Technology identification and evaluation is one of the basic aspects in the Strategic Planning Process, in order to cover the technological efficiency value.

Thus, our Technological Surveillance System is integrated into this process, being evaluated, revised and improved at the Annual Strategic Evaluation stage. We also use the usual channels of the Project Management Process to gather technological information.

Technology Surveillance System

It is worth mentioning that we perform a regular Planning of Technological Visits, where we schedule visits to other yards that excel at technological efficiency. The increasing acquisition of licences proves its continuous implementation.

The Commercial, Production and Sales Managers are in charge of carrying out the activities in which the System is based. They pass on the information about their findings and the results of their actions, using as communication channels the Communication Committee, the regular meetings of the Management Board – of which they are members - and the Project Team meetings.

The General Services, Technological Information and Engineering Managers carry out the Technological Portfolio Management, using the methods set in the Supplier Management System.

The commitments set in the outline agreements include our partners’ communication about the technological innovations. Out of this information we decided the implementation of important technological innovations in soldering, such as robotized soldering or high frequency machines for special soldering as the Titanium.

There are several examples that underline our effective technological management. Among them, it is worth mentioning the re-usage of the soldering robot used in the Öresund bridge project. Nowadays it has been set into operation again according to the Dragados Offshore specifications in order to include new functions and adapt to the Snohvit project works.

Technological innovation is present in the development of our Project Management Process and is deployed through the Innovation and Development Management Process. To that end, we form partnerships with some public entities regarding subsidies, many of them in Andalusia.

In order to define and revise the DINSA Research and Development and Innovation Policy, we consider it necessary to carry out regular Innovation Diagnostics in each company belonging to the Group, as all of them perform research and development and innovation projects and activities. The aim of this Innovation Diagnostics is:
* Collaborating in settling the foundations to issue and revise innovation policies and strategies that foster competitiveness, growth, employment and cohesion.
* Evaluating the innovation capacity in the DINSA Group through a group of indicators and defining targets taking the current R&D&i role as a basis for the future competitiveness of the companies belonging to the DINSA Group.
* Capitalizing innovation via an evaluation and diagnostics system.
* Detecting important complementarities and synergies in any innovative effort of the companies belonging to the DINSA Group.
* Analysing main change trends likewise relationships among technology, employment and society.

From this basis, Dragados Offshore is performing the following R&D&i Projects, for which we clearly define targets and necessities, likewise their potential users:

* P. 1: Technological Development of an information system to manage the facilities and equipment maintenance service.
* P. 2: Research about the technical feasibility of lifting a production/compression platform in one piece. IPC 78B
* P. 3: Development of innovative management tools
* P. 4: QHSE Management integrated System

We, at Dragados Offshore, foster the concept that the way to excellence requires the permanent quest for continuous improvement. Thus, from the very beginning, we develop R&D projects, which have increased over the last few years.

Thus, innovation in the computer field is one of our characteristics, which mainly focus on improving communication across our organization and its stakeholders. A proof of it is our association with the Andalusian Technology Institute.

The R&D&i Project 3 involves the design and development of some innovative computer tools aimed to get the proper internal management of the company and working methods that allow higher quality, control and reliability levels in the current projects. The new tools to be developed not only foster process improvements but also affect potential clients and allies as quality increases and costs decrease. In short, this project aims to promote innovative working techniques from other companies.

We have implemented the use of data collectors with barcode readers at the workshops, for the production control, and the Quality Control. Thanks to this system we ha managed to reduce the number of hours used to collect and attribute data, likewise to ensure the reliability of the information.

The Industrial Maintenance Plan involves identifying obsolete technologies regarding facilities and equipment. For the production equipment that we use more often, we have developed Specific Refurbishment Plans, in order to ensure our leading technological position. They are regularly verified by the Repair shop within the Maintenance Department to decide, according to the repairmen cost – based on stipulated economic tables – the renewal or removal of equipments and components.

There is a system to migrate from one technology to another: we quarter the obsolete one and use the usable pieces as repair parts. Unusable materials are dumped into the appropriate site or collected by an authorized agent.

Due to the celerity with which equipment and computer programs become obsolete, we decided to change their purchasing strategy and use a renting system with the company SEMA – which includes maintenance and installation of the agreed software. Thus, the supplier is in charge of their replacement in accordance with the agreement terms and following the guidelines of the IT Manager in the annual revisions of the computer systems carried out by the DINSA Group. Thus, we get an optimal technology management that avoids their obsolescence.