Alba Embraces Industry 4.0 with SAP S/4HANA Cloud
In a significant leap towards digital transformation, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world, has officially partnered with SAP to enhance its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system by adopting the SAP S/4HANA Cloud software. This strategic move is set to fast-track Alba’s journey into Industry 4.0, ensuring adaptability to the dynamic business environment.
The formalization of this partnership was celebrated at a signing ceremony hosted at Alba’s headquarters on May 2, 2024. The event saw the presence of key executives from both organisations, including Ali Al Baqali, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, and Ahmed Jaber Al-Faifi, Senior Vice President of SAP Middle East Africa – North.
“We are revolutionising aluminium production through this digital transformation. The adoption of SAP S/4HANA Cloud is not merely a technological upgrade but a catalyst propelling Alba to the forefront of Industry 4.0. This move will enable us to unlock real-time data, optimizing our operations and empowering our business to innovate for the future,” remarked Ali Al Baqali during the ceremony.
Saquib Ahmad, SAP’s Managing Director for Bahrain, added, “This deployment marks a pivotal moment in Alba’s digital transformation efforts. It aims to align the company’s operations more closely with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, enhancing customer and partner services through streamlined, integrated, and automated business functions.”
The SAP S/4HANA Cloud system represents a next-generation ERP solution that promises scalability, real-time data processing, advanced analytics, and an improved user experience for Alba’s stakeholders, including employees, customers, and suppliers.
Alba’s journey with SAP has spanned over 25 years, reflecting a longstanding partnership involving the integration of SAP solutions across various core functions such as production, maintenance, sales, procurement, and HR.
About Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)
As a leading global aluminium producer, Alba boasts an impressive production capacity exceeding 1.62 million metric tonnes per annum as of 2023. Celebrating a legacy spanning 50 years, the company has excelled in operational excellence, safety, environmental responsibility, and community engagement. A pivotal contributor to Bahrain’s economy, Alba exports high-quality aluminium, including both standard and value-added products, to over 270 global customers from its sales offices located in Zurich, Singapore, and a subsidiary in the U.S.
Alba’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its pioneering role within the Middle East’s aluminium sector and its significant contributions towards achieving Bahrain’s Net Zero Carbon Targets by 2060. The company’s ESG Roadmap launched in 2022 underscores its dedication to areas such as decarbonisation, green energy, circular economy, employee welfare, and transparency.
The smelter has been acknowledged for its dedication to safety, having achieved a historical milestone of 30 million safe working hours without a lost-time injury in September 2022. Alba’s PS5 Block 4 expansion project exemplifies its commitment to environmental stewardship by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and elevating its total capacity, while adhering to the highest international standards.
Emphasizing transparent communication, Alba engages with stakeholders through its comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan and maintains an External Grievance Mechanism for reporting environmental or social concerns, reflecting its dedication to ethical conduct and sustainability.
With the integration of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Alba is poised not only to enhance its operational efficiency but also to set new benchmarks in the aluminium industry, fully aligned with the visionary goals of Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
