The Kayseri Model Factory, established thanks to the cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the partnership of Abdullah Gül University (AGU), the Kayseri Chamber of Industry (KAYSO), and the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce (KTO), launched the 1st edition of its Learn and Transform project.
The launching meeting took place at the Conference Hall of the Directorate for the Kayseri Organized Industrial Zone. Prof. İlker Murat Ar, General Manager of the Strategic Research and Productivity at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Louisa Vinton, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkey, Mehmet Büyüksimitci, President of the Kayseri Chamber of Industry and Chairman of the Kayseri Model Factory, Ömer Gülsoy, President of the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce, Prof. Cengiz Yılmaz, Rector of AGU and Deputy Chairman of the Kayseri Model Factory, and industrialists were in attendance at the event.
Speaking at the event, Rector Prof. Cengiz Yılmaz described the project as a good example of the university-industry collaboration. The Model Factory was born out of a great idea, grew with determined management, and was equipped with the right personnel, Prof. Yılmaz said.
In his speech, Mehmet Büyüksimitci, President of the Kayseri Chamber of Industry and Chairman of the Kayseri Model Factory, said over 480 industrialists from more than 50 organizations benefited from the training programs of the Model Factory, which resulted in daily production increases around 40 to 100 percent.
Ömer Gülsoy, President of the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce, also spoke at the event and stressed the importance of the project for the productivity of businesses.
Prof. İlker Murat Ar, General Manager of the Strategic Research and Productivity, expressed that the model factories shared the ideal of producing national technologies and 7 of them were established starting from 2018. "It is a key necessity that all of our stakeholders ensure these centers work at their maximum capacities and design work models which would push the model factories' limits to meet the demands."
Louisa Vinton, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkey, stressed, "Increasing productivity is a national priority for Turkey. We continue our work to increase the competitive power of the manufacturing industry in the global markets at the Model Factories, established with strong partnerships."
Klaus Müller, Head of the Department of South East Europe and Turkey at KfW, also recorded a video message on the program's aim for the meeting.
After the speeches, the attending industrialists were presented with plaques. Rector Prof. Cengiz Yılmaz presented the plaque of Mustafa Kemal Saçmacı, Board Member of Ödül Madeni Eşya.
The meeting continued with the talk of Cevdet Alemdar, Industry SBU President at Sabanci Holding, on "Continuous Improvement Culture,” project presentations of the companies, and an open session.
