About Alcoa

1965: 

• inauguration of the plant in Poços de Caldas (MG), which was called Companhia Mineira de Alumínio (Alcominas).

1970:

• start of Alcoa activities in Poços de Caldas (MG).

1980: 

• the company changes its name to Alcoa Alumínio S.A.
• start of activities in the unit in São Luis (MA), called Consórcio de Alumínio do Maranhão (Alumar) [Aluminum Consortium of Maranhão].

1981:

• acquired the unit in Itapissuma (PE) from ASA - Alumínio S.A.

1984:

• start of Alumar’s activities in São Luís (MA).

1986:

• Alcoa enters Tubarão (SC) by acquiring Alumínios do Sul S/A (Alusud).

1990:

• Alcoa Institute set up.

1996:

• Alcoa acquires the Utinga unit in Santo André (SP), from Alcan Alumínio do Brasil, currently known as Rio Tinto Alcan.

2002:

• publication of the first Sustainability Report.

2006:

• start of the construction of the unit in Juruti (PA).

2009:

• start of the mine operation in Juruti (PA) and publication of the company’s first emissions inventory.

Alcoa Business System

In 1997, Alcoa’s manufacturing nits in the United States began introducing a continuous improvement methodology. The initiative, called the Alcoa Business System (ABS), was later exported and reached the São Luís (MA) unit in Brazil at the end of that same year.

Since the ABS was implemented as Alcoa’s management system, the company has achieved substantial gains, such as a reduction in inventory and costs and an improvement in quality and delivery.

 
Everybody is now responsible for maintaining the system and because of this must follow its three basic principles: “make to use”, “eliminate waste” and “people linchpin the system”.

The ABS provides employees who participate in the production process with the autonomy needed to suggest improvements and solve problems. Everybody also sees the opportunities that arise and learns and works together as a group on a daily basis, which generates a continuous learning culture in the organization.

Global Business Services

The objective of Global Business Services South America (GBS) (an Alcoa Global Services unit) is to provide the company’s businesses with added value services, which in turn lead to enhanced competiveness and quality and make processes more robust and reliable.

It currently provides services in the finance, human resources, health/safety/environment, IT, global services, compliance and procurement areas.

In Poços de Caldas alone there are some 250 employees, in addition to 80 others located in the other units in Brazil.

GBS was introduced in 2005 in Poços de Caldas, has a qualified labor force and is close to major commercial centers and renowned universities.

Customer focus, competitiveness, efficiency, process control, technological innovation, talent development and sustainability are among the growth initiatives of Alcoa Global Services Unit.

The global alignment of GBS also provides access to the best global service practices. This generates business opportunities, with competitive advantages for the company’s customers.