Strata shines spotlight on female leaders in engineering and manufacturing sector

Strata Manufacturing, a composite aero structures manufacturing company, is marking the fourth Emirati Women’s Day (August 28) by highlighting its pioneering female leaders who are re-defining working processes in the traditionally male-dominated engineering and manufacturing sector.
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As consumer demand in international travel continues to grow year-on-year, Strata’s current order book of more than USD 7.5 billion illustrates its increasing importance as a national, homegrown champion of manufacturing in the UAE.

In driving its vision to become a global aerostructures manufacturer with distinct UAE roots, Strata’s highly credible, gold standard credentials are built on local capabilities and innovation. With 11 production lines, Strata graduated more than 300 Emirati technicians from its Composite Aerostructure

Technicians Training Program and with an Emiratisation rate of 51 per cent, of which 86 per cent are female, women are considered merely the roots of Strata.

“Our holistic efforts as an Al Ain-based aerostructure manufacturer go far beyond the innovation and advancement of our capabilities. A significant number of our team are dedicated to enhancing internal processes that serve to boost our operational efficiency – these employees engineer improvements that empower our manufacturing capabilities,” said Ismail Ali Abdulla, CEO, Strata Manufacturing.

One of those ‘improvement engineers’ is Mouza Mohammed Obaid Alkaabi. Having joined Strata straight after graduating in 2014 as an Automating Engineering Coordinator, Alkaabi focused her early Strata efforts on the installation of an on-system application on shop floor tablets that helps technicians request an engineer’s support when needed. The implementation of the system led to reducing the time-frame in solving the issues, and it also includes a database that shows all the lessons learnt for future reference. The process flourished and Alkaabi earned a promotion to the position of IT Specialist in 2016, and won the MADA award in 2017; a yearly award that recognizes employee’s achievements at Strata. 

Alkaabi then spearheaded the ENOVIA project, a management system that allows the processing of information throughout the entire lifecycle of a product - from ideation, design and manufacture, through to service and archive. Through the training initiative led by Alkaabi, more than 600 Strata employees are now fully trained on the system, which has created greater efficiency in time and costs.

“I understand I may be a little biased, but it is a simple fact that Strata’s model approach to workplace opportunity is based purely on ability – not gender,” said Alkaabi. “Strata does not employ women to boost HR columns. Fostering equal opportunities is entwined in Strata’s DNA.”

Alkaabi admits her progress illustrates that manufacturing is no longer a male dominated sector and that women are just as capable.

“I find it very humbling that we have homegrown companies in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE that are giving women opportunities to explore new career opportunities,” said Alkaabi.

Not wanting to rest on her successes, Alkaabi, with the support of her team, continually reviews operational processes across Strata’s facilities and divisions. Alongside her day-to-day tasks, Alkaabi also plays an instrumental part in Strata’s Go Green movement, which is dedicated to transforming the Engineering department into a paperless zone.

“Every workplace is richer for diversity, my female colleagues and I are not simply Strata employees – we collectively embody the company’s shared vision and mission. We are enthusiastic and committed national pioneers that are aligned to the company’s goal - also the national goal - of establishing the UAE as a global and esteemed aerospace player. To do that, we need more opportunities for talent, regardless of gender.”