Meet a MAKEENer
Only when we understand a process can we improve it, and only when we can measure it can we truly take ownership of it.
Our former trainee and now strategic buyer, Daniel Baddour, saw an opportunity to use artificial intelligence (AI) in his daily work. By questioning a manual process and taking ownership of an idea, he helped bring AI into a Procurement workflow where it now supports faster and more consistent handling of order confirmations.
During his trainee period in Procurement, Daniel worked with order confirmations as part of his daily tasks. The process involved reviewing large amounts of information and checking for deviations in price, quantity, and delivery time.
It was important work, but parts of the process were repetitive and time-consuming. Daniel began asking whether AI could support the team by handling some of the manual work and helping identify deviations that needed attention.
That question eventually developed into an AI-supported workflow. Today, parts of the order confirmation process are automated, giving the team earlier visibility of deviations and a clearer basis for follow-up.
For Daniel, it started with a simple question: Can we do this better?
A fresh pair of eyes
Daniel joined MAKEEN Energy as an office administration trainee specialising in Procurement in 2023. Today, he is a strategic buyer in MAKEEN Gas Solutions.
As a trainee, he quickly discovered that there was room to bring forward ideas and question existing ways of working.
“I have always been interested in how we can use technology and data to improve the way we work,” Daniel says.
That interest grew during a period in the US, where Daniel visited other large companies and gained practical experience with Lean processes. Lean is an approach focused on creating value while reducing unnecessary steps and making processes flow more effectively.
The experience strengthened his interest in looking closely at daily processes and understanding where time and effort are spent.
One quote has stayed with him:
“If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.”
Daniel explains:
“When we start measuring, we gain clarity. We can see where time is lost, where errors occur, and where there is room for improvement. That motivates me in my daily work because it reminds me that small changes can create great value when we dare to question the way we work. Only when we understand a process can we improve it, and only when we can measure it can we truly take ownership of it.”
Turning an observation into action
After spotting the opportunity, Daniel took ownership of moving the idea forward and exploring how AI could support the order confirmation process. From there, colleagues brought their own experience and technical knowledge into the work, helping develop the idea into a practical workflow.
Today, AI supports the team with repetitive and data-heavy parts of the process, making it easier to focus attention where follow-up is needed.
Daniel's idea did not start as a major improvement project. It came from working with the process every day and wondering why so much of it had to be done manually.
Better processes support better partnerships
Although the original challenge was an internal one, the benefits go further.
Earlier visibility of deviations in price, quantity, and delivery time gives the Procurement team a stronger basis for follow-up. Fewer manual steps can also help reduce errors and make information more consistent. This supports our colleagues, customers, and business partners throughout the process.
Daniel's story also shows how our values can take shape in everyday work. Being proactive can start with spotting an opportunity and asking the right question. Taking ownership means helping move the idea forward. And when colleagues bring their different skills and knowledge into the process, improvements become something we create together.
Sometimes, living our values starts with simply noticing that something could be done differently - and deciding to do something about it.
