Latest news with #smartindustry
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
New center positions Saudi Arabia for advanced manufacturing leadership
RIYADH: The global industrial sector is witnessing a radical transformation toward adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, prompting countries to reconsider traditional manufacturing methods and adopt smart solutions that include automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data-driven systems in order to improve production efficiency and reduce operational costs. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom is not only keeping pace with the global industrial transformation but also aims to lead it through strategic initiatives and specialized programs that promote smart industry practices and accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. This will enhance the competitiveness of Saudi Arabia's industrial sector both regionally and globally, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy to position the Kingdom as a leading industrial power, one that supports global supply chains and exports high-tech products globally. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is undertaking this ambitious transformation by establishing an integrated and comprehensive national system to enhance advanced manufacturing, according to SPA. It has launched the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, which brings together all programs and initiatives that enable the adoption of modern manufacturing technologies and stimulate smart and innovative industrial solutions. This initiative is in cooperation with various government entities related to the technology, research, and innovation sectors and in partnership with several global leaders in industrial technology. The efforts under the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center include the Future Factories Program Initiative, the Industrial Beacons Program, the Accelerated Manufacturing Program, the Capability Centers Network, and the Operational Excellence Program, reported SPA. These initiatives collectively support the center's vision of becoming a unified national platform that accelerates the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. They also serve as a bridge to help local manufacturers access cutting-edge solutions that improve efficiency, enhance quality, and reduce costs across the industrial sector. The center aims to boost productivity and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector by localizing advanced and sustainable technologies, creating an attractive environment for industrial investment, and supporting skill development through its Capability Centers Network. It also offers experiential learning opportunities and provides advisory services to help industrial establishments adopt advanced manufacturing practices. The efforts of the ministry are aligned with several government entities that support the center's vision and objectives. In 2022, the ministry launched the Future Factories initiative to support the smart transformation journey of industrial establishments, aiming to automate 4,000 Saudi factories and increase their production efficiency, reduce reliance on unskilled labor, and promote the adoption of advanced industrial solutions and practices. The initiative offers numerous incentives and enablers to support the digital transformation of national factories, including financing solutions, consulting services, and the development and qualification of human resources to leverage the latest manufacturing technologies. It also helps industrial establishments assess their technological maturity and develop transformation plans to adopt operational excellence practices and advanced manufacturing solutions, including AI, robotics, the Internet of Things, and big data analytics. To support industrial transformation in the Kingdom and achieve global leadership in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies, the ministry launched the Industrial Beacons program. This undertaking aims to enable leading Saudi factories to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, thereby enhancing their production efficiency and qualifying them to receive international recognition within the Global Lighthouse Network, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum, by 2030. During the launch ceremony of the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, the Ministry announced 10 national industrial companies that committed to achieving the standards of the Industrial Beacons initiative. With the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center and its targeted initiatives to promote advanced technologies and foster research and innovation in the industrial sector, the Kingdom signals that its ambitions extend beyond simply keeping pace with global industrial trends.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Riyadh International Industry Week affirms momentum in shaping future through dialogue
RIYADH: Riyadh International Industry Week 2025, which was held from May 12-15 at the International Convention and Exhibition Center, hosted specialized dialogue sessions to address future transformations in the industrial sector. Boasting distinguished speakers and experts, the event explored the future of smart industry and looked at ways to accelerate the shift toward advanced and sustainable manufacturing. The forum on Wednesday focused on the theme 'Industrial Solutions Providers,' with a session highlighting the importance of accelerating investment in the construction and building materials sector. The session was led by Amjad Al-Suwaidan, project manager at Riyadh Exhibitions Company, and included Khalid Al-Hajri, vice president of the National Industrial Development Center, who said that the Kingdom was undergoing a qualitative transformation in its industrial infrastructure, and that investment in knowledge and technology was fundamental to sustaining the transformation. The broad panel session 'From Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0' discussed the transition from automation and digitization to human-centric manufacturing powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. The session was moderated by James Morgan, principal consultant at James Morgan Associates, with participation from Sami Sarhan, chief adviser at the National Industrial Development Center, who stressed the nation's direction toward enhancing supply chain resilience and deepening local content. In an advanced case study, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology highlighted its pivotal role in enabling the Fourth Industrial Revolution through research, development, and technology transfer. Abdulrahman Khougair, an expert on the subject, presented on the university's initiatives in supporting emerging industrial experiments. Another key session, called 'The Next Generation of Industrial Digitization and Automation Solutions,' featured Bader Al-Khalifa, country manager at Yokogawa Saudi Arabia, who presented on petrochemical plant automation. Benroy Fernandes, principal solution consultant at Azentio Software, gave a comprehensive presentation on integrating AI technologies into ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems and transforming them into tools for real-time decision-making in industrial environments. A side panel, 'Sustainable Manufacturing and the Future of Industrial Pollution,' featured James Morgan and Mohammed Al-Surf, director of carbon development at Tilad Group, who discussed the need to adopt low-emission production technologies and keep pace with global environmental regulations and clean development policies. The sessions concluded with the panel 'Smart Logistics and Integrated Supply Chains,' which addressed the significant transformations in the logistics and transportation sector amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Discussions focused on the increasing use of AI, predictive analytics, and automated systems in supply chain management. Dr. Joseph Wang, executive vice president at BlueSword Intelligent Technology, presented the leading models for building AI-powered distribution centers. The industry week also featured a series of specialized workshops covering key strategic topics such as the Industrial Competitiveness Program, Future Factories, and industrial linkages. These workshops aimed to expand knowledge, stimulate investment, and support the adoption of digital solutions aligned with the goals of the National Industrial Strategy. The event, which concluded on Thursday, brought together the pioneers of industry under one roof, and opened the floor for dialogue to help shape a promising industrial future for Saudi Arabia.
