100 years of transition

These days, both Eramet Norway in Sauda and Hydro Aluminium in Høyanger are celebrating 100 years. Impressive achievements! These are cornerstone companies in the heart of each fjord, truly decentralized, running power-intensive metal production using raw materials transported from countries far away, and shipping their products almost as far. Perhaps not the most efficient logistics-wise, but they still deliver world-class products. It was access to power that put the companies where they are; today, 100 years of expertise is just as important.

Ready for another 100 years

Both companies say they are ready for another 100 years, and with a century behind them, they know what they’re talking about. It won't be a walk in the park or resting on our laurels. It will be a continued search for new technological and organizational solutions that enable them to become a little better every day. For employees, this means continued change. There will be new ways of performing tasks, new equipment, reduced staffing and, at the same time, more and more demands from customers, authorities, owners and the environment. And this is the one thing that is certain and will not change – the first 100 years were like that too.

Read more about how Hydro uses RamBase QMS in its operations

Learn from the process industry

The oil industry is now facing the same type of challenges. Things have been going very well for a very long time in the industry, but now it's time to tighten the belt. The challenges are no different to those the process industry has faced for 100 years. That doesn't mean it's going to get any easier - change often hurts - but there is expertise in Norwegian industry that is worth taking advantage of. Simplifying processes, standardizing tasks, a flat organizational structure and small administrative staffs should be part of the solution.