Q&A Series: Twintec on Navigating Challenges and Leading in Sustainability in the Supply Chain
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 outlines a bold roadmap for economic diversification and societal progress. A key pillar of this vision is a robust and sustainable supply chain.
Supply Chain and Logistics Summits Global Series brings you supply chain news and special features, globaly. In this article, we feature a Q&A with Ahmed Yehia, Managing Director at Twintec Saudi LLC, a leading player in the Kingdom's construction supply chain industry. We delve into the challenges faced by the industry and explore how Twintec is leveraging innovation to navigate these hurdles while prioritizing sustainability. Discover how Twintec is contributing to building a future-proof supply chain that aligns with Saudi Arabia's ambitious goals.
SCLS: The past couple of years have been challenging for every supply chain executive. Can you share what you and your team at Twintec are most proud of having accomplished during the crisis? How did you guys manage through it??
?Ahmed: It is indeed that the past 5 years were the most challenging years for all of us. Amidst COVID-19 pandemic, it brought a significant impact on the construction industry globally. Lockdowns, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, health problems have disrupted the construction supply chain, delayed projects, and affected productivity and profitability.
Twintec Saudi LLC were able to continue working on projects by adapting to new working conditions. Through flexibility and resilience, we have been able to adjust to new regulations, changing timelines, and supply chain disruptions, allowing Twintec Saudi LLC to continue operations under challenging circumstances.
SCLS: Given the ongoing global geopolitical issues, commodity pricing instability, trade risks, and health-related disruptions, how are you preparing to meet these challenges in 2024?
Ahmed: Preparing to meet these challenges in 2024 requires a proactive and strategic approach. With risk assessment and conducting a thorough analysis of potential challenges that may arise from global geopolitical issues, commodity pricing instability, trade risks, and health-related disruptions, we have developed contingency plans and scenario-based strategies to mitigate and manage these risks.
One of which is to strengthen collaboration with suppliers, partners, and customers, fostering strong relationships that allow for open communication, sharing of real time information, and joint problem-solving. This collaboration helps navigate uncertainties collectively and find innovative solutions in order to attain common goals that will benefit all the stakeholders.
Twintec Saudi LLC also ensures that we have enough materials to cover our confirmed and lined-up projects in advance. This avoids price fluctuation effect, government policy changes and ensures that we can mobilize and deliver our projects, based on agreed timeline. Twintec Saudi LLC also explored diversification, and alternative sourcing of materials which will reduce reliance on specific regions or suppliers. We have identified alternative sourcing options from the local market capable to manufacture high quality products that complies with our requirements and standards.
SCLS: Sustainability is a growing concern for supply chain leaders. Are there any specific?initiatives, related to sustainability that you are pursuing to reduce your environmental impact??
Ahmed: Twintec Saudi LLC integrates sustainability throughout its businesses, and reducing environmental impact is a social responsibility to care for and to protect the environment for our generations and future generations to come. We are continually investing in research and development to lessen our contribution to carbon emissions. Our in-house research and development team consists of structural engineers, concrete and material specialists, carefully selected supply chain, together with Universities in Europe, we examine in detail all facets of our works, refining where needed, evolving when appropriate, and are leaders in continuously bringing new technologies to market.
Taking steps towards environmental conservation, such as reducing energy consumption by developing recycled materials for steel fibre reinforcement from old tires and reducing slab thickness through value engineering to lessen the use of concrete to various type of slab applications. Twintec Saudi LLC also uses electric powered screed machines developed by Twintec’s affiliated company with zero emission for its operation.
From design (optimized design), materials (recycled and eco-friendly materials), execution (faster production), equipment (electric screed) and high durability on concrete floor without the needs of frequent repairs, Twintec Saudi LLC offers the best sustainable flooring solutions with significant reduction on environmental impact.
SCLS: How is technology, particularly AI, transforming the way Twintec?plans, communicates, and operates? Are there any innovations or technologies that helps increase efficiency and reduce cost?
Ahmed: AI's transformative impact in the construction industry offers numerous benefits such as improved productivity, cost savings and enhanced safety.
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Twintec Saudi LLC currently uses electric screed machine developed by one of our affiliated companies. Aside from being operated on battery powered unit that doesn’t require burning of fuel resulting to an eco-friendly operation, this state-of-the-art equipment can reduce the project execution by approximately 70% compared to the traditional application due to the vast screeding area it can accommodate during operations. With its computerized levelling system, accuracy or flatness is guaranteed to meet the requirements of the project specifications.
Another development is the release of a fully electric, battery powered Mini Superflat Screed. The zero emissions, compact concrete levelling machine is ideal for industrial concrete floors, freezers, and other construction jobs where space is limited and meets consumer demands for an environmentally sensitive machine. The remote controlled electric Mini Superflat Screed delivers the same power and performance with no compromise on hydraulic functions and offers outstanding results in terms of levelling and flatness.
Twintec Saudi LLC also uses various software’s that streamlines the design process, allowing our in-house engineers to create floor slab models efficiently. Automated calculations with 3D visualization ensure accuracy, reducing the risk of manual errors through precise modeling and analysis that leads to reliable results. These tools cover various aspects of floor slab design, including load analysis, reinforcement detailing, and code compliance.
SCLS: As we look ahead to the next decade, how do you envision the supply chain industry evolving, particularly in terms of sustainability and AI? What emerging trends or technologies do you believe will shape the future, and how is Twintec preparing for these changes?
Ahmed: Supply chain industry is expected to undergo significant transformations, particularly with regards to sustainability and the integration of AI and emerging technologies which will shape the future of the supply chain industry.
With rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), more automated logistics and warehousing operations are being developed. Major retailers and supply chain groups have adopted a wide range of robotics solutions to improve operational efficiency in warehouses and distribution centres. Robotics solutions and in particular automated guided vehicles (AGVs) technologies that “sense, think and act” (often autonomously), are being used at an ever-increasing rate. These robots operate in predefined pathways, moving products for shipping and storage around the clock therefore automating costly, subjective and time-consuming activities or where local labour force is not available.
Over the next 10 years, the development of robotics in logistics warehouse is expected to accelerate that will lead to a more efficient and cost-effective supply chain, which will benefit both businesses and consumers. Twintec Saudi LLC already executed various state-of-the-art projects with robotics technology applications, thus we are ready for the future by continuously enhancing our design and application to meet the flooring requirements of the logistics and warehouse robotics system of the future.
Twintec Saudi LLC has long since recognised the importance of reducing the effect our activities have on the world we live in.? Care for the environment and a commitment to developing sustainable solutions is demonstrated by an ongoing extensive research development programme in collaboration with leading universities worldwide. Twintec Twintec Saudi LLC had been recognized and awarded as Best ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Company from the recent World ESG Summit 2024 in Saudi Arabia. This reflects the commitment of Twintec Saudi LLC to make a positive impact on sustainability for the betterment of our future.
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