Emal’s reduction maintenance team submitted an idea for the modification of alumina funnels, which picked up the award at last month’s Ideas UK conference in Bristol.

According to Emal’s president and CEO, Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, a culture of continuous improvement had existed at Emal for some time and an active employee suggestion scheme has a participation rate of over 70% of the workforce.

There is an 11,000-strong workforce at Emal and over 60% of suggestions made have been implemented over the past two years, claims the company.