Pfizer is the Technical Team of the Year 2022, DP World wins the Audience Award
Ghent, June 16, 2022 – Today, BEMAS, the Belgian Maintenance Association, hosted the symposium and award show for the Technical Team of the Year. After an engaging afternoon program, the professional jury awarded Pfizer the title of Technical Team of the Year, while the audience vote went to DP World.
Pfizer: a Complete Story
By now, everyone is familiar with Pfizer due to its role in producing the COVID-19 vaccine. The rapid transition in production was largely thanks to the technical department, under the banner of Project Lightspeed—an apt name, as they transformed production within just a few months. Moreover, Pfizer became the most reliable supplier of COVID-19 vaccines in Belgium.
The jury unanimously selected Pfizer as the winner, recognizing the completeness of their story: "This case truly demonstrates how essential the technical department is in maintaining manufacturing in Belgium. Pfizer’s Puurs site has an outstanding track record, which—along with a reliable network of suppliers—was one of the key reasons why production took place here." Pfizer also seamlessly integrates engineering, production, and maintenance. "This is not a top-down story but a genuine collaboration. Even before the pandemic, they had a well-established system in place, and during Project Lightspeed, this structure proved invaluable. We saw Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles being applied on the shop floor, in real-life operations."
The jury further emphasized: "Considering that they executed the entire transition in just three months, this was not only a technical feat but also an organizational masterpiece. We also want to acknowledge the Pfizer team for putting their own lives on hold to help save others."
Inspiratie voor 180 professionals
Around 180 professionals in maintenance and asset management attended this inspiring event. In the afternoon, participants took a guided tour of the Ghelamco Arena, focusing on: Fault reporting systems (Fixform), HVAC installations (EQUANS) and Grass maintenance (Bras Fijnaart). Afterward, the six finalists presented their cases:
BASF, Borealis, Chevron Phillips Chemical, DP World, Pfizer, and Port of Antwerp competed for the title.
The evening featured a keynote by Kris Perquy, mental coach for the Belgian Football Association, on motivating technical teams—bringing a fresh perspective from the world of top-tier football. Then came the awards ceremony: Pfizer was crowned Technical Team of the Year 2022. DP World was the audience favorite
DP World: A Remarkable Transformation in a Short Time
At DP World, a workplace accident a few years ago triggered a complete review of departmental organization. In record time, and amid the COVID-19 crisis, they transitioned from a reactive approach to a proactive maintenance organization.
According to the jury, DP World’s story was authentic and transparent: "What DP World achieved is one of the hardest things to do," the jury remarked. "We witnessed a remarkable turnaround in just three years."
For many companies, this is a familiar challenge: operating in reactive mode and trying to shift gears. DP World turned a negative incident into a positive, technical transformation. They focused not just on HSE management but on the technicians themselves, ensuring long-term improvements in the way the team operates. "One of the most impressive aspects is that their technical team remains unchanged after four years. Instead of replacing staff, they transformed the way the same people work, which is an extremely difficult mission. The audience award is well deserved."
6 Outstanding Cases
The finalists delivered six incredible stories, showcasing excellence in maintenance and asset management. The jury noted: "These candidates are equally strong, proving that more is possible than many companies might think. The depth of knowledge within Belgian industries—especially in technical departments—is truly impressive. Yet, these teams often remain unnoticed, even though they are critical to business success. With this award, we want to put them in the spotlight."
BASF’s team successfully repaired a high-pressure steam valve in an inventive way. They conducted thorough work preparation, allowing them to fix the valve efficiently and safely—without shutting down the Steamcracker. The jury praised the meticulous approach: "It was nearly a nuclear-level preparation process, but that is precisely what made it so successful. The team also did a fantastic job linking their work back to the broader organization."
The Borealis team is preparing for the launch of a new production plant in Kallo, which will house 50,000 pieces of equipment. Their goal: Ensure an optimized maintenance strategy for maximum plant availability. The jury was impressed by the detailed breakdowns per task: "Keeping technicians motivated for such complex preparatory work requires strong leadership and vision. This project will pay off in the coming years, and we are eager to see the long-term results."
Chevron Phillips Chemical startte met een Asset Performance Management programma, een ware revolutie voor dit bedrijf. Na een doorgedreven gap-analyse en voorbereiding van de data implementeerden ze nieuwe APM software. Bovendien zetten ze sterk in op training van het team, zodat alle kennis in-house beschikbaar is en blijft, bijvoorbeeld met hun eigen inspectors. De jury is van oordeel dat dit een van de meest diepgaande en data-driven cases was. “Een sterke case gestoeld op data. Na elke verbetering analyseren ze ook weer verder, om nog meer te kunnen verbeteren. Het succes is, zoals ze zelf aanhaalden, te danken aan de mensen.”
Chevron Phillips Chemical initiated an Asset Performance Management (APM) program, representing a revolutionary shift for the company. After a thorough gap analysis and data preparation, they implemented new APM software. Moreover, they strongly focused on training the team, ensuring that all knowledge is available and remains in-house, for example, with their own inspectors. The jury praised their data-driven approach:
"This was one of the most deeply analytical cases we reviewed. They continuously analyze improvements to push for even more efficiency. Their success, as they themselves acknowledged, is driven by their people."
Port of Antwerp-Bruges focused on digitalization as a key enabler for a flexible and integrated maintenance and asset management organization. They shared stories from various employees to illustrate their digitalization journey. The jury noted the strong team spirit: "You could feel the group cohesion, and it was clear that managers were actively part of the team. They also referred to their locks as ‘works of art’, showing their pride in working for Port of Antwerp-Bruges."
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