have to come together smoothly and efficiently, a great deal of experience and attention to detail is required. The company's emphasis on procedures and quality management norms it obtained an ISO 9001 certification three years back after a six-month implementation programme, assist greatly in this process.
'The emphasis on documenting and refining processes and procedures has helped AMB maintain its high level of product quality and customer service during a five year period of rapid expansion during which revenues have increased more than five-fold from Dh30 million to Dh160 million,' he says.
Although much has changed since the company started, Al Masaood Bergum has retained the pioneering spirit that has helped it push the frontiers of its operations forward and will doubtless help it to make it's offshore venture a great success.