Oman’s Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) has announced it will hold its “Smart Manufacturing” programme in Muscat in April.

Scheduled for April 15 and 16 at Crowne Plaza Hotel, it will reflect the diverse range of issues faced by senior manufacturing professionals. Topics will be addressed creatively with the emphasis fully on interaction and exchange of ideas.
Staff from Cambridge University’s Institute for Manufacturing will join policy makers and business and education representatives at the conference.
Al Mudhish, Muna Noor Manufacturing & Trading, Al Buraimi Group and Khimji Permoglaze will sponsor Smart Manufacturing 2007.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these outstanding organisations as partners in this important manufacturing initiative. They will add substantial value to what is already a marvellous two-day programme,” commented Hamad Al Harthy, director general, Rusayl Industrial Estate.
The conference, one of five manufacturing events being organised by PEIE this year, aims to develop ideas on how Omani manufacturing can develop, thrive and succeed in an increasingly competitive global market. Al Harthy said: “Omani manufacturing faces a host of new challenges in today’s global economy. We all have an interest in securing the competitive future of Oman-based companies. Only success can ensure and secure well-paid and rewarding jobs for Omani workers.”
“PEIE has taken the lead in bringing business, government and education together to discuss how we can meet these challenges. The conference will be a major opportunity to bring industrial new thinking to bear upon the manufacturing sector, which remains absolutely central to the whole future of the Omani economy,” said Al Harthy.
According to Amrou Al Sharif of Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM)-based Teclution and conference moderator: “The two-day Smart Manufacturing programme provides an excellent opportunity for delegates to update their understanding of manufacturing from a logistics, finance, ICT, HR design, marketing and business process perspective.  I found the networking opportunities at last year’s conference highly valuable.”
The opening keynote presentation will be on “Manufacturing growth in the global economy” and the special keynote presentation is entitled, “What is the future for manufacturing in the Gulf?”
The programme has set up nine panels on the following themes: design and manufacturing; IT in a modern manufacturing environment; Innovation in manufacturing: the Cambridge experience; building a manufacturing strategy; organisational challenges for lean manufacturing  in 2007 and beyond; logistics-seamless door-to-door operations; importance of IP strategies  in manufacturing; operational training and skills needs for the Gulf’s manufacturing sector, and growing business-Is money out there for manufacturers and how can you get it.