12/07/2019 - Careers
Initially an entrepreneur in the non-destructive testing field, Hartley today has a successful career at Vallourec in Dubai.What does your work involve?
I am currently Director of Services for MEA (Middle East and Asia). My missions are mainly of two kinds:
To what extent are you involved in the Vallourec.smart project?
Vallourec.smart was born less than a year ago and we can already see the results. The idea quickly became a tangible solution.With Vallourec.smart, we can offer this solution including smart order management based on forecasted drilling needs, a specially designed stockyard and service center, a wide range of inspection services and just in time delivery to various onshore rigs and offshore supply base.
Hartley Taylor Director of Services for MEA
What are the main challenges of your current job?
To achieve optimal performance, I need to be extremely organized and plan multiple projects in detail at the same time whilst hitting those submission deadlines. In addition to this, I work in many different countries and I don't have a lot of time to reply to tenders. People tend to underestimate the complexity involved in creating a range of services tailored to each customer's needs. I also need to have an in-depth knowledge of our products, process and procedures, take decisions quickly and to think outside the box.I've been working in the oil and gas sector for thirty-three years and despite this I'm still learning something new every day!
Hartley Taylor Director of Services for MEA
How did you come to work for Vallourec? Tell us about your background.
My whole career has been spent in the oil and gas industry! I studied at the Engineering and Marine Training Authority in Aberdeen. After gaining my diploma, I worked for ten years as an Inspection Engineer specializing in non-destructive testing of drill string products and running OCTG products offshore all over the world.What do you like about working at Vallourec?
When I had my own company, what I really missed was the international exposure as my own company was very regionalized. I can only thank Vallourec for this amazing opportunity to work on high profile projects and be a key decision maker in them.Who are you outside of work?
I love music and sport: I can play a few instruments such as guitar, piano and drums for example. I'm Scottish, so I also enjoy playing golf (we invented it!) and enjoy formula 1 and football.What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Last year, when I was working in the United States, I met a man who is considered something of an authority on the supply chain. He gave me two valuable pieces of advice: