JEDDAH — Saudi engineers made the most a five-day training program on lean production, which was conducted at the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) in Jeddah on Feb. 2-6. The program, which was attended by 25 engineers, was held at the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) in Jeddah. As part of a long-term strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan, the training sessions — spread over five days — were organized Kingdom's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and organizations including Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East. Lean production is a method originating in the Japanese manufacturing industry for waste minimization while ensuring quality. Japan's consul general, Masayuki Miyamoto, awarded certificates to the engineers. Modon has been developing integrated industrial areas since its inception in 2001. It oversees industrial cities under development, in addition to supervising private industrial parks and cities. Developing SMEs is one of important pillars under VISION 2030, and it is vital to train the middle classes in the companies, mainly the young generation, which plays an important role in leading the production or innovation. To this end, the training provided a solid foundation to those young Saudi engineers a method of realizing more productive manufacturing. The last training, Six Sigma, will be conducted in Modon on Feb. 16-20.
