Quality expectation of consumers in the lubricants sector is consistently rising. Brands, which invest in constant development and follow current trends, turn this into an advantage. Product Quality Assurance Manager Alev Gürbüz, a part of the ExxonMobil family for a very long time, elucidated the increasing importance of the quality system.
You have been a member of the ExxonMobil family for a long time. We would like to get to know you better and listen to the story of your first step into the industry.
I completed my primary, secondary and high school education in Eskisehir. I worked in the plastics sector for three years after graduating from METU Department of Chemistry. In the meantime, I completed the Business Administration Expertise Program at Istanbul University. My story in Mobil Oil Türk A.S (MOTAS) started in the Serviburnu Facility. In this period, I took charge in various positions related to quality and formulation. I served as Europe Quality Coordinator for almost 5 years. Currently, I am taking office as Product Quality Assurance Manager at the Serviburnu Facility. Considering my 27 years in Mobil Oil Türk A.S, I think it is obvious that my primary field of interest is the energy sector.
What are your responsibilities in ExxonMobil? Can you please describe your one day at the office?
My responsibilities mainly consist of formulas, the Quality Control Laboratory and the quality system of our laboratory. In addition, I take active role in the quality systems, operation and control integrity of the company. I am also the technical representative of MOTAS at PETDER (Petroleum Industry Association).
My day at the office starts with assessing the changing priorities in the laboratory with my team, and updating the day’s plan in this framework. We work together with the teams in production, planning and distribution departments during the day. For the rest of the day, I work with our laboratories in the EAME region (Europe, Africa and Middle East), and our Product Technical Consultants and Quality Management Department teams working in these laboratories. As I take part in various subjects and projects in a highly dynamic and vigorous environment, I lose track of time. I think I owe this to the nice and efficient teamwork both in Turkey and the EAME organization.
How does the quality system work? Can you describe the company’s quality policy?
Product integrity and customer satisfaction are the biggest priorities of our company. As a global brand; the product’s quality, performance, representation and compliance with legal regulations as well as customer experience and brand identity are proactively managed thanks to our management systems in product integrity. Our commitment to brand and product integrity helps us constantly assess and improve our product integrity management systems.
As Mobil Industrial Oils, we offer developed products to leading industrial equipment manufacturers and help these manufacturers protect their customers’ engines and machines, allow them to maximize their performance while improving their energy efficiency. Our expert team provides high quality oils in a reliable way thanks to our strong distribution network, while offering technical implementation services to customers all around the world.
How do you see the increasing quality expectation in the lubricant industry?
Industry and automotive are among the sectors that keep up with the rapidly developing technology. Solutions for increasing productivity come to the fore in the energy sector. In particular, the importance of efficiency in industry is undeniable. Thus, quality expectation has substantially increased in the lubricants sector. This trend is reflected on products as added value and requires constant development in qu ality management systems.
Consumers are more demanding about product quality. Is this an advantage or a disadvantage for companies?
Today’s consumers are more demanding, and therefore manufacturers have to develop new products and solutions to be able to meet these expectations. I think it is an advantage for the companies which can develop their staff and products in this direction.
Lastly, we would like to talk about ExxonMobil’s laboratory in Turkey. Can you please give us some information about your analysis, test and R&D works?
Our laboratory is fully equipped with all necessary technical units required for lubricant analyses. We closely follow the latest technology, and attach great importance to updating our equipment in this regard. In addition to the production of test data and the quality system in which the activities related to data production are managed; maintenance and calibration of devices, participation in international test programs, periodic assessment of test methods, statistical quality control analyses, and studies related to environment, safety and security are carried out and trainings are provided in our laboratory.
Our research and development activities are conducted under the control of the R&D department in the US, and ExxonMobil Turkey is regularly informed about the studies and developments.
