Production & Operations
ICL is creating a culture of operational excellence throughout the company. Its is to deploy Best Practice operational and managerial standards across the Company’s production facilities and Operational Excellence systems for production management and asset management.
Improvement Teams
ICL has established Improvement Teams designed to increase efficiency and find solutions by utilizing the knowledge and experience of employees working in the field. The Improvement Teams select issues based on their importance and significance, the time and resources required to address the issue, and the measurability of the improvement, monitoring potential and control of the issue over time.
The work of the Improvement Teams promotes cross-learning, creativity, in-depth analysis and methodical investigation. Improvement Teams that have proven that their work can be implemented in the field are considered for rewards by an Incentives Committee. Proposals related to safety and ecology are approved by the Committee on Safety and Ecology and receive incentives at the discretion of the committee.
Using drones for Operational Excellence
Drones have become an effective tool which can undertake assignments which are dangerous for people, as well as save companies time and money. ICL’s Innovation and Operational Excellence department, in collaboration with one of ICL’s sites, conducted a successful pilot using drones. Their flying ability, which gives them easy and accurate access to locations over great distances or heights, also neutralizes the effect of challenging land conditions — drones can easily and quickly fly over unpaved roads, water obstacles, and uneven terrain.
New drones used at ICL sites carry sensitive equipment, monitor all activities from above, and save human employees from the need to work in dangerous environments.
The ICL Innovation and Operational Excellence departments identify innovative and advanced technologies which assist with the operational challenges of the company and improve its performance. In ICL sites, drones are expected to serve in diverse ways, starting with the inspection of high-voltage networks and batteries, through the monitoring of equipment and security patrols and ending with the delivery of spare parts (up to 10kgs). Drones can also carry equipment, such as cameras and sensors of various kinds, including video cameras, infrared night-sight cameras and various inspection tools (like specific chemical detection tools). They can also deliver light cargo from place to place.
The drones are now entering full service in the ICL Dead Sea and ICL Rotem sites. ICL’s Innovation and Operational Excellence team is already looking into additional ways to implement drones in ICL operations to minimize risks, save money and time in the future.
