Moving ahead with unflagging determination

A strategic business model, placed growth, industry experience, premiere quality standards and total customer transparency are a few factors which have made Middle East Factory LLC (MEF) what it is today; a professional veteran in the steel fabrication industry. Middle East Factory LLC, an established business since 1998 with experience spanning more than a decade; has come a long way since its inception. Today, it not only stands tall in the vigorous industry but has also managed to weather the recession storm, which has left quite a few with their feathers ruffled. During a recent interview conducted by International Metalworking News- Middle East (IMNE), Ms. Shobha Mendonca, Managing Director, Middle East Factory LLC, shared information about the company, their range of products & services and their staged approach of coping with the slowdown in the economy. "Our success is largely attributed to our unflagging commitment to excellence in terms of product quality and service. Our commitment to deliver our promise is by itself a testament to our brand loyalty" --Ms. Shobha Mendonca, Managing Director, Middle East Factory LLC IMNE: Give a brief background of your company SHOBHA: Middle East Factory LLC, established in 1998 is an ISO 9001:2000 certified steel fabrication company, located in the Industrial area of Al Quoz, Dubai. We, since our inception, have strived to provide our clients with holistic engineered packages suitable for the fast paced; rapidly growing construction industry. IMNE: What products and services does Middle East Factory specialise in? SHOBHA: We offer complete engineering solutions in the field of structural fabrication; from design to installation services inclusive of post installation services. We also specialise in engineering nonstructural steel works like platforms, mezzanine floors, steel staircases, hand railing, moulds for in-situ and precast concrete, entrance canopies, scaffolding accessories and fabrication of mild steel with hot dip galvanised finish. In addition, we also produce architectural and decorative items in stainless steel, brass and aluminium. IMNE: What are the distinct features of your products and services, vis-?vis your competitors? SHOBHA: At MEF, we believe in total customer satisfaction and we are able to achieve this with our passion for our work, dedication and an effective quality management system in place. Hence, our products and services reflect our seal of quality. We have on board a panel of expert professional engineers and skilled labourers who are thoroughly trained for the job. Further, a combination of standardised / benchmarked process maps and work procedures coupled together with high / superior quality of raw materials help us deliver a product of outstanding quality. The long list of our repeat clients is the biggest testament to our commitment to deliver quality products & services in record delivery period to the industry. IMNE: What industries do you cater to, and where do you procure your raw materials and machinery? SHOBHA: We mainly service clientele in the construction and interior decoration industry. Most of our specialised items / core components are predominantly sourced / directly imported from our principals abroad and some part of our consumable requirements are out sourced from the local market. However, almost all of our raw material comes from manufacturers based in Germany, India, China, Turkey, Ukraine and Taiwan. Further, use of state-of-the-art technology and specialised machinery imported from Italy, Germany and India help us produce our master pieces faster and in a qualitative way. IMNE: What are your strengths as a company? SHOBHA: Our success is largely attributed to our unflagging commitment to excellence in service and quality. Most importantly, we deliveNike