The Last Word
A Personal View
expressed by Dr. Abdulla Al Hashimi
“...Emirates Group Security is amongst the first
airline security organisations to be ISO certified...”
As I write this article, I am reminded of which has enabled Group Security to Security has led to a higher quality of training
the increased necessity for a qualitative provide training to all staff working at being delivered, as well as an improvement
approach to aviation security. The atrocities outstations at a fraction of the usual costs; in the overall knowledge and approach to
of September 11 only drive home the no longer are staff required to travel to security within the Emirates Group. The
attractiveness and vulnerability of aviation stations to conduct training. The second establishment of the Centre has allowed for
security to acts of terror and, whilst it is tier is the online security test which certifies new partnerships, with organisations such
common to have a knee-jerk response to the participant, and accords them a credit as Smart Approach, so that we can further
incidents, aviation security needs to be in a university diploma in Aviation Security develop our training capabilities.
more than just reactionary as it requires Management, which is the final third tier of The other aspect of the tactical
judicious and proactive planning. Security- the programme. approach adopted by Group Security is
related measures have to be dovetailed Since November 2002, Emirates Group the cultivation of a quality approach to
into the requirements of commercial airline Security has been working with Australia’s aviation security functions. Emirates Group
operations, passenger facilitation and Edith Cowan University to develop an Security is amongst the first airline security
customer oriented environment. Yet, security accredited training programme and provide organisations to be ISO certified. However,
costs must not over-burden the industry, staff with an opportunity to embark on this certification is worthless if the Quality
which has enough financial concerns as it is. further education. Management System does not cultivate
Technology and strategy therefore play an The partnership between Emirates Group continuous improvement. To this end we
ever-increasing role in security and to make Security and Edith Cowan University has have employed the Quality Control Circle
it all happen the Security Manager needs an resulted in two significant outcomes. The (QCC) concept. QCC is a methodology
arsenal of knowledge and all the help he can first of these is the actual development of which encourages staff to develop solutions
get from the work force. the pioneering university diploma in Aviation to daily operational problems and issues.
While the themes of hijack, sabotage, and Security, now in its 14th intake and having Using current unit and team structures within
terrorism are “exciting”, it is important to graduated over 500 students. The programme the organisation, we have created QCCs to
remember that none of the countermeasures is actually open to the global aviation industry, develop solutions for roster management,
would be effective without a qualitative yet Emirates staff receive special rates. process improvement and customer service.
approach to their implementation. It is not Interestingly the majority of people who The QCC process was further expanded
only a matter of achieving the necessary have enrolled into the programme have recently with the advent of a Group
benchmarked standards, rather devising an been flight crew and ground staff, the result Security Quality Day on which we recognise
inbuilt continuous improvement process, of which has been that staff across Emirates, the best solutions from QCC across the
both technically and tactically. and not just those in Group Security, are organisation. An example of one of these
Perhaps the best way for me to share my aware of security issues. Security has solutions, which received an award, is the
thoughts on this is to explain how we, at become everybody’s business. proposal and development of an e-learning
Emirates Group Security, have integrated The second of the outcomes has been course to address travel document
the tools of Quality Control Circle (QCC) the development of the Centre of Aviation security. By rewarding staff in this way we
and Education and dovetailed these and Security Studies. This centre allows hope to develop a culture of continuous
into the existing processes of Human Group Security to conduct research in improvement which will ensure the quality
Resource and Operation Management. specific areas of concern to the industry management system in place will continue
Our experience serves as a launchpad for and the airline. For example, the Centre to work for the organisation.
intended further improvements. is currently involved in a research project While security infrastructure, technologies
The human factor is the backbone of any in Australia concerning passenger security and manpower are important in preventing
industry and aviation security is no exception. and facilitation at airports. This aspect of and mitigating threats, it is the quality
Technology and infrastructure will not solve the partnership allows Group Security to processes in the background that ensure that
problems effectively without human input. influence policy and remain at the cutting measures in place work and are tested.
Therefore, Group Security has embarked on edge of key industry issues; this will, in
a tactical approach to develop the human turn, filter into security training and benefit The author is the Divisional Senior Vice
capital, whilst keeping in mind resource Emirates staff and the product we deliver to President of Group Security, Emirates
limitations, based on a three tiered training our customers. Airlines, United Arab Emirates.
and education solution. Experience has shown us that the
The first tier is the e-learning module education and research capabilities of Group
48 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting www.asi-mag.com December 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational
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