How and where did BSI start and what are its goals for 2014 and beyond?
BSI (The British Standards Institution) has been in existence for over 100 years. It was established in the United Kingdom in 1901.
Originating as the world’s first national standards body and a founding member of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), BSI Group in the Middle East, headquartered in Dubai, came into existence in 2005.
The company’s influence grew in multiple sectors including aerospace, construction, energy, engineering, finance, healthcare, IT, retail and oil & gas. BSI increased its operations to facilitate growth in the UAE and Middle East economies. The oil & gas sector provided sustainable revenue growth for BSI, especially in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Since 2010 the company has doubled the revenue of its business in the Middle East as a whole by primarily focusing on the oil & gas sector. The Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, is now the biggest producer and exporter of oil.
As the trade hub for the region, the UAE is a strategic location for BSI. Last year, there was an increase of 30% in the company’s revenue compared to 2012. The BSI corporate goal is to be recognised and valued as a growing, best-in-class, customer-driven, integrated business.
What does BSI do within the oil & gas sector?
Standards of quality, health, safety and environment in the supply chain are becoming an important issue in the oil & gas sector not only in the UAE, but also across the globe. The quest for global standards in these areas has been an ongoing discussion for key players. The integrated approach to supply chain management will be one of the most important issues in the oil & gas industry in the future. Oil & gas companies can no longer only consider the impact of health, safety, environment and quality locally.
BSI offers various supply chain solutions which can help oil & gas companies to evaluate their overall supply chain risks, as well as their potential hazards. Our intelligent tools encompass three, holistic key components: SCREEN; Supply Chain Risk Exposure Evaluation Network, SCM; Supplier Compliance Manager and VerifEye; Supplier Verification. With a mature supply chain risk management programme in place, oil & gas companies will be more resilient to disruptions.
What is your presence in the Middle East region?
In 2009, BSI started to address the needs of governmental bodies in Abu Dhabi, thus, the second office in the MEA was established in Abu Dhabi. In 2010, offices in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been opened.
Which country is your biggest growth area and why?
The country which we see as our biggest growth area is the UAE. BSI MEA has doubled its revenue twice in the last seven years. Both the company’s training and assurance departments had significant growth.
According to last year’s report on Meed projects, the Emirates currently has $37.45 billion worth of oil & gas projects under execution out of a total Gulf figure of $89.95 billion. The UAE ranked third in the Gulf with $28.36 billion of as yet unawarded oil & gas projects.
We understand the importance of pioneering business and creating the best practice for organisations. This means using standards to maximise existing protocols and to harness future growth in the most effective way.
What is your company most excited about in the oil & gas sector in 2014 and beyond?
BSI believes standards are the DNA of civilisation. The company is excited to learn about the revision of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Standard and ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Standard which are due to be published in 2015.
BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health & Safety will become an ISO Standard and is due to be published in 2016 and will be known as ISO 45001. ISO 45001, the new standard for occupational health & safety will also have a direct impact for the oil & gas industry.
With internationally recognised occupational health and safety systems, the number of incidents and accidents will decrease, with less disruption to daily operational processes. BSI and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) have also created a global partnership to provide independent assessment against CIPS corporate certification.
The CIPS Corporate certification provides oil & gas organisations with a framework for effectively managing their procurement activity. An initial pilot for the programme will be undertaken by BSI in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Following a succesful pilot of the new initiative, the programme will then be rolled out across the rest of the world.
