PEIE to hold Smart Manufacturing conference

'This is a major event in the Omani manufacturing industry calendar. The conference is targeting an audience of over 200 senior executives from all areas of manufacturing and will embrace: developing people, leadership, strategy, globalisation, marketing, finance, competitiveness and business efficiency,' says Mr. Hilal Al Ahsani, PEIE's CEO.

Eminent principal speakers at the conference will include: Dr Salim Al Ruzaiqi, ITA; Dr. Mohammed Al Wohaibi, Omantel; Abeer Abduwani, GroFin; Rawan Darwish, Landor Associates; Siobhan Adams, Gulf Marketing Review; Abdullah Lootah, Microsoft; Malak Al Shaibani, The Youth Fund; Abeer Al Jasim, Knowledge Horizon; Mohammed Al Lawati, Oman Cables; and Dr. Bhaskar Dutta of Al Jazeera Steel Products.

Despite broader concerns over the global economic outlook, Oman-based manufacturers continue to record growth and secure significant output levels. 'Manufacturing isn't a declining industry,' says PEIE's Mulkie Al Hashmi and Smart Manufacturing conference co-ordinator. 'It's merely transforming. But as it transforms, we need to move peoples' perception of manufacturing away from the misleading 20th century stereotype of what it was. There are fantastic industry opportunities right across Oman, particularly on PEIE's managed estates, as manufacturing is transforming into a lean, innovative and diverse 21st Century industry.'

PEIE's Smart Manufacturing conference is aimed at both industrialists and academics. According to Al Hashmi: 'The conference will be equally of interest to those already involved in manufacturing, but also those looking to engage with this exciting and expanding sector.' The conference will cover process, management, finance, organizational and materials issues, design and sales opportunities and industrial applications, making the event of relevance to engineers, bankers, marketers, sales personnel, designers and business managers, as well as academics and researchers.

The two-day conference will also play host to a parallel industry exhibition supported by leading manufacturers and service providers exclusively for conference delegates.

'Manufacturing is one of Oman's best-placed sectors to drive forward the sultanate's economy and sustainability agendas, and PEIE is in a unique position to help advance this agenda,'

suggests Al Ahsani.

In addition to the extensive services it offers manufacturers, PEIE also has a wide variety of initiatives designed to support manufacturing, including various business support programmes, such as the annual Smart Manufacturing conference and the quarterly Oman Manufacturing Group meetings. 'Indeed, it's initiatives like the Smart Manufacturing conference that will help ensure that Oman's manufacturing sector continues to flourish,' remarks PEIE's CEO.