SIRI Assessment for Factories in Saudi Arabia: Towards Digital Transformation in the Industrial Sector
What is the SIRI Index?
The Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) is a global tool developed to assess factories' readiness for digital transformation and the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. This index measures the maturity level of factories in utilizing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and big data analytics—all of which contribute to improving productivity and operational efficiency.
The index has been endorsed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a reliable assessment tool to help factories develop strategies for digital transformation and enhance their global competitiveness.
SIRI Implementation in Saudi Arabia
As part of Vision 2030, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is actively working to drive digital transformation in the industrial sector. One of the key initiatives supporting this effort is the "Factories of the Future" program, which aims to digitize and automate 4,000 factories across the Kingdom.
Under this program, the SIRI index has been adopted to evaluate the readiness of Saudi factories for digital transformation. The ministry assesses factories based on several key criteria, including:
- Technology Readiness: Measuring the adoption of advanced technologies.
- Operational Capabilities: Evaluating the efficiency of production and logistics processes.
- Organizational & Management Structure: Assessing how well human resources integrate with technology to support digital transformation.
In the second phase of assessments, 260 factories with a capital exceeding 200 million SAR each were evaluated. The goal is to classify these factories and guide them towards best practices in digital manufacturing.
Assessment Results and Top-Performing Factories
Based on the evaluation results, factories were categorized into different levels, ranging from leading factories with high digital readiness to those requiring further development to adopt modern manufacturing technologies.
Among the top-performing factories, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Limited (SAMREF) received an advanced rating in the certified SIRI assessment. This recognition reflects the company's efforts in adopting smart manufacturing solutions and integrating advanced technologies into its production processes.
Benefits of SIRI Implementation in Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Sector
The SIRI assessment provides several advantages for Saudi factories, including:
✅ Enhanced production efficiency through automation and AI integration.
✅ Reduced operational costs using predictive maintenance and data analytics.
✅ Increased global competitiveness for Saudi manufacturers.
✅ Support for environmental sustainability by minimizing waste and optimizing resource utilization.
Adopting the SIRI Index is a significant step toward achieving digital transformation in Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector. This tool helps factories assess their current level of readiness and define their strategies for adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. Through the "Factories of the Future" initiative, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as an advanced industrial hub, supporting a digital economy and innovation-driven manufacturing.