Sabic Services Ltd (SSL), has awarded Cooperheat Saudi Arabia, a high technology service provider, one of only three global contracts for inspection services applicable to all Sabic affiliate companies for the next five years.

It is an achievement that Cooperheat is justifiably pleased and honoured to accept.

The firm is now successfully integrated into Dutch engineering group, Stork, forming the nucleus of Stork SMT in the Middle East.

One of the firm's corporate priorities, as advised by its Board of Directors, is to implement an initiative to enhance the internal and external training of its employees.

A company that has long since recognised that the greatest asset any company has is its employees, no matter what their job description or level of seniority, the firm continues to maintain that the better developed the individual's skills, the greater will be the benefits reaped by the company.

This philosophy touches the client-based Cooperheat services throughout the region, and inevitably impacts on employees continued development and interest in their chosen career.

The Inspection Services Department incorporated the American Standard of Non-destructive Testing (ASNT) as the overall qualification standard that should apply to all employees.

Cooperheat's own full time Level III technicians meet the exacting demands for training and certification.

External training courses are also offered to match client requirements.

These are used by the company to ensure that employees are suitably qualified to carry out various inspections or simply to promote an awareness of best practice methods to management as well to supervisory staff.

This is essential in today's rapidly changing environment with the development of sophisticated equipment and methodologies, believes Cooperheat.

Courses and certification by outside agencies are also undertaken.

For instance, the Welding Institute (TWI) is shortly to conduct training and certification (PCN) in the highest level Ultrasonic Inspection techniques.

Cooperheat technicians brought together from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman operational bases are all set to benefit from the programme.

The independent assessment aims to strengthen the experience and confidence of employees and clients alike.

Advanced Inspection Services, an area of particular importance for the continued growth of the company, is also moving to accept challenges posed by new developments in the field.

The "Time of Flight Diffraction" (ToFD) course will be attended by senior inspection personnel at Lavender International (UK) during the course of next year.

In-house courses and certification in replication methods are given by resident metallurgists based in the UAE, who, in turn, will carry out the final interpretation of results prior to forwarding it to the client.

Cooperheat claims to offer the only internal and external courses worldwide for heat treatment, both pre as well as post weld (PWHT) and the company is internationally recognised as being the technology leader in this field.

Never a firm to rest on its laurels, however, it realises that only continued improvement in education and training will allow it to maintain this position.

The company's worldwide resources are an essential part of enabling this, with regular visits to undertake training, certification and audits made by senior engineers from within the engineering division of Cooperheat based in Skelmersdale, England.

The commercial side of the business is included in the training and development programme instituted within Saudi Arabia.

Recent innovations include the introduction of a Local Area Network (LAN) in the Jubail office and the implementation of SAGE accounts package, both with the assistance of Algosaibi Information Systems (AGIS).

The initiative included a very comprehensive training and implementation course for all operatives.

The eventual goal will be to connect to the Stork global intranet system to fully integrate the operational and commercial aspects of the company on a worldwide 24-hour 365-day basis.