Gulf SQAS Assessors Training

To maintain the highest level of safety and sustainability for individuals, families, and communities, the GPCA (Gulf Petrochemical and Chemical Association) has begun on a mission to improve logistical standards throughout the GCC region.

A decade ago, we developed and introduced the prestigious European Sustainability and Quality Assessment System (SQAS) as Gulf-SQAS, tailored to the stringent requirements of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.

Gulf-SQAS represented the peak of Responsible Care for Logistics, mightily covering the Petrochemical industry's major RC codes (product stewardship and distribution), which Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) must manage.

The Gulf-SQAS training, held on May 13-14, 2024, was a crucial milestone in the program's progress.

This workshop, held at the prestigious Anantara Hotel in Dubai Business Bay, provided that assessors had a uniform, expert approach to evaluating logistics businesses across the following modules:

1. Core

2. Transportation

3. Warehousing

4. Tank Cleaning

The Gulf-SQAS Assessment is a sophisticated and severe framework meant to examine and improve the operational and environmental standards of logistics service providers in the GCC region. This program, guided by the GPCA, ensured openness, safety, quality, and sustainability while adhering to globally recognized best practices.

Aspiring Assessors were expected to:

• Showcase knowledge and experience as an ISO auditor in the Petrochemical Logistics industry.

• Participate in a complete Gulf-SQAS training session.

• Pass both a written examination and a skills and personality interview.

• Obtain Gulf-SQAS accreditation (TS, WH, TC) for appropriate modules from the GPCA.

• Attend a thorough evaluation led by an experienced accredited assessor.

• For each module, complete a full cycle GSQAS assessment while being observed by an accredited assessor.

This special training event brought together top-tier professionals from petrochemical manufacturers, logistics service providers, and GCC certification body auditors interested in providing Gulf-SQAS assessments in the region.

The program was organized by industry leaders:

1. Mohamed Seraj, GPCA Responsible Care Senior Specialist.

2. Rashid AlJohani, Chairman Gulf SQAS T&A Committee.

3. Amador Brinkman, Technique Works Senior Consultant (Core Module and Assessors Accreditation Manual).

4. Andreas Goebels- Head of Operations Excellence RSA Talke (Warehouse Module)

5. Krishna Sankaran- Technical and Operations Manager, EXSIF (Tank Cleaning Module)

6. James Graham- Gulf SQAS Vice-Chairman, Transportation Module.

For anyone seeking detailed insights or willing to join the vanguard of logistics excellence, information is now available at http://www.gulfsqas.com.

The project played a critical role in determining the future of logistics by setting unprecedented standards and competence.