The Learn & Transform Program began in Mersin and Gaziantep Model Factories that have come into operation within the scope of Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP) conducted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the funding of the European Union (EU). With Learn & Transform Program in the Model Factories implemented in cooperation with the Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mersin and the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry in Gaziantep, theoretical and practical trainings are given to companies in the manufacturing industry to increase productivity.

With the Applied Capability and Digital Transformation Centres - Model Factories that have become operational in Mersin and Gaziantep within the scope of Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and with funding from the European Union (EU), it is aimed to increase productivity in the manufacturing industry through guiding local businesses and SMEs on digitalization and lean manufacturing. The Learn & Transform Program, one of the main service areas of the Model Factory, includes theoretical and practical trainings aimed at achieving high productivity and quality increase, especially for SMEs.

Within the scope of the Learn & Transform Program, which started on February 8, 2021 in Gaziantep Model Factory and February 15, 2021 in Mersin Model Factory, training is given to the transformation leaders of enterprises on lean manufacturing and digital transformation. Consisting of 23 different modules such as Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, Psychology of Change, Process Approach, Standardization, Work Study, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Jidoka (Autonomation), Gemba + Kaizen (Problem Solving + Continuous Improvement), Workstation Design, Capacity Planning, Energy Efficiency, Strategic Performance Management, Competency Management, Leadership, the training programs focus on the digital transformation process together with lean manufacturing principles and Model Factory. As a part of the pilot project of the Learn & Transform Program, which will be implemented between February and May 2021 in Gaziantep and between February and June 2021 in Mersin by six companies in both cities, it is aimed to increase the lean manufacturing capacity of the companies and to strengthen their production efficiency.

The criteria such as qualifying as an SME, having a role and competence in the industry, manufacturing value-added products were the determining factors in the selection of companies participating in the program. In the pilot projects of the Learn & Transform Program, which include companies operating in different sectors such as furniture, metal, food, agriculture, chemistry, machinery, carpet, shoes, plastics and packaging, the goal is to provide companies with lean manufacturing and digital transformation competence by using experimental learning techniques during their training. In this context, the program aims not only to enable enterprises to make significant progress in productivity, quality, cost and energy efficiency by implementing lean production techniques but also to contribute to the competitiveness of enterprises.

In the Model Factory capable of serving all sectors, the training regarding lean manufacturing starts theoretically and is further implemented with experimental learning techniques. The companies participating in the training can apply lean manufacturing techniques in the Model Factory by observing, experimenting and testing. Therefore, the training given in the Model Factory facilitates the process of applying lean thinking and manufacturing techniques in their own enterprises for participating companies.

In the Learn & Transform Program, in addition to the theoretical and practical training given to the transformation leaders of the companies for the effective implementation of the pilot projects, the progress of the companies participating in the pilot project is regularly monitored and the support for increasing their productivity continues even after the training. The progress achieved for each firm at the end of the pilot project is evaluated and reported on the basis of various criteria such as capacity utilization, production, stock, etc. The leaders who apply lean manufacturing methods both in Model Factory workshops and in their own fields throughout the pilot project become the guiding light to initiate transformation in their own businesses. Therefore, the Learn & Transform Program brings forth significant opportunities for participating businesses to foster their own lean leaders.

In Mersin and Gaziantep Model Factories, a total of 12 companies from different sectors, different scales and different production levels are expected to increase their production efficiency and capacity thanks to lean production and digital transformation. Mersin and Gaziantep Model Factories are also expected to serve many businesses in both cities and to support local economic development in their regions by ensuring a technology-oriented transformation of local manufacturing industry with lean manufacturing, efficiency and digitalization.