Saudi Ministry of Industry launches program to automate 4,000 factories

Logo of Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced today, July 20, the launch of the Future Factories Program and the adoption of the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) methodology to assess the operational readiness of factories. 

The program aims to transform 4,000 factories from relying on low-skilled workers to automation and manufacturing efficiency, which will raise the competitiveness and quality of the national industry. This will also create quality jobs, in continuation of the digital transformation policy adopted by the Kingdom's Vision 2030, the ministry said in a statement.  

It added that the program adopts international methodologies to boost the capabilities of local industries, and raise the national industry to advanced levels.  

The ministry indicated that the program is launched in two tracks: the first targets new factories to be designed and built according to high standards in manufacturing and production efficiency, while the second track targets existing factories to convert them into ones adopting standards of operational excellence and advanced technologies. 

Furthermore, the program offers many development mechanisms that benefit all licensed factories in the Kingdom, at different levels of technical development. This is in order to provide the greatest possible potential to raise the competitiveness of the industrial sector, find alternative solutions to reduce the sector's dependence on unskilled labor, and create quality jobs.