MUSCAT: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, in collaboration with the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), has initiated field evaluations of various factories as part of the “Smart Production Factories” project. This innovative initiative is designed to modernize Oman’s industrial sector by embracing advanced technologies and the principles of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Through these evaluations, the project seeks to assess the readiness of factories to integrate new technologies and achieve greater operational efficiency.
The field evaluations involve a detailed examination of the participating factories based on the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI). This index focuses on three primary pillars, subdivided into 16 dimensions, each providing a comprehensive analysis of the factories’ ability to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. The evaluation process also includes recommendations for enhancing factory performance and identifying areas for improvement. This rigorous assessment will help determine the factories’ potential for digital transformation and smart manufacturing.
Eng. Idris bin Hassan Al-Sinan, the Head of Knowledge-Based Industries at the General Directorate of Industry within the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, highlighted that the current phase of the project focuses on enabling 10 factories to adopt applications associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and facilitate their digital transformation. The long-term goal is to convert 30% of Oman’s factories into smart factories by 2026, fostering technological innovation and boosting the country’s industrial competitiveness on the global stage.
A specialized team of experts from GOIC, alongside an accredited assessor from the International Centre for Industrial Transformation, is conducting the evaluations with the support of ministry staff. The team’s field visits are aimed at assessing the current status of each factory, engaging with factory teams, and gathering valuable data to inform the overall transformation strategy. This project is aligned with Oman’s Industrial Strategy 2040, which focuses on strengthening the country’s industrial capabilities through the adoption of modern technologies and improving overall sector productivity.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion encourages factories across Oman to participate in this initiative. Factories interested in digital transformation are invited to join the project, which presents an opportunity to enhance their operational efficiency, competitiveness, and performance in the global marketplace. By transitioning to smart production practices, Oman’s industrial sector is set to create specialized jobs and contribute to the development of the nation’s economy, in line with its long-term strategic goals.
