The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion launched today the first phase of the "Kafa'a" (Efficiency) Manufacturing Program, as part of its efforts to develop the industrial sector and enhance its readiness for the requirements of smart manufacturing and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will contribute to raising the efficiency of operational and production processes and enhancing the competitiveness of Omani industry, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the Industrial Strategy.
The launch ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Engineer Ghalib bin Said Al Maamari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry.
The program is the result of a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), to enable national factories to adopt global best practices in operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
The program launch ceremony witnessed the signing of project documents for nine participating companies and factories.
This phase is a key step in the program, as each participating factory is committed to implementing a practical project focused on applying the Lean Six Sigma methodology as a prerequisite for participating in the qualification workshop and obtaining the Green Belt certification.
The program focuses on reducing waste and operational costs, improving product quality by minimizing delays and errors in production lines, developing national talent and empowering them with continuous improvement skills, and enhancing local added value by improving the efficiency of supply chains and localizing manufacturing processes.
The event also included a presentation about the program, which in its first phase targets qualified factories in several promising industrial sectors. The projects implemented under the program are expected to generate annual savings exceeding 350,000 Omani Riyals for participating factories through the implementation of specialized improvement projects supervised by certified experts and specialists.
Engineer Khalid bin Salim Al-Qasabi, Director General of Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, emphasized that the "Kafa'a" program represents a fundamental pillar in the journey towards smart manufacturing, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the Industrial Strategy. He pointed out that this methodology contributes to accelerating production and improving product quality, thereby enhancing factories' readiness to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and boosting the competitiveness of Omani products in local, regional, and international markets.
In his address, he explained that the "Lean" methodology focuses on simplifying industrial processes and reducing downtime and waste, while the "Six Sigma" methodology aims to minimize errors and improve product accuracy and quality. He stressed that the integration of the two methodologies forms a crucial foundation for improving industrial performance and enhancing the competitiveness of national factories.
For his part, Khalid bin Sulaiman Al-Salehi, Director General of Marketing and Commercial Affairs and official spokesperson for the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates "Madayn," affirmed that the program is part of the Establishment's efforts to empower the Omani industrial sector to adopt global best practices in operational efficiency and continuous improvement, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of national factories and their ability to expand into various markets. He pointed out that Madayn continues to work on developing an attractive and sustainable industrial environment, not only by providing infrastructure, but also by launching innovative initiatives and building strategic partnerships that contribute to raising the efficiency of industrial performance, reducing waste, and improving productivity according to the latest Lean Manufacturing and Lean Six Sigma methodologies, which are globally recognized for enhancing operational efficiency, improving quality, and reducing waste.
Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Salmi, Head of Change and Continuous Improvement at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), said that the company's participation in implementing the program comes within the framework of its commitment to supporting national initiatives aimed at achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 by building national capabilities, transferring global technical expertise in the field of lean management, and enabling national talent to implement these practices within Omani factories.
He pointed out that the Six Sigma methodology is a leading global approach to streamlining industrial processes and has proven its effectiveness in numerous major industrial projects worldwide. He emphasized that the company has successful experience in implementing this methodology, which has contributed to financial savings and reduced variability in many operational processes.
Fatima bint Issa Al-Ajmi, Director of the "Kafa'a" program at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, explained that the program represents a significant step towards developing the manufacturing environment in the Sultanate of Oman by focusing on reducing waste, improving process quality, and increasing resource utilization efficiency.
She noted that the first phase will involve implementing improvement projects within the targeted factories under the supervision of experts and specialists, thus fostering a culture of continuous improvement and supporting the factories' readiness to adopt modern technologies.
A number of officials from the public and private sectors attended the ceremony.
